How to hire a child care counselor

Child care counselor hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring child care counselors in the United States:

HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
The median cost to hire a child care counselor is $1,633.
Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per child care counselor on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
There are currently 75,587 child care counselors in the US and 100,538 job openings.
Richmond, VA, has the highest demand for child care counselors, with 16 job openings.
Methuen Town, MA has the highest concentration of child care counselors.

How to hire a child care counselor, step by step

To hire a child care counselor, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a child care counselor:

Here's a step-by-step child care counselor hiring guide:

Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
Step 3: Make a budget
Step 4: Write a child care counselor job description
Step 5: Post your job
Step 6: Interview candidates
Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new child care counselor
Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a child care counselor do?

Child care counselors monitor the progress of children who have behavioral, physical, and mental issues in between counseling appointments. These counselors create daily schedules for children that include field trips, play dates, and learning plans to ensure that children get the most out of their days. They use their critical thinking skills, organizational skills, and interpersonal skills to deal with children diagnosed with psychological issues and to coordinate with their patients' families. Most of the cases they handle are the abuse, bullying, and past traumas of children.

Learn more about the specifics of what a child care counselor does

Post a child care counselor job for free, promote it for a fee

Identify your hiring needs

Before you post your child care counselor job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a child care counselor for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

Determine employee vs contractor status

Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a child care counselor to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a child care counselor that fits the bill.

This list shows salaries for various types of child care counselors.

Type of Child Care Counselor	Description	Hourly rate
Child Care Counselor	Social workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.	$13-22
Youth Worker	Youth workers specialize in handling and providing support to young individuals with behavioral difficulties. They are primarily responsible for devising recreational projects, handling the budget, producing progress reports, managing intervention programs, and counseling troubled youth while keeping their information confidential... Show more	$12-19
Counselor Internship	When it comes to Counselor Internship, among the primary responsibilities is to assist in dealing with various activities such as preparing and verifying necessary documentation, observing consultations and outreach programs, guide clients and help develop multiple helpful strategies, and provide assessments. Furthermore, one can conduct counseling and consultation only under supervision... Show more	$14-31

Create an ideal candidate profile
Common skills:
- CPR
- Child Care
- Behavioral Issues
- Crisis Intervention Techniques
- Direct Supervision
- Mental Health
- STARS
- Behavior Management
- Direct Care
- Independent Living
- Conflict Resolution
- Crisis Management
- Role Model
- Therapeutic Crisis
Check all skills
Responsibilities:
- Train in managing risk and restraining only when need, CPR, and first aid.
- Remain non-denominational, open, flexible and ecumenical in service to patients while also providing additional resources from local spiritual communities.
- Organize and lead regular youth and college bible studies, teaching about prayer and promoting spirituality.
More child care counselor duties

Make a budget

Including a salary range in your child care counselor job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A child care counselor salary can vary based on several factors:

Location. For example, child care counselors' average salary in mississippi is 57% less than in new jersey.
Seniority. Entry-level child care counselors earn 40% less than senior-level child care counselors.
Certifications. A child care counselor with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a child care counselor's salary.

Average child care counselor salary

$36,843yearly

$17.71 hourly rate

Entry-level child care counselor salary

$28,000 yearly salary

Updated January 23, 2026

Average child care counselor salary by state

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	Illinois	$44,607	$21
2	California	$44,011	$21
3	Texas	$42,837	$21
4	Colorado	$41,120	$20
5	Virginia	$40,602	$20
6	Washington	$40,579	$20
7	Kansas	$39,555	$19
8	Ohio	$37,461	$18
9	Hawaii	$35,799	$17
10	South Carolina	$33,997	$16
11	Georgia	$32,487	$16
12	Missouri	$32,190	$15

Average child care counselor salary by company

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
1	Washington State University	$50,810	$24.43
2	NC.gov	$40,716	$19.57	79
3	Affinis	$39,575	$19.03
4	Right At School	$36,350	$17.48
5	Associated Recreation Council	$35,826	$17.22	4
6	Cleveland Clinic	$35,184	$16.92	109
7	State of Georgia: Teachers Retirement System of Georgia	$35,130	$16.89	33
8	Randstad North America, Inc.	$34,465	$16.57
9	Res-Care Premier	$33,878	$16.29	26
10	Adecco	$33,134	$15.93	4
11	UPMC	$31,573	$15.18	26
12	Jewish Community Center	$24,362	$11.71	16
13	Boys & Girls Clubs of King County	$24,030	$11.55
14	YMCA of Greater Richmond	$23,894	$11.49	18

Writing a child care counselor job description
A child care counselor job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a child care counselor job description:
Child care counselor job description example
A BETTER US STARTS WITH U!

