How to hire a day care attendant

How to hire a day care attendant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step day care attendant hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The day care attendant hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a day care attendant 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 day care attendant that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of day care attendants.

   Type of Day Care Attendant	Description	Hourly rate
   Day Care Attendant	Childcare workers provide care for children when parents and other family members are unavailable. They attend to children’s basic needs, such as bathing and feeding... Show more	$8-18
   In-Home Childcare Provider	In-home childcare providers are professionals equipped with the skills needed to properly care for a child. They are employed by families who require assistance in providing the needs of the child at home... Show more	$10-21
   Child Caregiver	Basically, a child caregiver looks after the fundamental needs of children like feeding, playtime supervision, and dressing. Child caregivers take responsibility for preparing and organizing the snacks and mealtimes for children... Show more	$10-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PET
   • CPR
   • Cleanliness
   • Clean Environment
   • Medication Administration
   • Front Desk
   • Child Care
   • Child Development
   • Healthy Environment
   • Social Development
   • Developmental Problems

   Responsibilities:

   • Train in animal CPR in case of emergency during any of the daycare activities.
   • Deliver patient belongings and information as well as provided exceptional assistance to patients and their families.
   • Create math, reading, bible, and art lessons.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your day care attendant job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A day care attendant can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, day care attendants' average salary in mississippi is 40% less than in maine.
   • Seniority. Entry-level day care attendants 55% less than senior-level day care attendants.
   • Certifications. A day care attendant with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a day care attendant's salary.

   Average day care attendant salary

   $12.34hourly

   $25,664 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level day care attendant salary

   $17,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 26, 2025

4. Writing a day care attendant job description

   A day care attendant 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 day care attendant job description:

   Day care attendant job description example

   Youth Villages residential treatment programs are growing and we're hiring Behavioral Youth Counselors/Assistants and Night Monitors!
   
   Submit a resume today and a recruiter will contact you to discuss your experience and our current openings. Competitive candidates will be provided details about the interview day, including location and directions.
   
   All applicants who attend the hiring event will interview with residential campus leadership and learn more about our programs in our newest facility that houses a yoga studio, climbing wall, therapeutic drumming program, and more.
   Now offering $6,000 sign-on payment! Watch now to see how YV is helping kids live successfully!
   Watch now to see how YV is helping kids live successfully!
   Youth Villages’ Residential Treatment programs serve children with emotional and behavioral problems. Our residential campuses provide the setting for an intensive treatment program that combines the unique balance of structure and freedom. This enables children and their families to identify, understand and cope with their individual needs and develop the skills necessary to succeed in less restrictive settings. We have three different types of facilities—Intensive Residential Centers, Open Campuses, and Group Homes. Located in Tennessee and Georgia, all of these facilities utilize the Re-Education of Emotionally Disturbed Children therapy model (Re-Ed). Position Overviews: Behavioral Youth Counselor/Assistant also known as a Teacher Counselor/Assistant (TC/TCA): Teaches the children necessary life skills and provide for their physical daily care. Assists in treatment planning for each child. Conducts daily documentation such as contact notes, milieu notes, and precautionary notes. Participates in client transports to various locations Participates in recreation therapy with children. Improves children’s behavior through coping skills and other therapeutic interventions. Staff in this role typically work 3 week days and 1 weekend day in the afternoons & evenings, from approximately 1pm -10:30pm Schedule varies by campus and will be discussed in depth with a hiring manager Some campuses also require that TCs/TCAs spend the night once or twice a week on the campus and have additional responisbility for waking the residents and helping direct their morning routine. There are also campuses that do not require overnights. Night Monitor Check on the residents in set intervals to ensure youth are safe and secure Processes and provides support to youth who may have difficulty at night Acts as a positive role model for the youth The shifts run from either 10:30pm to 6:30am or 11pm to 7:00am five nights a week. Shifts may vary based on needs.
   Transportation Specialist Transports and supervises youth to scheduled and emergency appointments. Maintains a daily roster of times, dates, destinations, transporters and length of transport Reports vehicle needs and damage to maintenance and tracks all vehicle issues in regards to repair Assists with weekly shuttle runs when needed. Assist with residential coverage when not needed for transports. Schedule: Expected to be 5 days/week, typically Monday - Friday, with some Sundays, approximately 8 hours/day. On non-transportation days, schedule may be 1pm - 9pm or 8:30am - 5pm. Some transports occur during overnight hours. Schedule will vary depending on transport need; flexibility is needed. Average Annual Salary $40000 - $57000 / year based on schedule and hours worked
   Requirements At minimum HS Degree/Diploma required, additional pay increase for Bachelor's degree
   Experience working with at-risk youth a major plus
   Excellent written, verbal, and oral skills
   Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
   Basic computer knowledge
   Ability to maintain a flexible schedule The supervision and treatment of youth requires prolonged periods of walking and standing and physical agility. May be required to run and climb flights of stairs. Must be able to participate in physical interventions with youth when necessary. Must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Will be required to complete Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) and CPR training.
   Applicants are required to pass an agility and strength evaluation.
   Applicants must have valid driver license. Covid-19 Vaccine Requirement As of October 15, 2021, Youth Villages has required the COVID-19 vaccine for all employees, excluding those with an approved medical or religious exemption, as a condition of employment to help ensure the safety of all employees and youth and families served. Additional Benefits Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug Coverage and Vision
   Retirement Savings Pension Plan
   401(k)
   2 weeks paid vacation
   12 paid sick days per year
   11 paid holidays Paid Parental Leave
   Mileage & Cell Phone Reimbursement (when applicable) Tuition reimbursement and licensure supervision Growth & development through continuous training Clinical and administrative advancement opportunities Youth Villages is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Youth Villages is committed to not only advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace but also in our work with children and young adults. We know that children, families and young people of color can face inequity in child welfare and justice systems, and we train our employees to build the skills they need to work with the communities that we serve, as well as, other employees from different cultures and backgrounds. Youth Villages is opposed to racism in any of its forms and is committed to inclusion, equity, and diversity. We believe that respect for each other is crucial in the work that we do each day.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find day care attendants for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your day care attendant job on Zippia to find and recruit day care attendant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit day care attendants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new day care attendant

   Once you've found the day care attendant candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

8. 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.)

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