Jobs Working With Children: 16 Careers, Training Paths, and Pay

By Chris Gaglardi
| Last Updated November 3, 2026

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If you want to work with children, you have more choices than becoming a teacher. You could help preschoolers learn to communicate, support teenagers through difficult situations, coach young people through new skills, or care for children in a hospital. The right choice depends on what you want your workday to look like, how much training you can take on, and which responsibilities you actually want.

The short answer: Childcare, recreation, and some classroom-support jobs can offer relatively quick entry. Preschool teaching and allied-health assistant roles can involve associate-level education. Licensed teaching, nursing, counseling, psychology, and speech-language pathology generally require more formal preparation. The highest-paying option on paper is not automatically the best fit, especially if its work with children depends on getting a pediatric or school-based position.

This guide compares 16 realistic career paths by education, national pay, work setting, and what to check before enrolling. It focuses on U.S. careers and uses May 2025 national BLS wage data and 2025–2035 employment projections. Requirements can differ by state, employer, and specialty.

Compare careers working with children

How to read this table: Dollar amounts are national medians for the BLS occupation, not starting salaries, pediatric-specialty wages, or offers you should expect locally. For example, the $97,550 RN median covers registered nurses working with patients of all ages. Special education teachers use a BLS summary occupation across grade levels; other rows generally use detailed occupations. RBT and child life specialist do not have dedicated national BLS wage series, so we do not substitute unrelated occupations' pay. The projections describe changes in total employment, not how easy it will be to get your first job. Replacement openings can exist even when total employment is flat or declining.

Which type of work with children fits you?

Start with the work, not the salary or the appeal of a job title.

Three questions narrow the field quickly. Which ages do you want to work with? Infants and toddlers require a different kind of attention from teenagers. Do you prefer groups or one-on-one interactions? Running a classroom and supporting one child's therapy goals are different jobs. How much responsibility do you want? Caring, teaching, administering clinical treatment, and assessing mental health each bring different qualifications and legal obligations.

Jobs working with children without a four-year degree

These careers can offer earlier entry, but "no bachelor's degree" does not mean "no training, checks, or requirements." Childcare regulation, school district hiring rules, professional certification and clinical-program admissions can change what is possible in your state.

1. Childcare worker or nanny

Childcare workers supervise play, help with meals and personal care, maintain safe routines, and communicate with families. The job can involve infants, toddlers, or school-age children, depending on the employer. Nanny positions often involve more individual attention; a childcare center typically involves several children and coworkers.

The BLS median was $34,980 in May 2025. Some jobs require little formal education beyond employer training, while regulated centers may have specific orientation, screening and continuing-training rules. A Child Development Associate (CDA) credential can be useful in early childhood settings, but it is not a universal substitute for state qualifications. The Council for Professional Recognition requires, among other steps, 120 hours of professional education and 480 hours of qualifying experience for the initial CDA. Not every kind of informal babysitting or after-school work counts toward those experience hours.

Fit check: Consider this path if you genuinely enjoy daily care routines and can handle noise, frequent interruptions, physical activity and close communication with parents. Ask whether the job is year-round, whether hours are guaranteed, and which age group you would actually serve.

2. Recreation worker or youth program leader

Youth recreation staff lead camp activities, after-school programs, sports, crafts and community-center events. It can be a useful way to discover whether you enjoy managing groups of children without immediately enrolling in a degree program. Recreation workers had a $36,560 national median in May 2025, but that BLS figure includes workers serving adults as well as children.

Some jobs are seasonal or part-time. Others are year-round positions in parks departments or community organizations. Employers may expect first-aid training, safeguarding procedures, background screening or experience with a particular activity.

Fit check: Good for energetic people who like variety and group activities. Less suitable if you need a predictable full-time paycheck from day one. Coaching youth sports is another possibility, but paid coaching positions and volunteer league roles are not interchangeable.

3. Teacher assistant or paraprofessional

Teacher assistants help students practice lessons, stay organized, participate in activities and receive support under a teacher's direction. Some work with a whole class; others support individual students, including children with disabilities. The BLS national median was $36,780.

