Childcare workers
Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.
Childcare workers attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play. The role reports a median annual salary of $32,050 in the US and is projected to decline by 3% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows low AI exposure (0.31 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include customer service, legal requirements in the social sector, social sciences, social development, adolescent psychological development.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £24,742 a year for Early education and childcare assistants (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £20,341 to £27,945 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 6111). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Service and sales workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Childcare workers, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 5. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Public Safety and Security
- Psychology
- Administration and Management
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Mathematics
A day in the life
You arrive at the childcare centre before the children, checking that toys are clean, play areas are safe and the day's activities are ready. As parents drop off their children, you greet each child and chat with parents about any concerns. The morning is filled with play: building blocks, painting and outdoor games, while you watch closely to keep everyone safe. You help children share, take turns and express their feelings with words. At snack time you help them wash their hands and eat, then read stories while the younger ones settle for a nap. After lunch you lead music and movement activities, encouraging shy children to join in. You sanitise toys and equipment throughout the day. When parents arrive, you share news about their child's day. The work is noisy and tiring, but watching children grow in confidence and friendship is joyful.
In India: In India this care is provided in private creches and day-care centres in cities, and in government anganwadi centres in villages and towns, where workers also help with children's nutrition and health checks.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- Maintain a safe play environment.
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Childcare workers do?
Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.
What does a typical day look like in Childcare workers?
You arrive at the childcare centre before the children, checking that toys are clean, play areas are safe and the day's activities are ready. As parents drop off their children, you greet each child and chat with parents about any concerns. The morning is filled with play: building blocks, painting and outdoor games, while you watch closely to keep everyone safe. You help children share, take turns and express their feelings with words.
How much does Childcare workers earn?
The median annual salary for Childcare workers in the US is $32,050.
What is the job outlook for Childcare workers?
The role is projected to decline by 3% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 991,600 workers.
How do I become childcare workers?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Childcare workers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include customer service, legal requirements in the social sector, social sciences, social development, adolescent psychological development, social justice. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Childcare workers?
Our AI-durability model gives Childcare workers a score of 0.31 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Childcare workers has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.