by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Child Care Provider/Assistant explores Child Care Provider/assistant. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Be Primary Providers Of Home, Family, Residential, Or Institutional-Based Child Care Services. Includes Instruction In Child Growth And Development, Nutrition, Recreation, Planning And Supervision Of Play And Learning Activities, Child Abuse And Neglect Prevention, Parent-Child Relationships, And Applicable Legal And Administrative Requirements. Continue reading for the important information every child care provider/assistant student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering child care provider/assistant programs.
Across the country, child care provider/assistant is a widely-pursued major, with 22,533 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Child Care Provider/Assistant Schools ranking analyzes these 410 schools to determine the best overall colleges for child care provider/assistant students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of child care provider/assistant programs later in this article.
Studies in Child Care Provider/Assistant emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations child care provider/assistant graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a child care provider/assistant program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a child care provider/assistant major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several child care provider/assistant degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2,878 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5,331 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 90 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 13,806 |
People currently working in careers related to child care provider/assistant tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 47.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 16.8% |
| Some college courses | 12.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 10.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 6.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.6% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in child care provider/assistant careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in child care provider/assistant prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to child care provider/assistant.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to child care provider/assistant.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Workers | 438,372 | 10.8% |
| Nannies | 287,752 | 6.8% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of child care provider/assistant graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,243 |
| 4 years | $38,875 |
| 5 years | $44,531 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for child care provider/assistant graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers child care provider/assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Nannies | $55,232 |
| Childcare Workers | $50,186 |
With 410 different child care provider/assistant programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased child care provider/assistant school rankings to help you.
Those considering child care provider/assistant, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human Development and Family Studies, General | 8,444 |
| Child Development | 4,599 |
| Child Care and Support Services Management | 3,901 |
| Family and Community Services | 1,267 |
| Family Systems | 765 |
| Early Childhood and Family Studies | 439 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services, Other | 429 |
| Adult Development and Aging | 238 |
| Parent Education Services | 126 |
| Developmental Services Worker | 59 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
