The daycare business is booming. People are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of early learning experiences and welfare for their children. In 2017, there were an estimated 50 million children under the age of five in the United States alone, and nearly 60% of those children have mothers who work outside of the home. Moreover, that number has steadily gone up as more women enter into full-time careers and some wonder how much daycare workers make after having their first child instead of staying at home.
This growing trend has led to a demand growth that shows no signs of slowing down. So, if you’re looking to get involved in this industry, it’s a perfect time that you do it! So how do you figure out what steps to take next?
In this article, we’re going to shed some light on the daycare business, specifically how much they make and what it costs to open your own.
What Does a Daycare Worker or Childcare Worker Do?
A child care or daycare worker is primarily responsible for the care of children while their parents are away. This may include tasks such as feeding, bathing, and dressing the children, playing with them, reading to them, and putting them down for naps or bedtime. Childcare workers may also be responsible for tidying up after the children, preparing meals, and doing laundry.
Most of the time, child care or daycare workers help children under their care with life skills, such as potty training, basic hygiene, and manners. They may also provide educational enrichment activities, such as arts and crafts, music and movement classes, or storytime.
Daycare facilities commonly have a written schedule, with workers ensuring that the program is carried out properly. They can also tweak the schedule as needed to accommodate the needs of the children in their care.
What is the Average Hourly Rate for Daycare Workers?
The average hourly rate for daycare workers is $13 per hour. This equates to a yearly salary of $27,040 a year working full-time and not getting overtime pay. However, this can vary based on the state you live in.
For example, childcare workers in California make an average of $18.35 an hour, while those in New York make $14.13 and those in Texas earn just $12.78 per hour ($26,560 a year).
Childcare workers who work for the government generally make more money than their counterparts working at private facilities: They can expect to make about 20% more on average with the government.
How Much Does It Cost to Open a Daycare?
The cost of opening your daycare varies greatly depending on how big you want it and where in the country you live. For example, if you are opening up a daycare in New York City, that will be more expensive than if you were to open one in a rural area.
Generally speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from $30,000 to $150,000 to get your daycare up and running. This cost includes licensing and permit fees, furniture and equipment, marketing materials, signage, and insurance.
Opening a daycare requires a lot of money, but it’s important to remember that this business will also be an investment in your future. Once your daycare is open for business, the money will start coming back into your pocket as parents pay tuition and fees for their children to attend your facility.
In addition, there are also several government programs designed specifically to help small businesses like daycare centers get off the ground. The ‘Child and Adult Care Food Program,’ for example, will reimburse you for a certain percentage of your food costs each month.
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities in the US for Daycare Workers
Now that you know a little bit more about daycare workers and what they do, it’s time to take a look at the top-paying cities in the US. These are where childcare workers can make the most money per hour.
The following list is based on average hourly rates for daycare workers as of 2016, as reported by the US Department of Labor.
1. San Francisco ($28.12 per hour)
The city by the bay is one of the most expensive places to live in America, but luckily for those working in childcare, it pays well too! Here, childcare workers make almost twice as much on average compared to other cities like New York or Los Angeles.
2. Boston ($26.52 per hour)
This city is known for its history and culture, but it’s also home to some of the highest-paid childcare workers in America.
3. Washington, DC ($25.22 per hour)
The nation’s capital offers a lot more than just politics; it also has great salaries for childcare workers.
4. New York City ($24.43 per hour)
New Yorkers may be able to afford those expensive apartments thanks in part to high wages for daycare workers!
5. Seattle ($21.92 per hour)
It’s no surprise that this city is home to some of the highest-paid childcare workers; after all, it’s one of the most expensive places to live in America.
6. Los Angeles ($21.27 per hour)
With Hollywood and Beverly Hills just minutes away, it’s no wonder that childcare workers in LA make a pretty penny.
7. San Diego ($20.92 per hour)
This city on the Pacific coast is a great place to live and work if you’re interested in childcare because it offers high wages for this type of job.
8. Chicago ($20.45 per hour)
The Windy City may be known for its pizza, but it’s also where childcare workers make some pretty good money, too!
9. Philadelphia ($18.75 per hour)
This city is home to a lot of history and culture and some pretty good wages for childcare workers.
10. Dallas ($12.78 per hour)
Texas may be known for its cowboys, but it’s also home to some of the lowest-paying daycare jobs in America. Childcare workers here make just $26,560 a year on average.