BLS classifies some college, no degree as the typical entry education, but actual hiring requirements depend on the school system, assignment and applicable federal or state rules. Some positions have school-year schedules and do not provide the same paid hours as year-round employment.

Fit check: A strong way to test whether you enjoy the school environment without immediately taking responsibility for an entire classroom. Ask about training, student support duties, contract length and how much independent decision-making the position allows.

4. Preschool teacher or early childhood educator

Preschool teachers plan early learning activities and help young children build language, motor, social and self-regulation skills. The national median was $38,140. BLS identifies an associate degree as typical entry education, but the credential required for a specific preschool job can differ sharply between private childcare, public pre-K and Head Start.

For example, federal Head Start preschool rules generally require center-based teachers to have at least an associate or bachelor's degree in early childhood education/child development, equivalent coursework, or another qualifying route under the applicable law. That is not the same as saying every Head Start preschool teacher needs a bachelor's degree. Public-school teaching credentials may impose additional state requirements.

Fit check: This path makes sense if you want to teach young children through structured play. Before choosing a program, verify whether it qualifies you for the specific type of preschool employer you have in mind. Explore early childhood education programs for the training side of that decision.

5. Registered behavior technician (RBT)

RBTs are supervised paraprofessionals who help implement behavior-analytic services. Some work with children with developmental or behavioral support needs in clinics, homes or schools; the credential itself is not restricted to pediatric practice. This can involve one-on-one interaction, detailed progress recording and close coordination with a supervising professional.

The 2026 BACB requirements include being at least 18, having a high school-level education, criminal background and abuse-registry checks, an eligible 40-hour training, an initial competency assessment, and an exam. The training must meet the 2026 curriculum rules; an old course advertisement is not sufficient proof. RBTs work under ongoing supervision and do not independently diagnose or design treatment plans.

Fit check: Consider it if you enjoy patient, structured teaching and are comfortable with observation and data collection. Ask employers about paid training, supervision, cancellations, guaranteed hours, safety practices and the population served. There is no dedicated BLS national median wage for RBTs, so generic salary estimates should not be presented as official occupational pay.

6. Social and human service assistant

These workers help people access services, complete paperwork, coordinate support and follow up on needs. In a youth or family-services organization, that may mean helping parents find resources or supporting young people with community programs. In other jobs, clients may be adults. The occupation-wide BLS median was $45,930.

BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as typical entry education, although employers may prefer relevant college coursework or experience. This is generally a support role, not a shortcut to becoming a licensed social worker or counselor.

Fit check: Worth exploring if you want practical community impact and can manage records, appointments and sensitive situations. Ask how much of the work involves children directly versus coordinating services for families. See human services education options for related training.

7. Occupational therapy assistant (OTA)

OTAs help clients practice daily activities under an occupational therapist's supervision. In pediatric settings, that can mean supporting children as they develop skills used in school, play and self-care. OTAs earned a $72,300 national median, and BLS projects 21.5% employment growth from 2025 to 2035. Those figures cover all OTA settings, not pediatric OTAs alone.

The usual path involves an associate-level ACOTE-accredited OTA program, required fieldwork, the NBCOT exam, and state licensure steps. An occupational therapy aide course is not the same credential and should not be marketed as a direct route to OTA practice.

Fit check: A promising option for someone who wants hands-on clinical work without committing to a master's degree. Ask programs how fieldwork is arranged, whether pediatric placements are possible, and what graduates must do to become licensed where they intend to work. Compare OTA training paths.

8. Physical therapist assistant (PTA)

PTAs work under physical therapists to help patients improve movement and function. A pediatric assignment may involve developmental movement, mobility and rehabilitation, but PTA graduates may work with patients of all ages. The national median was $68,380, with 23.0% projected employment growth through 2035.

The common route is an associate-level PTA program with clinical education. Candidates generally need a CAPTE-accredited degree or an accepted equivalent, approval under the licensing jurisdiction's rules, and the relevant National Physical Therapy Examination pathway. Confirm these details before treating an online or hybrid program as a licensure route.

