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Baby sitter vs child care provider

The differences between baby sitters and child care providers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a baby sitter and a child care provider. Additionally, a child care provider has an average salary of $33,145, which is higher than the $30,972 average annual salary of a baby sitter.

The top three skills for a baby sitter include child care, kids and nutritious meals. The most important skills for a child care provider are nutritional meals, child care, and CPR.

Baby sitter vs child care provider overview

Baby SitterChild Care Provider
Yearly salary$30,972$33,145
Hourly rate$14.89$15.94
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs19,382119,940
Job satisfaction55
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Average age3737
Years of experience22

What does a baby sitter do?

A Baby Sitter is responsible for the welfare and safety of children while their parents or guardian are away. The tasks will vary on the age, behavior, or needs of the children. However, most of the time, a Baby Sitter must supervise the children's activities in a friendly and fun manner, prepare meals, assist in bathing or dressing, and get them to bed. There are also instances when the Baby Sitter must do some light chores, such as cleaning up after the kids or washing the dishes.

What does a child care provider do?

A childcare provider is responsible for supervising a child's safety while developing fun activities and assisting the child's needs throughout the day. Childcare providers' duties include ensuring that facilities are safe for the child's use, monitoring the child's routines, serving healthy meals, assisting the child with homework, and reporting any concerns to their parents or guardians. Childcare providers must have excellent time-management skills and should be able to multi-task to attend with the child's needs.

Baby sitter vs child care provider salary

Baby sitters and child care providers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Baby SitterChild Care Provider
Average salary$30,972$33,145
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $44,000Between $23,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WAVancouver, WA
Highest paying stateMaineWashington
Best paying companyCARECARE
Best paying industryFinanceFinance

Differences between baby sitter and child care provider education

There are a few differences between a baby sitter and a child care provider in terms of educational background:

Baby SitterChild Care Provider
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Most common majorPsychologyBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of VirginiaUniversity of Southern California

Baby sitter vs child care provider demographics

Here are the differences between baby sitters' and child care providers' demographics:

Baby SitterChild Care Provider
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 14.2% Female, 85.8%Male, 9.5% Female, 90.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.1% Asian, 6.8% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 6.6% White, 58.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between baby sitter and child care provider duties and responsibilities

Baby sitter example responsibilities.

  • Prepare and organize records for tax purposes and comply with DCFS licensing standards.
  • Provide and prepare daily meals and snacks according to DHS and FDA rules.
  • Job duties, babysit for working parents, last min plans, mommy helper.
  • Supervise safe activities for the children and provide tutoring and homework help; CPR train.
  • Hire to babysit friends/neighbors, as well as providing regular childcare services for younger brother.
  • Volunteer by helping children complete their homework and babysit until their parents pick them up.
  • Show more

Child care provider example responsibilities.

  • Provide first aid and CPR, prevention of the spread of blood borne pathogens and access of emergency services as needed.
  • Maintain necessary documentation for licensing as well as certifications including CPR.
  • Complete accurate and timely documentation on kids' behavior as outlined by policy.
  • Accumulate early childhood experience through daily interactions and continual training sessions.

Baby sitter vs child care provider skills

Common baby sitter skills
  • Child Care, 50%
  • Kids, 24%
  • Nutritious Meals, 12%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Homework Assignments, 5%
  • Meal Prep, 1%
Common child care provider skills
  • Nutritional Meals, 25%
  • Child Care, 22%
  • CPR, 11%
  • Homework Assignments, 9%
  • Social Development, 4%
  • Applied Behavior Analysis, 3%

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