Imagine going to work knowing that what you do each day positively impacts people's lives. We are seeking to add new members to our team who are motivated and committed to serving others. Whether you are experienced or not, we will provide the resources and trainings needed for you to grow and succeed. If you want more than just a job - if you're looking to discover a sense of purpose and opportunities to contribute to the greater good - then the Y is the place for you. Join us!

Weekdays 8:00am to 2:00pm

Child Care Job Details:

Provide safe and enjoyable childcare for members and their infants, toddlers, pre-school and school age children. Child Watch is a member service that provides a safe and fun environment for the care of children while parents/caregivers use the YMCA facilities. It is the expectation that all Child Watch Team Members are committed to providing a quality experience to children and parents that focuses on belonging while building relationships among youth and within families.

Day In The Life of a Child Care Staff:

* In cooperation with other staff members, plans, leads and supervises the activities of children in a variety of indoor/outdoor settings
* Effectively communicates with members, parents, and children. Develops positive and professional relationships with parents and participants providing motivational support and guidance
* Identifies individual needs of children and provides care accordingly
* Encourages and involves children in appropriate group and/or individual play
* Models and explains appropriate behavior. Addresses and redirects inappropriate behavior of children
* Maintains participant attendance, emergency records and other documentation as assigned
* Follows all YMCA policies, rules, regulations, and procedures, including emergency and safety procedures
* Responds seriously and confidentiality to suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and follows mandated reporting requirements related to abuse
* Ensure safety and cleanliness of equipment and facilities
* Maintains accurate and timely records, including sign-in and sign-out logs
* Follows YMCA policies and procedures, including those related to medical and disciplinary situations, child abuse prevention and emergencies
* Attends and participates in staff meetings and trainings
* Other duties as assigned

What's required:

* High School Diploma or equivalent; one year or more of college education preferred
* Previous experience working with children within diverse populations preferred
* At least 17 years of age
* Must have or be able to obtain the following certifications within the first 30 days of hire, CPR, First Aid, AED

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

* Ability to read, write, talk, see, and hear
* Walking, stooping, standing, hearing, seeing, lifting (up to 50 pounds)
* Ability to plan and initiate age-appropriate games and activities
* Ability to perform multiple tasks at one time
* Possesses a strong understanding of the YMCA and its purpose, mission, and values. Demonstrates this understanding through behavior and actions that support the purpose, mission, and values

PERKS:

* Free Y Membership
* Paid Training
* Paid Time Off
* Resume Builder
* Create Professional Connections

THE Y:

The YMCA is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations that is committed to strengthening individuals and communities across the country. Every day, the Y helps people connect to their purpose, potential and each other. Working locally, we focus on supporting people of all ages, gender and race, to improving health and well-being and inspiring action in and across communities.
Post your job
To find child care counselors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:
- Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
- Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any child care counselors they would recommend.
- Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level child care counselors with the right educational background.
- Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
Post your job online:
- Post your child care counselor job on Zippia to find and recruit child care counselor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
- Use field-specific websites.
- Post a job on free websites.
Interview candidates
Recruiting child care counselors requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.
You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.
The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.
Send a job offer and onboard your new child care counselor
Once you have selected a candidate for the child care counselor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.
It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.
To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.
Go through the hiring process checklist
- Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
- Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
- Define job responsibilities and requirements
- Establish budget and timeline
- Determine hiring decision makers for the role
- Write job description
- Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
- Promote the job internally
- Process applications through applicant tracking system
- Review resumes and cover letters
- Shortlist candidates for screening
- Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
- Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
- Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
- Conduct background checks on top candidates
- Check references of top candidates
- Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
- Extend offer to top candidate(s)
- Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
- Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
- Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
- Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a child care counselor?

Hiring a child care counselor comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting child care counselors involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of child care counselor recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

Child care counselors earn a median yearly salary is $36,843 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find child care counselors for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $13 and $22.

Find better child care counselors in less time

Post a job on Zippia and hire the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers.

Hiring child care counselors FAQs

How much does a good child care counselor cost?

What are the duties of a child care counselor?

Should I hire a child care counselor with no experience?

Search for child care counselor jobs

Ready to start hiring?

Updated January 23, 2026

Browse community and social services jobs

How to hire a child care counselor