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The differences between child care workers and day camp counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a child care worker, becoming a day camp counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a child care worker has an average salary of $31,284, which is higher than the $29,384 average annual salary of a day camp counselor.
The top three skills for a child care worker include child care, crisis intervention and behavioral issues. The most important skills for a day camp counselor are CPR, kids, and cleanliness.
| Child Care Worker | Day Camp Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $31,284 | $29,384 |
| Hourly rate | $15.04 | $14.13 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 136,963 | 32,895 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 37 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
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.
The job of the camp counselors is to develop recreational plans and oversee camp activities in residential camps. Their duties and responsibilities include organizing camping trips, planning and scheduling group activities, and guiding children and teenagers in various outdoor activities such as swimming and hiking. They are expected to lead campers in emergency procedures and fire drills, explain safety rules and procedures, and provide emotional support to campers. Camp counselors are also responsible for assessing and responding to emergencies when they arise.
Child care workers and day camp counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Child Care Worker | Day Camp Counselor | |
| Average salary | $31,284 | $29,384 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $49,000 | Between $19,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Worcester, MA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | City of Portland |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Education |
There are a few differences between a child care worker and a day camp counselor in terms of educational background:
| Child Care Worker | Day Camp Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Duke University |
Here are the differences between child care workers' and day camp counselors' demographics:
| Child Care Worker | Day Camp Counselor | |
| Average age | 37 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.1% Female, 78.9% | Male, 33.4% Female, 66.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 5.0% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 8% |