by Iva
Sumwalt

Careers
in Early Childhood
by Iva
Sumwalt

Congratulation you have graduated!
What are your plans, are you confused on whether you
should continue on to gain a higher degree or should you
just enter the work force.
Let examine what is out there in the early childhood field
and what types of degree or experience you might need.

As large number of children live in families where all parents
work, more early childhood professionals are needed to
educate and care for these children.
Families also need people to help them find care and assistance
paying for this care.
Our society has become more concerned about how this care
affects young children and what quality child care really means.
This concerns have led to an increase in resources to help
improving the quality of child care and has increased
employment opportunities.

Careers in Early Childhood
As large number of children live in families where all parents
work, more early childhood professionals are needed to
educate and care for these children.
Families also need people to help them find care and assistance
paying for this care.
Our society has become more concerned about how this care
affects young children and what quality child care really means.
This concerns have led to an increase in resources to help
improving the quality of child care and has increased
employment opportunities.

Early Childhood Employment Opportunities
• Resource and Referral Trainer • Special Education Preschool
Teacher or Assistant
• Child Care Food Program
Coordinator • Lead Teacher in a Child Care
Center
• CDA Advisor
• Head Start Teacher or Director
• Infant Toddler Specialist
• Home Based Providers
• Center Director
• School Age Program Site
• Family Support Worker Manager
• Family Specialists • Administrators
• Facility Regulators • Researchers

Early Childhood Job Placement Statistics
19%
Daycare Services
19%
62% Private
Educational Services Household
Childcare workers held about 1.3 million
jobs in 2008

We need more:
• Researchers
• Trainers and consultants
• Facility regulators
• Administrators
• Lead teachers

Careers in Early Childhood
We need more:
• Researchers
• Trainers and consultants
• Facility regulators
• Administrators
• Lead teachers

• Specialize in the area of early
Region 1 Region 2
childhood
100
• Conduct studies and evaluate
services and practices
Text 75
• Develop data collection tools,
50
manage data collection
activities
25
• Write reports and grant
0
proposals 2007 2008 2009 2010

Researchers
• Specialize in the area of early
Region 1 Region 2
childhood
100
• Conduct studies and evaluate
services and practices
Text 75
• Develop data collection tools,
50
manage data collection
activities
25
• Write reports and grant
0
proposals 2007 2008 2009 2010

Recommended Education
• Ph.D. in Child Development or Early Childhood
Education or related area with knowledge of, and
experience in, Early Childhood Education
Typical salary $75,520

Trainers and Consultants
• Have an understanding of adult learning and
effective teaching strategies
• Special knowledge about the subjects they are
teaching
• Provide important information to potential and
practicing early childhood professionals, parents
and the public on a variety of topics
• Be able to conduct trainings at high schools,
individual child care programs, at workshops or
conferences

Recommended Education
• Graduate degree in Early Childhood Education/
Child Development or Youth Development
Typical salary range $28,000 - $99,000

Facility Regulators
• Job to ensure that early childhood programs
comply with the appropriate federal, state or local
requirements.
• Visits programs to assess their compliance with
applicable standards.
• Provide technical assistance and training to
program staff.
• Investigate early childhood programs that have
been reported for noncompliance.

Recommended Education
• Graduate degree in Early Childhood Education/
Social Work
Typical salary range $36,000 - $60,000

Administrators
• Challenging job of ensuring that center-based programs offer
DAP experiences for children.
• Supportive of the needs of families, and operate with sound
administrative and fiscal management.
• Manage the program and lead the staff in stimulating, enriching
and nurturing early learning experiences.
• Program maintains all the required local, state and federal
standards.
• The center has ample enrollment to sustain the budget.

Recommended Education
• Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education
• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education/Child
Development with coursework in child care administration
• Graduate degree in Child Care Administration
Typical salary range $25,340 - $ 71,440

Lead Teacher
• Teachers may work with typical and atypical developing
children.
• Planning activities for children in a creative learning
environment
• Secure a safe and healthy place for children to play
• How to communicate with children and their families
• A commitment to learning how to best educate and care for
the young child.

Recommended Education
• Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential
• Associate’s degree in Early Childhood/Child Development
• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education/Child
Development
Typical salary range $15,000 - $45,000

Goals
My short-term goal is to graduate
from Ivy Tech Community College
and find a position that I can use
my skills and my abilities I have
acquired through college.
My long-term goal is to see myself
in a teaching position with Ivy Tech
Community College where I will
be able to contribute and share my
knowledge; and experience with
others that are interested in the
field of early childhood.

THE END

References
Association for the Education of Young Children. (n.d.). AEYC careers that count
[Brochure]. Retrieved from http://www.aeyc-sea.org/careers.htm
Chid Care Services Association (CCSA). (2008). Careers in early childhood
[document]. Retrieved from http://www.childcareservices.org
Gateway Association (2010, April/May). [Dramatic play McDonalds] [Photograph].
Gateway Association (2010, April/May). [Hollywood star] [Photograph].
Gateway Association (2010, April/May). [Teacher and two children planting seeds]
[Photography].
United States Department of Labor. (2010-2011). Bureau of labor statistic
[Handbook]. Retrieved from http://stats.bls.gov/search/ooh.htm