What Kind of Jobs Are There Working With Children?

Working with children can be rewarding, but finding the job that matches your skills can take time and research. There are a variety of professions that will allow you to work directly with children, but each has a different educational requirement, so it's important for you to match your skills and training with some of the career choices that are available.

Speech Pathologist

Speech pathologists evaluate, diagnose and treat people with language, communication and speech disorders. These conditions may include stuttering, the inability to produce sounds clearly and fluency issues. Because speech pathologists work closely with patients to develop a comprehensive treatment plan, those who work specifically with children will spend a lot of time interacting and forming bonds with them. A career in speech pathology often requires a master's degree, and 47 states also require licensing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2009, the median annual wage for a speech pathologist was $65,090.

Child Care Worker

Child care workers spend their days teaching and caring for young children and can play a beneficial role in the development of a child's knowledge and socialization skills. Good child care workers must be patient, nurturing and creative while creating new stimulation to engage a child's interest in a variety of ways. Child care workers can work privately for families, or they can be employed by a licensed child care provider. Licensing requirements for child care workers vary; those who work in child care centers often have to meet state requirements that may include a high school diploma, community college or even a four-year degree. As of 2009, the median annual wage for a child care worker was $19,240, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Child Psychologist

A child psychologist works exclusively with children to help evaluate and treat the problems and issues they face. Unlike a psychiatrist, psychologists cannot prescribe drugs; their main duty is to develop a program with children and parents to modify negative behavior and improve a child's mental health. Generally, a master's degree in psychology is the minimum education required, but many child psychologists choose to pursue a doctorate as well. Child psychologists can work in hospitals, schools, private clinics or open their own practice. The median annual salary for a child psychologist, as of 2009, was $66,040, with top earners at more than $109,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Pediatric Dietitian

Pediatric dietitians are trained in the development of healthy eating habits for children from birth up to age 18. They're responsible for monitoring and creating healthy diet plans to help prevent childhood obesity, diabetes and other nutrition-based illnesses. Educational requirements for pediatric dietitians are regulated by the Commission for Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) and include two- and four-year college degrees in nutrition and post-graduate degrees for further specialization. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the annual median wage for a dietitian at $52,150 as of 2009.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Dietitians and Nutritionists
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Child Care Workers
• Career Builder: 10 Jobs for People Who Want To Work With Children
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Clinical, Counseling and School Psychologists
• Online Nutrition Degrees: Pediatric Dietitian -- Children's Nutrition Degree

Resources

• GuideToOnline Schools: Child Psychology Degree Program
• VocationalInformationCenter: Child Care and Education Career Resources
• WorkingWithKids: Jobs
• BureauofLaborStatistics: Speech-Language Pathologists