Becoming a Child Development Specialist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Post University, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering child development courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
child development specialists,
child psychologists, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 277,670 people employed as
child, family, and school social workers alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$43,540.
Education administrators, preschool and child care center/program make on average $48,170
per year and there are about 51,140
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Post University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Child Development Specialist
- Elementary school
- University
- Hospital
- Healthcare organization
- Community center
- School district
- Government office
- Scientific research center
- Charity organization
- Children's organization
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Child Development Specialist
- Possibility of working from home
- Organize, plan and prioritize work
- Contact with others
- Challenge in working with different children
- Establish and maintain interpersonal relationship
- Assist and care for others
- Good pay
- Ability to work independently
- Good job benefits
- Meet a wide variety of people
Potential Drawbacks
- Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
- Document and recorde information
- Deal with unpleasant or angry people
- Indoor work
- Requires advanced education
- Decisions may impact many people
- Analyze data or information
- Interpret the meaning of information for others
- Communicate with supervisors, peers or subordinates
- Frequency of decision making
Related Professions to Consider
- Teacher
- Child Care Worker
- Principal
- Pediatrician
- Mental Health Specialist
- Physical Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Social Worker
- Child Psychologist
- Art Therapist
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Child Development Specialist
- What are the stages of early childhood development?
- What role does discipline play in the early lives of children?
- How does parental involvement influence a child's behavior?
- What is your educational background?
- How does the family impact a child's social skills?
- Do you have experience working with children?
- Why do you enjoy working with children?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Have you had a recent background check?
- What are some signs of delayed development?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Pediatrician
- Speech Therapist
- Child Psychologist
- Psychiatrist
- Counselor
- Nurse
- Teacher
- School Administrator
- Social Worker
- Lawyer
Child Development Specialist Training books
Child Development Specialist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Early Childhood Health, Safety, & Nutrition
- Approaches to Discipline
- Children and Families
- Language Development & Language Arts in Early Childhood Education
- Methods of Teaching Infants & Toddlers
- Curriculum Studies in Early Childhood Education
- Children’s Literature
- Child Psychology
- Historical & Philosophical Patterns in Education
- Perspectives on Race, Gender, Class & Culture
Child Development Specialist Salary Information
Category: Education administrators, preschool and child care center/program
| Total # Employed in the US |
51,140 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$23.16/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $12.62 |
$15.39 |
$19.74 |
$27.98 |
$38.71 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$48,170 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $26,250 |
$32,010 |
$41,060 |
$58,190 |
$80,530 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.7% |
5.5% |
8.9% |
4.9% |
22.2% |
44.8% |
12.9% |
|
Education administrators, preschool and child care center/program — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Oklahoma |
$28.92/hr
|
$60,150
|
| Florida |