Fit check: Best for people who like movement-focused, hands-on healthcare. Consider the physical demands and whether local employers actually offer pediatric positions. See PTA program guidance.

Careers with children that usually involve a bachelor's degree

9. Elementary school teacher

Elementary teachers teach core subjects, plan lessons, assess progress, communicate with families and manage classroom routines. Working with children is central to the role, but so are preparation, documentation and classroom management. The BLS median was $63,970, with essentially flat projected employment through 2035.

A bachelor's degree and state teacher preparation or certification requirements are the usual public-school route. Alternative pathways exist in some jurisdictions, but an unrelated degree does not automatically authorize someone to teach in a public school.

Fit check: Choose this route if you want to guide a group of children across a school year and enjoy both teaching and planning. Investigate student-teaching placements, state eligibility and local district schedules before enrolling. Start with education career and program options.

10. Special education teacher

Special education teachers adapt instruction, assess student needs, coordinate support plans and work with families and other professionals. Some spend substantial time teaching small groups or individuals; others work in inclusive classrooms or consult across several classes. This can be deeply engaging work, but it is not automatically a quiet one-on-one role.

Across all special education teaching levels, BLS reports a $67,170 national median and essentially flat projected employment. The BLS figure is a summary category across grade levels. State credential requirements, subject/grade authorizations and supervised preparation matter just as much as the degree title.

Fit check: Good for people who can adapt instruction and collaborate under complex student needs. Ask about classroom setting, caseload, instructional support and time allocated to documentation. Verify the state credential before choosing a special education program.

11. Child, family, and school social worker

These social workers help children and families respond to problems affecting safety, stability, schooling and access to services. Work can involve family meetings, case plans, referrals and collaboration with schools or public agencies. Some roles are primarily office-based; others involve home visits or crisis response.

The specific BLS occupation, child, family, and school social workers, had a $59,550 median and 4.4% projected growth. A bachelor's degree can support entry to some nonclinical roles, but clinical social work and certain school or agency positions may require a master's degree, supervised experience and state licensure.

Fit check: Consider this work if you can listen carefully, keep clear boundaries and manage difficult conversations and documentation. Ask whether the position involves emergencies, travel or on-call work. Explore social work education, but verify which programs qualify for the exact role you want.

12. Registered nurse in pediatrics

Pediatric nurses care for children in hospitals, clinics, schools and other settings. They monitor health, administer treatments within their professional scope, teach families and coordinate care. The work may involve fast-paced decisions and distressed families. The $97,550 BLS median is for all registered nurses, not a separate pediatric-RN occupation.

Nursing can be entered through approved associate, bachelor's or diploma pathways, followed by the applicable licensure process. A pediatric RN license is not a separate basic license: first become an RN, then qualify for a pediatric assignment. Additional certification, such as PNCB's Certified Pediatric Nurse credential, has its own practice-hour eligibility rules and is not the initial RN license.

Fit check: Suitable if you want clinical responsibility and can handle illness, procedures, documentation and potentially nights or weekends. Confirm state board approval, clinical placement arrangements and whether local employers hire new graduates into pediatrics. Compare registered nursing programs.

Graduate and specialized careers working with children

13. School counselor

School counselors support students with academic planning, personal challenges, peer relationships and access to additional services. The role can involve individual meetings, classroom lessons, parent contact and referrals. It is not the same job as a licensed mental health therapist in private practice.

The $64,330 national median belongs to BLS's broader educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors occupation, which includes positions outside K–12 schools. School-counselor credentials generally involve graduate preparation and state education-agency rules. California and Texas, for example, have different detailed routes; neither should be generalized to every state.

Fit check: Consider this career if you enjoy listening, problem-solving and coordinating support in a school environment. Ask about actual counseling duties versus scheduling and administrative work, and confirm the state's school-counselor credential requirements. Counseling education is a starting point, not proof that a particular program leads to school authorization.

