Child Care Careers

Why Choose a Career in Child Day Care?

As the number of dual-income households rises, alongside an increased emphasis on the importance of early childhood education programs, the opportunity to work in child care careers will continue to grow. Both younger and school-age children need quality child care while their parents work or attend school, and the educational and socialization benefits of child care are well documented.

Those working in child care careers can utilize their skills in three main settings—as private household workers, like nannies or au pairs, who provide care in a child’s home; family child care providers, who provide care in their own homes; and child care workers who are employed at child care centers, including preschools and Head Start programs. Opportunities exist for home employment as a family child care provider.

Employment Outlook for Child Care Careers

The demand for child care workers continues to grow; employment in this field is expected to rise by 11% between 2008 and 2018 (U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, 2010-2011 Occupational Outlook Handbook). Job seekers who are qualified through education and training should have little trouble finding employment.

What You Can Earn Working in Child Care Careers

Many factors are considered when calculating salary for child care careers such as location, type of facility, ages of the children, job title, education level and years of experience. According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the middle 50 percent of child care workers earn up to $23,504 (or $11.30 per hour).

(U.S. Dept. of Labor Statistics, 2010-2011 Occupational Outlook Handbook)