Becoming a Day Care Specialist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Penn Foster Career School, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering child day care courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
day care specialists,
social workers,
nannies,
day care professionals,
day care workers, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 595,650 people employed as
child care workers alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$20,940.
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 Penn Foster Career School that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Day Care Specialist
- pre-school day care
- church
- university
- non-profit organization
- foster care facility
- center for developmental and disabilities
- ymca
- government court system
- in-home day care service
- school
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Day Care Specialist
- helping in the growth of a child
- flexible working hours
- gain more knowledge information and ideas about a certain age group
- recognized for specialized knowledge and skills
- interact with an age group with whom you had limited experience
- a child care specialist normally makes around $65000 a year
- ability to relate sensitively to preschool children
- ability to demonstrate emotional maturity and stability to children
- work with interesting people
- interactive play activities
Potential Drawbacks
- routine work
- physically taxing
- mentally taxing
- work-related injuries
- work-related illnesses
- low pay
- slim chance for advancement
- unable to take regular breaks
- minimal benefits
- communication may be challenging
Related Professions to Consider
- Youth Care Specialist
- Childcare Manager
- Child Day Care Specialist
- Day Care Assistant
- Janitor
- Physician
- Skin Care Specialist
- Palliative Care Nurse Specialist
- Child life specialists
- Social Worker
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Day Care Specialist
- Do caregivers have first-aid/CPR and child development training?
- Is each child assigned to a primary caregiver?
- How many children do you serve and what are their ages?
- What is the range of activities in which the children participate?
- What happens if I need to bring my child early or pick him up late?
- Do you let kids attend if they're not potty-trained or if they have a runny nose or a cough?
- How do you discipline kids?
- Do you ever take children on outings off-site?
- How long have you been providing care?
- What meals and supplies do I need to provide?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Nanny
- Nurse
- Care Specialist
- Nurse Practitioner
- Doctor
- Surgeon
- Professional Nanny
- Human Representatives
- Day Care Worker
- Manager
Day Care Specialist Training books
Day Care Specialist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Child Development
- Specialist Training
- Professional Development
- general studies
- evolutionary biology
- Welcome to the World of Daycare
- Child Care Today
- Special Education
- A Closer Look at Infants
- Psychology
Day Care 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
|
