What is a Childcare Worker?
Childcare Worker Example Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.
What Do Childcare Workers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Sanitize toys and play equipment.
- Organize and participate in recreational activities and outings, such as games and field trips.
- Assist in preparing food and serving meals and refreshments to children.
- Organize and store toys and materials to ensure order in activity areas.
- Sterilize bottles and prepare formulas.
- Accompany children to and from school, on outings, and to medical appointments.
Featured schools near , edit
What a Childcare Worker Should Know
When polled, Childcare Workers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Other Childcare Worker Job Titles
- Assistant Teacher
- Day Care Supervisor
- Toddler Teacher
- Hall Monitor
- Nursery Supervisor
Is There Going to be Demand for Childcare Workers?
There were about 1,216,600 jobs for Childcare Worker in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 84,300 new jobs for Childcare Worker by 2026. There will be an estimated 189,100 positions for Childcare Worker per year.

The states with the most job growth for Childcare Worker are Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Maine, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Childcare Worker
The average yearly salary of a Childcare Worker ranges between $17,750 and $34,430.

Childcare Workers who work in District of Columbia, Massachusetts, or Vermont, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Childcare Workers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $19,920 |
Alaska | $27,900 |
Arizona | $25,160 |
Arkansas | $20,900 |
California | $28,630 |
Colorado | $28,770 |
Connecticut | $27,400 |
Delaware | $22,300 |
District of Columbia | $33,110 |
Florida | $23,590 |
Georgia | $21,810 |
Hawaii | $26,090 |
Idaho | $21,740 |
Illinois | $24,250 |
Indiana | $21,620 |
Iowa | $21,540 |
Kansas | $20,650 |
Kentucky | $21,540 |
Louisiana | $19,820 |
Maine | $25,010 |
Maryland | $25,980 |
Massachusetts | $30,090 |
Michigan | $23,670 |
Minnesota | $25,820 |
Mississippi | $19,310 |
Missouri | $23,490 |
Montana | $22,380 |
Nebraska | $23,980 |
Nevada | $22,280 |
New Hampshire | $23,940 |
New Jersey | $26,450 |
New Mexico | $21,940 |
New York | $28,820 |
North Carolina | $22,940 |
North Dakota | $25,190 |
Ohio | $22,740 |
Oklahoma | $20,440 |
Oregon | $26,740 |
Pennsylvania | $22,920 |
Rhode Island | $27,560 |
South Carolina | $21,030 |
South Dakota | $21,330 |
Tennessee | $21,270 |
Texas | $22,150 |
Utah | $22,420 |
Vermont | $29,430 |
Virginia | $24,620 |
Washington | $29,430 |
West Virginia | $21,490 |
Wisconsin | $22,630 |
Wyoming | $24,840 |
What Tools do Childcare Workers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Childcare Workers:
- Microsoft Word
- Web browser software
- Scheduling software
- Educational software
Becoming a Childcare Worker
Learn what Childcare Worker education requirements there are.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Childcare Worker?

Who Employs Childcare Workers?

The table below shows the approximate number of Childcare Workers employed by various industries.

Similar Careers
Are you already one of the many Childcare Worker in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Jsonin via Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |