Portable Careers in Child Care

If you are searching for a career that’s portable, consider a job in the child care industry. No matter where you live, child care is likely to be in demand in your community. 

The field offers a variety of positions, some of which do not require a college degree. You can even be your own boss by offering home-based child care services. In 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 1,216,600 jobs in the child care field. The expected growth rate in the field between 2016 and 2026 is 7 percent, a rate considered as fast as average. Salary varies based on location. If you are living in an urban area with a higher demand for child care providers, your income will likely be higher than in a more rural location. 

Position types

Part-time work. The child care field offers a variety of positions. You may be able to find part-time work as a child care provider. Child care providers are not always expected to have college-level education. However, having cardiopulmonary resuscitation or first aid certifications can make finding a position a bit easier. These certifications may also help you negotiate a higher hourly rate. Part-time work in the field often allows for flexibility. When searching for a position, you can look for an opening with hours that work with your schedule. 

Full-time work. If you are looking for a full-time position and prefer to work with just one or a few children, consider finding employment as a nanny. Like babysitters, nannies typically work from their employers' homes. The duties of a nanny may extend beyond those of a babysitter to include household chores and errands, such as laundry and picking up groceries. When interviewing for a nanny position, be sure to ask what your responsibilities will be. With more responsibilities included in your job description, you can command a higher salary. 

Self-employment. Running your own home-based day care is another option if you are interested in owning your own business and working from home. Operating a day care can also effectively eliminate child care costs if you have your own children. Keep in mind the state, local and installation requirements you need to have in place before operating an at-home day care service, and that you may need insurance, a health care certification and a license to operate a home-based day care. 

Child development centers. If you would prefer to work in a facility, look for employment at local child development centers. Entry-level positions may only require a high school diploma or employers may expect you to have at least an associate degree, depending on the center. Earning a degree in early childhood development or a related field may increase your prospects.

Finding a job on an installation

Most military installations offer children and youth positions. Check with your installation's nonappropriated funds human resources office for available positions. Use the MilitaryINSTALLATIONS tool to search by installation, state or program to locate your local office. Select 'Nonappropriated Funds (NAF) Human Resources' under the 'Select a program or service' drop-down menu and your installation or postal code to find a point of contact. 

For more information on finding a job in your field of interest, contact a career coach at 800-342-9647.