14. School psychologist

School psychologists help schools understand learning, behavioral and mental-health needs. Their work can include assessments, consultation with educators and families, interventions and collaboration on student support plans. Someone expecting to spend every day providing individual psychotherapy may be surprised by the amount of testing, report writing and meetings.

BLS reports a $95,990 median for the school psychologists occupation specifically, with 0.8% projected employment growth through 2035. BLS lists a master's degree as typical entry education, but state school-psychologist credentials commonly require specialist-level graduate preparation or an approved equivalent. For example, North Carolina describes an approved specialist-level program and a supervised internship route.

Fit check: A strong option for people interested in learning, assessment and systems-level student support. Before applying, verify the degree level, internship, exams and state credential needed for employment where you intend to work.

15. Speech-language pathologist (SLP)

SLPs assess and treat communication and swallowing disorders. In schools or pediatric clinics, they may help children develop language, speech clarity, fluency and other communication skills. They also spend time on evaluations, care plans, documentation and coordination with families and educators.

The national BLS median was $97,870, with 16.6% projected growth through 2035. Those figures include SLPs working with adults. The typical entry pathway is a master's degree, and state licensure or school credentials may apply. ASHA's CCC-SLP professional certification has requirements that are distinct from state authorization.

Fit check: Consider SLP if you enjoy structured, often individual or small-group work and are willing to complete graduate clinical training. Verify the program's accreditation, required clinical experiences, and eligibility in the state where you want to work.

16. Certified child life specialist

Child life specialists help children and families cope with hospitalization and medical procedures through preparation, play, education and emotional support. They are not nurses and do not replace medical treatment. Their work is closely centered on children, but the career has a significant training bottleneck that a generic “jobs with kids” list can easily hide.

The Association of Child Life Professionals requires at least a bachelor's degree, specified coursework and a minimum 600-hour clinical internship under direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist before the certification examination. The degree can be in an eligible field other than child life if the academic requirements are met. The association notes that internships are competitive and usually unpaid, so candidates should ask about placement access and travel or relocation costs before choosing a degree program.

Fit check: Worth considering if you want to support children in medical settings without becoming a clinician who administers treatment. BLS does not publish a dedicated national median wage for child life specialists, so treat third-party salary claims cautiously and compare actual employer postings for your location.

What are the highest-paying jobs working with children?

In this comparison, SLPs ($97,870), registered nurses ($97,550) and school psychologists ($95,990) have among the highest reported national occupational medians. OTA ($72,300) and PTA ($68,380) are notable associate-level clinical options. However, these are occupation-wide medians, and an RN, SLP, OTA or PTA may spend little or no time with children unless they work in a pediatric or school setting.

Pay also needs to be weighed against the cost and length of training, availability of pediatric jobs, schedule, state requirements and whether the work itself fits you. The better question is not just “Which job pays the most?” but “Which qualifying path gets me into work I would actually want to do?”

Other child-focused paths worth considering

Youth sports coach: Coaching can be rewarding if you enjoy mentoring children through practice and competition. Paid school and club jobs differ from volunteer community roles. The broad BLS coaches and scouts occupation had a $47,320 median in May 2025, but that is not a youth-coach-specific salary and BLS identifies a bachelor's degree as typical for the broader occupation.

Pediatric dental hygienist: Dental hygienists may specialize in working with children, but pediatric practice is an employment setting rather than a separate BLS occupation. The broad dental hygienist median was $98,100. The usual route involves qualifying dental hygiene education and state licensure; see dental hygiene training.

Occupational therapist: Unlike an OTA, an occupational therapist typically needs graduate education and professional licensure. The BLS occupation-wide median was $100,330, but pediatric practice is only one of its possible settings. This is a different credential and scope of responsibility from OTA.

