All careers

Childcare Workers

  • Bright Outlook
  • Numerous Job Openings

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 you’d 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.
  • Dress children and change diapers.
  • Keep records on individual children, including daily observations and information about activities, meals served, and medications administered.

Skills that matter

  • Monitoring
  • Service Orientation
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Active Listening
  • Coordination
  • Critical Thinking

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Child Care Worker
  • Childcare Provider
  • Infant Teacher
  • Toddler Teacher
  • Caregiver
  • Child Caregiver
See all careers
  • Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education

    • Bright Outlook
    • Rapid Growth

    Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and…

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

  • Nannies

    • Bright Outlook
    • Numerous Job Openings

    Care for children in private households and provide support and expertise to parents in satisfying children's physical, emotional…

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Personal Care Aides

    • Bright Outlook
    • Rapid Growth
    • Numerous Job Openings

    Provide personalized assistance to individuals with disabilities or illness who require help with personal care and activities of daily…

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education

    Teach academic and social skills to kindergarten students.

    Considerable preparation: most need a four-year bachelor's degree

  • Home Health Aides

    • Bright Outlook
    • Rapid Growth
    • Numerous Job Openings

    Monitor the health status of an individual with disabilities or illness, and address their health-related needs, such as changing…

    Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

  • Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education

    Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher with instructional duties.

    Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree