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What is a child development specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Meredith Bertrand

A child development specialist is a specialist in recognizing the qualities, indications, and examples specific to kids who experience the ill effects of different formative and mental issues. Working one-on-one to assess their instructive requirements and issues, these childcare experts fill in as significant counsels to guardians and teachers.

Child development specialists are brain science specialists who work with kids experiencing different formative and mental issues. These experts should guarantee that youngsters with formative and mental issues get the consideration they need to conquer their troublesome obstructions. They are needed to associate with these youngsters while assessing their capacity to control feelings and recognize their correspondence requirements.

Child development specialists are usually required to have a four-year college education. They make an average compensation of $36,846 each year or $17.71 per hour. Individuals on the lower end of that range, the base 10% to be precise, generally make $23,000 every year, while the top 10% make $58,000.

What general advice would you give to a child development specialist?

Dr. Meredith BertrandDr. Meredith Bertrand LinkedIn profile

Chair of Education; Associate Professor of Education, Elms College

History is ever-changing, and teachers must clarify how current events are just as much a part of the study of history as any other socio-political period or event. If you are not comparing the civil rights movement of today to the ongoing civil rights movements of the past, and if you are not supporting the campaign against oppression and institutional racism upon which our nation was built, then you are doing continuous harm to those who need you to act and disrupt the cycle. History teachers better be ready to be activists, not just teachers, or else you are perpetuating the status quo.
ScoreChild Development SpecialistUS Average
Salary
3.6

Avg. Salary $46,186

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.5

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 5.93%

Black or African American 10.73%

Hispanic or Latino 17.51%

Unknown 6.33%

White 58.99%

Gender

female 84.60%

male 15.40%

Age - 44
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 - 44
Stress level
5.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Child development specialist career paths

Key steps to become a child development specialist

  1. Explore child development specialist education requirements

    Most common child development specialist degrees

    Bachelor's

    66.5 %

    Master's

    13.2 %

    Associate

    12.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific child development specialist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Child Development14.57%
    Social Work8.07%
    Mental Health7.89%
    Direct Care7.87%
    Childhood5.86%
  3. Complete relevant child development specialist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New child development specialists 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 development specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real child development specialist resumes.
  4. Research child development specialist duties and responsibilities

    • Recruit, manage and motivate volunteers in public education, professional education, service and rehabilitation and tobacco control programs.
    • Assist with ADL'S when need.
    • Conduct CPR classes and new employee training.
    • Administer psychometric batteries pertaining to child language, literacy, and mathematics.
  5. Prepare your child development specialist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your child development specialist 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 development specialist 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 development specialist resume templates

    Build a professional child development specialist 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 development specialist resume.
    Child Development Specialist Resume
    Child Development Specialist Resume
    Child Development Specialist Resume
    Child Development Specialist Resume
    Child Development Specialist Resume
    Child Development Specialist Resume
    Child Development Specialist Resume
    Child Development Specialist Resume
    Child Development Specialist Resume
  6. Apply for child development specialist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a child development specialist 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 development specialist job

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Average child development specialist salary

The average child development specialist salary in the United States is $46,186 per year or $22 per hour. Child development specialist salaries range between $31,000 and $66,000 per year.

Average child development specialist salary
$46,186 Yearly
$22.20 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do child development specialists rate their job?

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Child development specialist reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

First of all, i'll say that i like the routine. I have had amazing health benefits because of waking up early and go to school because i live quite far. In the school, i like the working mechanism and how everyone is committed and dedicated for the job. The most important thing i like is that how i am able to make my place in the room of young, enthusiast children who see me as their mentor. I love being the change maker and i's always love to be a professional learning specialist because this is what angels would do.

Cons

I do not like if any of my students is getting punished by any senior colleague or even his or her parents. I believe the change might occur if we just listen to the concerns of the young lot.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019
Pros

Change agent when people are stuck and need support in the process of restoration. One on one and group processing is powerful.


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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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