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Child care aide vs child care worker

The differences between child care aides and child care workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a child care aide and a child care worker. Additionally, a child care worker has an average salary of $31,284, which is higher than the $29,192 average annual salary of a child care aide.

The top three skills for a child care aide include child care, CPR and behavior management. The most important skills for a child care worker are child care, crisis intervention, and behavioral issues.

Child care aide vs child care worker overview

Child Care AideChild Care Worker
Yearly salary$29,192$31,284
Hourly rate$14.03$15.04
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs168,475136,963
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age3737
Years of experience22

What does a child care aide do?

A Child Care Aide is primarily in charge of children's care and personal needs. They typically work at schools, offices, and even in residential areas. Their responsibilities include meeting the parents to identify the extent of the children's needs, developing care plans, monitoring the children's behavior, and updating parents regularly. They also perform various tasks depending on the children's age and needs, such as changing diapers, dressing, preparing meals and snacks, feeding, and toilet assistance. Moreover, a Child Care Aide must ensure a safe and healthy environment for children.

What does a child care worker do?

A child care worker is responsible for providing care and supervision to children while the parents or guardians are away. A child care worker's duty may involve changing diapers and preparing milk for infants and toddlers, devise strategies or fun activities where children can learn, arrange schedules to fit their needs such as nap times, and prepare healthy meals and snacks. Aside from ensuring children's safety, a child care worker must also monitor any sign of emotional or developmental issues so it can be brought to the parents' attention as soon as possible.

Child care aide vs child care worker salary

Child care aides and child care workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Child Care AideChild Care Worker
Average salary$29,192$31,284
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $39,000Between $19,000 And $49,000
Highest paying CityMercer Island, WAWorcester, MA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsMassachusetts
Best paying companyUniv Of Colorado-Colorado SpgsColumbia University in the City of New York
Best paying industryFinanceFinance

Differences between child care aide and child care worker education

There are a few differences between a child care aide and a child care worker in terms of educational background:

Child Care AideChild Care Worker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Child care aide vs child care worker demographics

Here are the differences between child care aides' and child care workers' demographics:

Child Care AideChild Care Worker
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 14.1% Female, 85.9%Male, 21.1% Female, 78.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 7.3% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 6.8% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between child care aide and child care worker duties and responsibilities

Child care aide example responsibilities.

  • Work with the children with ABC's and numbers.
  • Help with ABC's and numbers on part-time schedule.
  • Provide activities of daily living for a child with autism.
  • Purchase and order groceries and household supplies to keep kitchen and household stock.
  • Provide individual needs prescribe in IEP and direct by teacher for students with autism.
  • Coordinate recovery at nursing facilities, and rehabilitation treatment in the home setting, through VNA.
    • Show more

Child care worker example responsibilities.

  • Obtain certification in CPR to ensure minors would be properly resuscitate in an emergency.
  • Require to maintain continuing education in courses including passive restraint, standard first aid and CPR.
  • Complete accurate and timely documentation on kids' behavior as outlined by policy.
  • Create math, reading, bible, and art lessons.

Child care aide vs child care worker skills

Common child care aide skills
  • Child Care, 37%
  • CPR, 29%
  • Behavior Management, 6%
  • Child Development, 5%
  • Foster Care, 4%
  • First Aid Training, 4%
Common child care worker skills
  • Child Care, 39%
  • Crisis Intervention, 9%
  • Behavioral Issues, 8%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Direct Supervision, 5%
  • TCI, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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