$28.7/hr
|
$59,710
|
| Virginia |
$27.33/hr
|
$56,860
|
| North Dakota |
$26.46/hr
|
$55,030
|
| Colorado |
$26.05/hr
|
$54,170
|
| Missouri |
$25.71/hr
|
$53,480
|
| Kansas |
$25/hr
|
$52,000
|
| Washington |
$23.63/hr
|
$49,160
|
| West Virginia |
$23.56/hr
|
$49,000
|
| Maine |
$23.4/hr
|
$48,680
|
| Delaware |
$22.86/hr
|
$47,550
|
| Idaho |
$22.83/hr
|
$47,480
|
| Maryland |
$22.39/hr
|
$46,560
|
| Alabama |
$22.17/hr
|
$46,110
|
| Arkansas |
$21.51/hr
|
$44,730
|
| South Carolina |
$21.42/hr
|
$44,550
|
| New Jersey |
$21.26/hr
|
$44,230
|
| Connecticut |
$21.04/hr
|
$43,760
|
| Mississippi |
$20.97/hr
|
$43,630
|
| District of Columbia |
$20.83/hr
|
$43,330
|
| Nebraska |
$20.68/hr
|
$43,010
|
| New Mexico |
$20.67/hr
|
$42,990
|
| Kentucky |
$20.5/hr
|
$42,640
|
| Indiana |
$20.48/hr
|
$42,600
|
| New Hampshire |
$20.13/hr
|
$41,870
|
| Puerto Rico |
$19.61/hr
|
$40,800
|
| Alaska |
$19.61/hr
|
$40,780
|
| North Carolina |
$19.39/hr
|
$40,340
|
| New York |
$19.33/hr
|
$40,210
|
| Utah |
$19.18/hr
|
$39,900
|
| Nevada |
$18.99/hr
|
$39,510
|
| Michigan |
$18.96/hr
|
$39,430
|
| Oregon |
$18.71/hr
|
$38,920
|
| California |
$18.62/hr
|
$38,730
|
| Tennessee |
$18.24/hr
|
$37,930
|
| South Dakota |
$18.06/hr
|
$37,560
|
| Wyoming |
$17.7/hr
|
$36,810
|
| Wisconsin |
$17.34/hr
|
$36,070
|
| Pennsylvania |
$16.9/hr
|
$35,160
|
| Guam |
$16.67/hr
|
$34,680
|
| Massachusetts |
$16.58/hr
|
$34,480
|
| Louisiana |
$16.13/hr
|
$33,550
|
Category: Child, family, and school social workers
| Total # Employed in the US |
277,670 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$20.93/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $12.52 |
$15.36 |
$19.21 |
$25.2 |
$32.38 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$43,540 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $26,050 |
$31,950 |
$39,960 |
$52,410 |
$67,360 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.2% |
6.2% |
10.4% |
6.0% |
42.3% |
32.2% |
1.6% |
|
Child, family, and school social workers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Delaware |
$29.66/hr
|
$61,690
|
| Nebraska |
$26.36/hr
|
$54,820
|
| Virginia |
$26.04/hr
|
$54,170
|
| North Dakota |
$25.77/hr
|
$53,610
|
| Kansas |
$25.59/hr
|
$53,230
|
| Florida |
$24.66/hr
|
$51,290
|
| Oklahoma |
$24.44/hr
|
$50,830
|
| New York |
$24.23/hr
|
$50,400
|
| Colorado |
$24.2/hr
|
$50,340
|
| Mississippi |
$23.85/hr
|
$49,600
|
| Montana |
$23.81/hr
|
$49,520
|
| Indiana |
$23.68/hr
|
$49,250
|
| Missouri |
$22.21/hr
|
$46,200
|
| Alaska |
$21.4/hr
|
$44,500
|
| Connecticut |
$21.33/hr
|
$44,370
|
| Massachusetts |
$20.99/hr
|
$43,660
|
| Oregon |
$20.71/hr
|
$43,090
|
| Maine |
$19.89/hr
|
$41,370
|
| Alabama |
$19.6/hr
|
$40,760
|
| Hawaii |
$19.47/hr
|
$40,500
|
| Michigan |
$19.33/hr
|
$40,200
|
| Puerto Rico |
$19.16/hr
|
$39,860
|
| Guam |
$19.15/hr
|
$39,840
|
| Pennsylvania |
$18.98/hr
|
$39,480
|
| Louisiana |
$18.92/hr
|
$39,360
|
| Tennessee |
$18.91/hr
|
$39,330
|
| North Carolina |
$18.79/hr
|
$39,090
|
| South Carolina |
$18.39/hr
|
$38,240
|
| Maryland |
$18.01/hr
|
$37,450
|
| Wyoming |
$17.9/hr
|
$37,230
|
| Idaho |
$17.75/hr
|
$36,910
|
| Utah |
$17.69/hr
|
$36,790
|
| Arkansas |
$17.58/hr
|
$36,560
|
| West Virginia |
$17.25/hr
|
$35,870
|
| Ohio |
$17.2/hr
|
$35,780
|
| Iowa |
$17.13/hr
|
$35,630
|
| California |
$17.13/hr
|
$35,620
|
| New Mexico |
$17.07/hr
|
$35,510
|
| New Jersey |
$17.01/hr
|
$35,390
|
| Kentucky |
$16.82/hr
|
$34,990
|
| Wisconsin |
$16.6/hr
|
$34,530
|
| New Hampshire |
$16.31/hr
|
$33,910
|
| South Dakota |
$15.91/hr
|
$33,090
|
| Washington |
$15.69/hr
|
$32,630
|
| Nevada |
$15.34/hr
|
$31,910
|
Category: Preschool teachers, except special education
| Total # Employed in the US |
389,660 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$13.2/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $7.9 |
$9.27 |
$11.8 |
$15.5 |
$20.95 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$27,450 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16,420 |
$19,280 |