Highest Paying Jobs Related to Daycare Workers
Our research found the top five high-paying jobs related to daycare workers.
- Pediatrician: This is the top-paying job related to daycare workers, with an average salary of $183,270 per year.
- Child psychiatrist: This is the second-highest paying job related to daycare workers, with an average salary of $168,580 per year.
- Elementary school teacher: This is the third-highest paying job related to daycare workers, with an average salary of $57,980 per year.
- Child psychologist: This is the fourth-highest paying job related to daycare workers, with an average salary of $54,170 per year.
- Social worker: This is the fifth-highest paying job related to daycare workers, with an average salary of $53,430 per year.
These are just a few of the high-paying jobs related to daycare workers; there are many other great options out there for those looking to enter this field. With a little research and some hard work, you can find the perfect job that pays well and is fulfilling too. So what are you waiting for? Start your search today!
How to Increase Your Pay as a Daycare Worker?
If you are currently working in the childcare industry but would like to advance your career, it may be time to change. The first step is finding out what type of daycare worker you want to become. Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I enjoy working with children?
- Do I have any experience or training that would make me a good candidate for an entry-level position in this field?
- Would I like more responsibility on the job (i.e., caring for children and their families)?
Once you have answered these questions, it’s time to consider how much money will be needed to support yourself while pursuing your new career goals. For example, if you are starting as a daycare worker, you may be able to find employment at an hourly rate of $11 per hour.
Get Experience
The more experience and training you have under your belt – especially in childcare settings like preschools or private homes – the higher your salary. If you have adequate experience with proper training and certification, you can expect to land salaries closer to those mentioned above (i.e., between $30k-40k annually).
Location
As mentioned before, location plays a huge part in the amount of money you can earn in the daycare industry. For instance, if you’re living in Dallas, you can’t expect to earn more than someone working daycare in places like Boston or Philadelphia.
Choose the Right Offer
The next step is to find a job that pays well. If you’re looking for work in the childcare industry, it’s best to look at what type of daycare worker you want and how much money will be needed to support yourself while pursuing your new career goals. Then, look into local agencies and see if they have any openings for childcare workers.
How Business Types Affect Your Pay as a Daycare Worker?
There are three main types of businesses that hire daycare workers:
- Family-style centers: the most common type of business and usually have the lowest salaries.
- Home-based programs: typically pay more than family-style centers, but you may need to be available for a longer workweek.
- Corporate child care facilities: offer the best salaries and benefits, but they are also the hardest to get into.
Each one offers its benefits and drawbacks. It’s important to know which type is best suited for your needs so you can make an informed decision when applying for jobs in this field.
What Services are Offered by Daycare Workers?
Daycare workers provide a variety of services for children. Specifically, they offer the following services:
- Play games
- Read stories
- Feed children snacks or lunches
- Supervise nap times
- Take care of any minor medical needs that might arise during the day
- Diaper changes
- Help with any homework that needs to be completed.
- Keep track of the children’s development
- Note any milestones that are reached or changes in behavior
- Alert parents if anything seems amiss
How ReliaBills Can Make Daycare Invoices Easier
As a daycare worker or someone who runs a daycare center, the goal is always to earn and get paid for your services. Invoicing plays a significant part in that process, so it’s important to ensure you’re doing it properly. If your invoices aren’t clear or easy for customers to understand, then they won’t be paying on time either!
Invoicing can be hard, especially if you don’t have a working system in place. Fortunately, ReliaBills is the solution to all of that. With ReliaBills, you have a proven-tested invoicing system that provides all the necessary tools to create professional invoices. We have all the features you need to create a professional-looking daycare invoice from scratch.
ReliaBills invoicing is available for free. But if you want more features like automated recurring billing, we also have a premium package for you. ReliaBills PLUS provides additional features that solve your invoicing problems and help boost your payment processing as a whole. At just $24.95 per month, you can get additional features such as:
- Auto-collection notifications
- SMS text messaging
- Chargeback recovery
- Automated failed payment recovery
- Automated late fees
- Recurring billing
So what are you waiting for? Start invoicing like a pro today!
Wrapping Up
The daycare business is as booming as ever. So if you plan to enter this industry, it’s important to do your research. Make sure you know what services daycare workers offer and the different types of businesses that offer these services. And don’t forget to use ReliaBills for all your invoicing needs! It’s the perfect tool for any daycare business!
