The Professional Nanny…..Is this a Real Career?
Do you want to have fun caring for children and work as a professional nanny? But, are you wondering if a nanny is a professional career?
Don’t worry, it is and the demand to hire talented, trained and skilled nannies is growing.
Occupational Outlook
According to US Bureau of Statistics, jobs for nannies are expected to grow at a rate of 7 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Parents who work will continue to need the assistance of childcare workers.
In addition, the demand for preschools and childcare facilities, and consequently childcare workers including nannies, should remain strong because early childhood education is widely recognized as important for a child’s intellectual and emotional development (bls.gov).
Those with a high school diploma or equivalent should have little trouble finding employment because of the need to replace workers who leave the occupation. Workers who attain the Child Development Associate credential should have the best job prospects (bls.gov).
Pay
According to BLS, the median hourly wage for childcare workers was $11.17 in May 2018.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
Among all childcare workers, the lowest 10 percent earned less than $8.53, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $16.55.
The pay varies with the worker’s education and work setting. Those in formal childcare settings and those with more education usually earn higher wages.
Career Possibilities
By earning your certification as a professional nanny, you can increase your marketability and earning potential. Generally, a professionally trained nanny will be offered the best paying job with benefits by families before any other candidates in the pool of childcare providers. Affluent families are eager to pay top rates for the best candidates to work in their home.
Coursework Requirements
In addition to the standard criminal background and checks, basic courses that are required include:
- Child Development- Birth to 3 years old
- Infant Care
- Learn and Play
- Child activities, planning and participating
- First Aid, CPR, Emergency Care & Safety
- Nutrition & Meal Planning for Children
- Behavior Management, Positive Discipline, Child Abuse and Neglect
- Time and Household Management
- Communications with Family
- Nanny Professionalism
If you enjoy caring for children, and seeing them develop and grow in young adults, you’ve found the right career as a nanny that will provide you with a good income with benefits and perks, if you are trained and certified.
The demand for childcare workers should remain strong because early childhood education is needed for working parents, and widely recognized as important for a child’s intellectual and emotional development.