$24,540 |
$32,240 |
$43,570 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.0% |
15.9% |
23.7% |
14.0% |
31.8% |
11.9% |
0.8% |
|
Preschool teachers, except special education — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| North Dakota |
$16.24/hr
|
$33,770
|
| Oklahoma |
$15.83/hr
|
$32,920
|
| Florida |
$15.71/hr
|
$32,680
|
| Missouri |
$15.44/hr
|
$32,120
|
| Virginia |
$15.21/hr
|
$31,630
|
| Montana |
$15.08/hr
|
$31,370
|
| Nebraska |
$14.93/hr
|
$31,050
|
| Indiana |
$14.84/hr
|
$30,860
|
| Colorado |
$14.66/hr
|
$30,500
|
| Delaware |
$14.45/hr
|
$30,050
|
| Connecticut |
$14.35/hr
|
$29,850
|
| Alaska |
$14.08/hr
|
$29,300
|
| Mississippi |
$13.94/hr
|
$29,000
|
| Maine |
$13.76/hr
|
$28,610
|
| Kansas |
$13.62/hr
|
$28,320
|
| Puerto Rico |
$13.53/hr
|
$28,140
|
| Michigan |
$13.17/hr
|
$27,390
|
| North Carolina |
$13/hr
|
$27,040
|
| Maryland |
$12.98/hr
|
$27,000
|
| Wyoming |
$12.83/hr
|
$26,690
|
| South Dakota |
$12.77/hr
|
$26,560
|
| Louisiana |
$12.72/hr
|
$26,460
|
| West Virginia |
$12.68/hr
|
$26,380
|
| Pennsylvania |
$12.36/hr
|
$25,720
|
| Ohio |
$12.35/hr
|
$25,690
|
| Washington |
$12.34/hr
|
$25,660
|
| Utah |
$12.31/hr
|
$25,610
|
| California |
$12.3/hr
|
$25,570
|
| Arkansas |
$12.23/hr
|
$25,440
|
| Hawaii |
$12.1/hr
|
$25,170
|
| Alabama |
$12.04/hr
|
$25,050
|
| Tennessee |
$11.88/hr
|
$24,710
|
| Idaho |
$11.75/hr
|
$24,440
|
| Wisconsin |
$11.68/hr
|
$24,290
|
| Kentucky |
$11.61/hr
|
$24,140
|
| New Hampshire |
$11.55/hr
|
$24,030
|
| District of Columbia |
$11.52/hr
|
$23,960
|
| New York |
$11.46/hr
|
$23,840
|
| New Mexico |
$11.21/hr
|
$23,330
|
| Guam |
$11.05/hr
|
$22,980
|
| New Jersey |
$11.04/hr
|
$22,970
|
| Nevada |
$10.85/hr
|
$22,570
|
| Oregon |
$10.83/hr
|
$22,530
|
| South Carolina |
$10.64/hr
|
$22,130
|
| Massachusetts |
$10.43/hr
|
$21,690
|
| Iowa |
$9.56/hr
|
$19,880
|
Category: Child care workers
| Total # Employed in the US |
595,650 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$10.07/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $7.37 |
$8.0 |
$9.25 |
$11.49 |
$14.24 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$20,940 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $15,340 |
$16,640 |
$19,240 |
$23,900 |
$29,620 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 16.2% |
36.5% |
25.4% |
8.4% |
11.2% |
1.8% |
0.3% |
|
Child care workers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$11.82/hr
|
$24,590
|
| Missouri |
$11.77/hr
|
$24,480
|
| Oklahoma |
$11.56/hr
|
$24,040
|
| Colorado |
$11.41/hr
|
$23,730
|
| Alaska |
$11.38/hr
|
$23,670
|
| Delaware |
$11.19/hr
|
$23,280
|
| Connecticut |
$11/hr
|
$22,890
|
| North Dakota |
$10.92/hr
|
$22,710
|
| Virginia |
$10.83/hr
|
$22,530
|
| Puerto Rico |
$10.63/hr
|
$22,100
|
| South Carolina |
$10.59/hr
|
$22,030
|
| Kansas |
$10.58/hr
|
$22,010
|
| Mississippi |
$10.55/hr
|
$21,940
|
| Michigan |
$10.47/hr
|
$21,780
|
| Montana |
$10.38/hr
|
$21,590
|
| Tennessee |
$10.26/hr
|
$21,340
|
| North Carolina |
$9.87/hr
|
$20,520
|
| Nebraska |
$9.78/hr
|
$20,340
|
| Utah |
$9.7/hr
|
$20,170
|
| District of Columbia |
$9.63/hr
|
$20,030
|
| Arkansas |
$9.6/hr
|
$19,970
|
| New Hampshire |
$9.56/hr
|
$19,880
|
| New York |
$9.55/hr
|
$19,850
|
| Hawaii |
$9.45/hr
|
$19,660
|
| Indiana |
$9.45/hr
|
$19,660
|
| Louisiana |
$9.23/hr
|
$19,210
|
| Maine |
$9.13/hr
|
$18,980
|
| Ohio |
$9.12/hr
|
$18,960
|
| Kentucky |
$9.11/hr
|
$18,940
|
| Oregon |
$9.04/hr
|
$18,800
|
| Guam |
$8.96/hr
|
$18,640
|
| Maryland |
$8.86/hr
|
$18,430
|
| Idaho |
$8.83/hr
|
$18,360
|
| West Virginia |
$8.8/hr
|
$18,300
|
| Wyoming |
$8.75/hr
|
$18,210
|
| Massachusetts |
$8.74/hr
|
$18,190
|
| New Mexico |
$8.73/hr
|
$18,150
|
| Washington |
$8.64/hr
|
$17,960
|
| South Dakota |
$8.59/hr
|
$17,880
|
| Iowa |
$8.58/hr
|
$17,850
|
| Wisconsin |
$8.56/hr
|
$17,800
|
| New Jersey |
$8.53/hr
|
$17,740
|
| Alabama |
$8.44/hr
|
$17,560
|
| Pennsylvania |
$8.38/hr
|
$17,440
|
| Nevada |
$8.15/hr
|
$16,950
|
| California |
$8.05/hr
|
$16,750
|