What to verify before paying for training

A program can sound relevant to children without qualifying you for the job you want. Use this checklist before signing an enrollment agreement:

1. Name the target job and setting. “Working with kids” is not a credential. Do you want public pre-K, a private childcare center, a pediatric clinic, a school, or a hospital?
2. Check the authority that controls entry. For regulated roles, verify state licensing or school credential rules directly. For professional credentials, consult the relevant body such as BACB, ACLP, AOTA/NBCOT, FSBPT, ASHA or the nursing board.
3. Check professional-program accreditation when it matters. OTA and PTA have specific professional education requirements. General institutional accreditation is not a substitute for a qualifying clinical program.
4. Ask who arranges practical experience. Does the school place students in clinics, schools or internships? Are pediatric placements available? What happens if a site cancels or is too far away?
5. Compare the real timeline. Prerequisites, selective admissions, student teaching, fieldwork, licensing exams and competitive internships can extend a program beyond its advertised course length.
6. Get total costs in writing. Ask about fees, equipment, background checks, health clearances, exam fees, travel and possible unpaid placements. Do not rely on a national tuition estimate for a specific school.
7. Verify online-program eligibility where you will work. An online degree being available in your state does not necessarily mean it satisfies your state's professional authorization rules.
8. Ask about actual child contact and work hours. A pediatric specialty may be competitive; a school-year position may have different pay distribution; a youth recreation job may be seasonal.
9. Understand child-safety responsibilities. Background screening, safeguarding and mandatory-reporting rules vary by role and jurisdiction. Confirm which requirements apply to you.

For broader guidance, see how to choose a trade school and how accreditation works.

Frequently asked questions

What jobs working with children can I get without a degree?

Depending on the state and employer, childcare work, youth recreation, some teacher-assistant positions and social-service support roles can offer entry without a college degree. RBT is another possibility, but it requires a specific certification process, including 2026-compliant training, checks, assessment and an exam. A short certificate does not qualify someone to practice as a licensed teacher, RN, OTA, PTA, SLP or school psychologist.

Can I work with children without becoming a teacher?

Yes. Childcare, recreation, nursing, occupational and physical therapy assistance, speech-language pathology, social work, school psychology, behavior support and child life are different routes. Some require a pediatric or school-based job assignment rather than automatically involving children.

Are there good-paying careers with children that take about two years of college?

OTA and PTA are worth researching. BLS reports May 2025 occupation-wide medians of $72,300 and $68,380 respectively, and both commonly have associate-level entry routes. Neither guarantees pediatric work, and both have professional education, clinical and licensure requirements. Nursing associate-degree routes can also lead toward RN licensure, subject to board approval and other requirements.

Can I become a pediatric nurse through an online program?

Some nursing programs offer online coursework, but qualifying RN education includes supervised clinical preparation and must satisfy the relevant nursing board's rules. Ask where clinical experiences take place, who arranges them, and whether graduates are eligible for the licensing process where they plan to work. Pediatric nursing is a later assignment or specialization, not a separate basic RN license.

Do school counselors and school psychologists do the same job?

No. School counselors commonly focus on student guidance, academic planning and support services. School psychologists often emphasize assessment, consultation, intervention and educational or behavioral evaluation. Actual duties and credential requirements vary by district and state.

Is child life specialist a four-year career?

Not necessarily. The minimum academic degree is a bachelor's, but certification also requires specified coursework and a 600-hour supervised child life internship. Finding and completing an internship can add time, travel and cost, and an academic program does not guarantee a placement.

Find a training path that fits the job

Once you have two or three realistic careers on your shortlist, compare qualifying programs, not just appealing course titles. Start with early childhood education, registered nursing, occupational therapy assistant, physical therapist assistant, or social work as appropriate. Check each program against your state's requirements before requesting information or paying tuition.

Source notes: National pay figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Employment changes are from BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035. Additional primary sources include the Council for Professional Recognition, Head Start staff-qualification rules, BACB's current RBT guidance, AOTA's licensing guidance, FSBPT's NPTE eligibility rules, PNCB pediatric nursing certification, Association of Child Life Professionals, ASHA certification guidance, ACLP child life academic requirements, California school-counselor credentials, Texas school-counselor certification, ChildCare.gov state training requirements, and North Carolina school-psychologist licensure guidance.