1. Nature of the Work
Child care providers nurture and care for children who have not yet entered formal schooling and also work with older children in before- and after-school situations. These providers play an important role in a child's development by caring for the child when parents are at work or away for other reasons. In addition to attending to children's basic needs, child care providers organize activities that stimulate children's physical, emotional, intellectual, and social growth. They help children explore individual interests, develop talents and independence, build self-esteem, and learn how to get along with others.
2. Training, Other Qualifications
The training and qualifications required of child care providers vary widely. Each State has its own licensing requirements that regulate caregiver training; these range from a high school diploma to community college courses to a college degree in child development or early childhood education. State requirements are generally higher for providers at child care centers than for family child care providers; child care providers in private settings who care for only a few children often are not regulated by States at all. Child care providers generally can obtain some form of employment with a high school diploma and little or no experience, but certain private firms and publicly funded programs have more demanding training and education requirements.
3. Employment
Child care providers held about 1.4 million jobs in 2007. Many worked part time. About 1 out of 3 child care providers were self-employed; most of these were family child care providers.
4. Job Outlook
Employment of child care workers is projected to increase faster than the average for all occupations. The proportion of children being cared for exclusively by parents or other relatives is likely to continue to decline, spurring demand for additional child care workers.
High replacement needs should create good job opportunities for child care providers. Qualified persons who are interested in this work should have little trouble finding and keeping a job.
5. Earnings
Pay depends on the educational attainment of the provider and the type of establishment. In 2006, hourly earnings averaged $10.53.
Earnings of self-employed child care providers vary depending on the hours worked, the number and ages of the children, and the location.