Childcare Workers
Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.
Also called: After School Coordinator, After School Counselor, Attendant, Baby Attendant, Baby Sitter, Before and After School Daycare Worker
Median pay
$34,980
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$24,260 – $46,010
People employed
518,910
Holland code
SAC
Social · Artistic · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 2.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 3.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 4.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 5.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
Childcare Workers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What childcare workers do
- 01Maintain a safe play environment.
- 02Observe and monitor children's play activities.
- 03Communicate with children's parents or guardians about daily activities, behaviors, and related issues.
- 04Support children's emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts.
- 05Care for children in institutional setting, such as group homes, nursery schools, private businesses, or schools for people with disabilities.
- 06Sanitize toys and play equipment.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Public Safety and Security
- Psychology
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from childcare workers
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education88% · +9%
- Psychiatric Aides74% · +28%
- School Bus Monitors73% · 0%
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education73% · +79%
- Physical Therapist Aides73% · +1%
Change into childcare workers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education87% · $38,140
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop73% · $31,200
- Physical Therapist Aides73% · $35,240
- School Bus Monitors73% · $35,100
- Animal Caretakers72% · $35,360
Majors that lead here
- Child Development
- Child Care Provider/Assistant
- Early Childhood and Family Studies
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.