Salaries for child care providers vary depending on educational achievement and type of establishment they work for. The median annual salary for child care providers was approximately $16,300 in 2002. The lowest ten percent of these workers earned around $12,300 and the highest earned around $23,800. Benefits for employees working for organizations may include free or discounted child care, health insurance, paid vacations and free seminars and workshops to enhance various skills. Some child care facilities even offer educational reimbursements.
Self employed child care providers often earn slightly higher annual salaries than those working for organizations because they set their own hourly rates. Their earnings generally depend upon hours they work, the number and ages of children in their care and the location of their establishment. However, self employed child care providers don�t usually receive typical employment benefits.
During the next decade the employment rate for child care providers is expected to grow at a steady pace in the United States. Results from Nationwide trends suggest that job openings for child care providers will increase by approximately 12 percent over the next eight to ten years. These results translate into more than 47,140 jobs opening up each year.
Approximately 64% of mothers are now working outside of the home and that number is expected to rise each year. Because mothers are more frequently absent from the home when children are out of school, there is a demand for after school programs. This is rapidly creating a growing need for child care providers. Another reason for the growing demand of child care specialists comes from the increasing awareness and positive results of preschool education. It is becoming more common for parents to place their children in child care programs to aid in the earlier stages of beginning education. Additionally, government funding for before and after school child care programs is becoming more available and has increased the number of children in these programs.
