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Childcare Workers in California
Considering working as a Childcare Workers in California? Here’s what the data says. Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play. Excludes “Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education” (25-2011) and “Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education” (25-9042).
What do Childcare Workers Make in California?
For a childcare workers working in California, the typical annual salary is $38,220 per year (or roughly $18.38/hour).Pay can range from $34,130 at the 10th percentile to $49,920 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,130 | $16.41 |
| 25th percentile | $36,030 | $17.32 |
| Median (50th) | $38,220 | $18.38 |
| 75th percentile | $45,510 | $21.88 |
| 90th percentile | $49,920 | $24.00 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in California nationwide is 0.77, meaning fewer childcare workers per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, childcare workers earn a median of $50,186 per year ($24.13/hour), lower than the California median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 395,644 childcare workers in the U.S.. In California alone, approximately 47,190 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 6,200 childcare workers.
Top California Metros for Childcare Workers
The largest metro-area employers of childcare workers in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 19,120 | $38,070 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 5,760 | $44,970 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 4,030 | $37,020 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 3,800 | $37,970 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,440 | $43,640 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,840 | $36,290 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 1,230 | $35,980 |
| Fresno, CA | 1,190 | $34,380 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 700 | $37,610 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 610 | $39,460 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 540 | $36,990 |
| Vallejo, CA | 500 | $37,930 |
| Modesto, CA | 490 | $39,610 |
| Salinas, CA | 490 | $37,540 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 440 | $36,060 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 410 | $36,170 |
| Chico, CA | 310 | $35,520 |
| Visalia, CA | 300 | $36,340 |
| El Centro, CA | 280 | $35,970 |
| Redding, CA | 250 | $35,570 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 250 | $36,870 |
| Merced, CA | 230 | $35,270 |
| Yuba City, CA | 190 | $35,640 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 170 | $36,030 |
| Napa, CA | 150 | $37,900 |
Top States for Childcare Workers Employment
These states have the highest employment of childcare workers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 47,190 |
| Texas | 45,020 |
| New York | 42,780 |
| Georgia | 25,650 |
| New Jersey | 23,680 |
| Illinois | 22,540 |
| Florida | 21,790 |
| Michigan | 14,760 |
| Pennsylvania | 14,410 |
| Virginia | 14,150 |
| Tennessee | 13,190 |
| Ohio | 12,580 |
| Massachusetts | 12,370 |
| North Carolina | 12,200 |
| South Carolina | 11,570 |
| Colorado | 11,560 |
| Minnesota | 10,910 |
| Missouri | 10,600 |
| Connecticut | 9,630 |
| Oklahoma | 9,550 |
Highest-Paying States for Childcare Workers
These states pay the most for childcare workers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $45,400 |
| Massachusetts | $39,290 |
| Colorado | $38,410 |
| California | $38,220 |
| Vermont | $37,830 |
| Washington | $37,800 |
| New York | $36,630 |
| Hawaii | $36,440 |
| Oregon | $36,250 |
| Connecticut | $35,290 |
Skills
Key childcare workers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for childcare workers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- 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.
- Dress children and change diapers.
- Keep records on individual children, including daily observations and information about activities, meals served, and medications administered.
- Identify signs of emotional or developmental problems in children and bring them to parents' or guardians' attention.
- Instruct children in health and personal habits, such as eating, resting, and toilet habits.
- Organize and store toys and materials to ensure order in activity areas.
- Perform general administrative tasks, such as taking attendance, editing internal paperwork, and making phone calls.
Work Activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Thinking Creatively
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Getting Information
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Office software
Related Careers
Related occupations to childcare workers include:
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary
- Medical and Health Services Managers
- Social and Community Service Managers
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Health Education Specialists
Also Known As
After School Coordinator, After School Counselor, Attendant, Baby Attendant, Baby Sitter, Before and After School Daycare Worker, Boarding Mother, Care Provider, Caregiver, Child Attendant, Child Care Aide, Child Care Assistant, Child Care Attendant, Child Care Development Specialist, Child Care Professional.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 39-9011.00
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