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Baby sitter vs child caregiver

The differences between baby sitters and child caregivers 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 caregiver. Additionally, a child caregiver has an average salary of $32,065, 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 caregiver are child care, autism, and meal prep.

Baby sitter vs child caregiver overview

Baby SitterChild Caregiver
Yearly salary$30,972$32,065
Hourly rate$14.89$15.42
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs19,38243,573
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 41%
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 caregiver do?

Basically, a child caregiver looks after the fundamental needs of children like feeding, playtime supervision, and dressing. Child caregivers take responsibility for preparing and organizing the snacks and mealtimes for children. They organize the activities or implement a curriculum allowing children to learn about the world as well as explore their interests. It is part of their job to keep records regarding the routines, interests, and progress of the children. They may work as family childcare providers, nannies, or childcare center workers.

Baby sitter vs child caregiver salary

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

Baby SitterChild Caregiver
Average salary$30,972$32,065
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $44,000Between $22,000 And $45,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASanta Clarita, CA
Highest paying stateMaineWashington
Best paying companyCARECARE
Best paying industryFinanceManufacturing

Differences between baby sitter and child caregiver education

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

Baby SitterChild Caregiver
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of VirginiaCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Baby sitter vs child caregiver demographics

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

Baby SitterChild Caregiver
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 14.2% Female, 85.8%Male, 10.1% Female, 89.9%
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, 8.1% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 6.9% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between baby sitter and child caregiver 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 caregiver example responsibilities.

  • Teach them their numbers, ABC's, months & days of the year, etc.
  • Appropriate pet clean-up as required.
  • Provide childcare service for children all backgrounds, including those diagnose with autism.
  • Administer minor first aid and perform emergency measures learned through CPR certify training.
  • Provide pet sitting services including feeding, dog walking, and yard care.
  • Introduce children to a wide variety of foods following USDA requirements to support healthy growth.
  • Show more

Baby sitter vs child caregiver skills

Common baby sitter skills
  • Child Care, 50%
  • Kids, 24%
  • Nutritious Meals, 12%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Homework Assignments, 5%
  • Meal Prep, 1%
Common child caregiver skills
  • Child Care, 39%
  • Autism, 14%
  • Meal Prep, 14%
  • Applied Behavior Analysis, 12%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Homework Assignments, 3%

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