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What is a child caretaker and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Quoted expert
Laura Schroeder
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a child caretaker. For example, did you know that they make an average of $15.6 an hour? That's $32,447 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 61,600 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a child caretaker?

Laura SchroederLaura Schroeder LinkedIn profile

President, International Nanny Association

Young graduates will need to have some knowledge or experience in early childhood education, as help with the school day has become an important part of a nanny's job since the pandemic. They also must be able to work independently and be self motivated as their bosses will likely not be on site. There are jobs for nannies all over the U.S., but the best paying jobs tend to be in wealthier areas and larger cities, for example L.A., San Francisco, Seattle and Boston.
ScoreChild CaretakerUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $32,447

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.7

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.97%

Asian 7.22%

Black or African American 8.44%

Hispanic or Latino 21.93%

Unknown 6.06%

White 55.39%

Gender

female 83.87%

male 16.13%

Age - 35
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35
Stress level
6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
3.7

Complexity level is basic

7 - challenging

Work life balance
10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Child caretaker career paths

Key steps to become a child caretaker

  1. Explore child caretaker education requirements

    Most common child caretaker degrees

    Bachelor's

    55.7 %

    High School Diploma

    20.9 %

    Associate

    13.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific child caretaker skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Childcare Services65.95%
    CPR8.57%
    Conflict Resolution4.46%
    Clean Environment4.37%
    Nutritional Meals2.62%
  3. Complete relevant child caretaker training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New child caretakers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a child caretaker based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real child caretaker resumes.
  4. Research child caretaker duties and responsibilities

    • Attend meetings and programs for certifications such as CPR on infants, children, and adults.
    • Provide group and individual behavior support and intervention as trained, including the use of TCI appropriate physical restraint as necessary.
    • Help with ABC's and numbers on part-time schedule.
  5. Prepare your child caretaker resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your child caretaker resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a child caretaker resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable child caretaker resume templates

    Build a professional child caretaker resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your child caretaker resume.
    Child Caretaker Resume
    Child Caretaker Resume
    Child Caretaker Resume
    Child Caretaker Resume
    Child Caretaker Resume
    Child Caretaker Resume
    Child Caretaker Resume
    Child Caretaker Resume
    Child Caretaker Resume
  6. Apply for child caretaker jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a child caretaker job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first child caretaker job

Zippi

Are you a child caretaker?

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Average child caretaker salary

The average child caretaker salary in the United States is $32,447 per year or $16 per hour. Child caretaker salaries range between $23,000 and $45,000 per year.

Average child caretaker salary
$32,447 Yearly
$15.60 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do child caretakers rate their job?

-/5

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4 stars

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1 star

Child caretaker reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2022
Pros

I love working with kids

Cons

Working with kids means sometimes it can get overwhelming


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2022
Pros

I love being a role model telling the kids stories making them lunch coloring and drawing with them and making them happy and laugh

Cons

I honestly can’t complain because there was nothing I ever didn’t enjoy being a babysitter infact I want to work at w children’s hospital when I graduate and make the kids smile and happy


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2022
Pros

Engaging with children - teaching - reading - make believe- dancing, music


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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