Jobs Similar to Childcare Workers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to childcare workers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Preschool Teachers, Special Education Teachers (Preschool) and Kindergarten Teachers.
Childcare Workers: $34,980 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Childcare Workers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 83% | $38,140+9% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 81% | $64,830+85% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 78% | $62,680+79% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School | 77% | $66,270+89% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Residential AdvisorsSame group | 77% | $42,240+21% | Training or associate |
| 6 | NanniesSame group | 76% | $34,980Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 7 | Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 76% | $63,970+83% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | 76% | $41,670+19% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 76% | $74,260+112% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Adapted Physical Education Specialists | 75% | $76,580Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Occupational Therapy Assistants | 75% | $72,300+107% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Recreation WorkersSame group | 75% | $36,560+5% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | 75% | $61,540+76% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | 75% | $64,330+84% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 75% | $72,040+106% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Self-Enrichment Teachers | 74% | $46,800+34% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 74% | $59,550+70% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Recreational Therapists | 74% | $61,960+77% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Occupational Therapy Aides | 74% | $39,160+12% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Psychiatric Aides | 74% | $44,910+28% | High school |
- 1Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
83% similar · $38,140 (+9%) · Training or associate
- 2Special Education Teachers, Preschool
81% similar · $64,830 (+85%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
78% similar · $62,680 (+79%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
77% similar · $66,270 (+89%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Residential Advisors
77% similar · $42,240 (+21%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 6Nannies
76% similar · $34,980 (broader group) · High school · Same group
- 7Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
76% similar · $63,970 (+83%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Substitute Teachers, Short-Term
76% similar · $41,670 (+19%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
76% similar · $74,260 (+112%) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Adapted Physical Education Specialists
75% similar · $76,580 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Occupational Therapy Assistants
75% similar · $72,300 (+107%) · Training or associate
- 12Recreation Workers
75% similar · $36,560 (+5%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
75% similar · $61,540 (+76%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
75% similar · $64,330 (+84%) · Graduate degree
- 15Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
75% similar · $72,040 (+106%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Self-Enrichment Teachers
74% similar · $46,800 (+34%) · Training or associate
- 17Child, Family, and School Social Workers
74% similar · $59,550 (+70%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Recreational Therapists
74% similar · $61,960 (+77%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Occupational Therapy Aides
74% similar · $39,160 (+12%) · Training or associate
- 20Psychiatric Aides
74% similar · $44,910 (+28%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than childcare workers.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for childcare workers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where childcare workers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like childcare workers
What jobs are most similar to childcare workers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Preschool Teachers (83% similar), Special Education Teachers (Preschool) (81% similar), Kindergarten Teachers (78% similar), Career/Technical Education Teachers (Secondary School) (77% similar) and Residential Advisors (77% similar).
Which jobs like childcare workers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Special Education Teachers (Secondary School) ($74,260, +112%; usually a bachelor's degree), Occupational Therapy Assistants ($72,300, +107%; usually training or an associate degree) and Secondary School Teachers ($72,040, +106%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with childcare workers ($34,980). Without more preparation than childcare workers usually need: Psychiatric Aides.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.