Childcare Workers Career, Salary and Skills
Childcare Workers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $34,980 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 518,910. Wage data is published for 439 locations.
Occupation description
Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.
O*NET code
39-9011.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$34,980
Hourly median
$16.82
Employment
518,910
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.50 | 3.12 |
| Service Orientation | 3.38 | 3.25 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Writing | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Active Learning | 3.00 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- Observe and monitor children's play activities.
- Communicate with children's parents or guardians about daily activities, behaviors, and related issues.
- Support children's emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts.
- Care for children in institutional setting, such as group homes, nursery schools, private businesses, or schools for people with disabilities.
- Sanitize toys and play equipment.
- Dress children and change diapers.
- Keep records on individual children, including daily observations and information about activities, meals served, and medications administered.
- Maintain a safe play environment.
Technology
- Educational software
- Google Classroom
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Word
- Nearpod
- Scheduling software
- Schoology
- Seesaw
- Tadpoles
- Web browser software
Childcare Workers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Childcare Workers Salary in CAMedian $40,020 · Employment 52,780
- Childcare Workers Salary in New York, NYMedian $37,870 · Employment 48,780
- Childcare Workers Salary in NYMedian $37,590 · Employment 44,020
- Childcare Workers Salary in TXMedian $28,570 · Employment 34,160
- Childcare Workers Salary in NJMedian $36,390 · Employment 25,070
- Childcare Workers Salary in ILMedian $35,830 · Employment 23,900
- Childcare Workers Salary in FLMedian $34,210 · Employment 21,760
- Childcare Workers Salary in GAMedian $28,020 · Employment 21,040
- Childcare Workers Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $36,610 · Employment 17,540
- Childcare Workers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $39,890 · Employment 16,530
- Childcare Workers Salary in MIMedian $30,970 · Employment 14,010
- Childcare Workers Salary in VAMedian $34,330 · Employment 13,930
Related careers
- Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolNational median $66,810
- Medical and Health Services ManagersNational median $123,860
- Teaching Assistants, Special EducationNational median not published
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryNational median $105,870
- Special Education Teachers, KindergartenNational median not published
- First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersNational median $48,590
- Social and Community Service ManagersNational median $80,390
- Nursing AssistantsNational median $42,260
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.