Career Overview
Care for children in private households and provide support and expertise to parents in satisfying children's physical, emotional, intellectual, and social needs. Duties may include meal planning and preparation, laundry and clothing care, organization of play activities and outings, discipline, intellectual stimulation, language activities, and transportation.
Also Known As
- Family Assistant
- House Manager
- Household Manager
- Nanny
Alternate Job Titles
- Baby Sitter
- Babysitter
- Care Attendant
- Child Care Aide
- Child Care Professional
- Child Care Specialist
- Family Assistant
- Family Manager
- Governess
- House Manager
- Household Manager
- In-Home Care Provider
- In-Home Caregiver
- Nanny
- Special Needs Nanny
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Instruct children in safe behavior, such as seeking adult assistance when crossing the street and avoiding contact with unsafe objects.
- Remove hazards and develop appropriate boundaries and rules to create a safe environment for children.
- Perform first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when required.
- Instruct and assist children in the development of health and personal habits, such as eating, resting, and toilet behavior.
- Regulate children's rest periods and nap schedules.
- Teach and perform age-appropriate activities, such as lap play, reading, and arts and crafts, to encourage intellectual development of children.
- Help prepare and serve nutritionally balanced meals and snacks for children.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Speaking
- Service Orientation
- Critical Thinking
- Persuasion
- Judgment and Decision Making
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Written Comprehension
- Near Vision
- Fluency of Ideas
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Cooperation
- Integrity
- Optimism
- Social Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Independence
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Baby bottles
- Child car safety seats
- Digital medical thermometers
- Domestic dishwashers
- Dryers
- Emergency first aid kits
- Irons
- Kitchen stoves
- Laptop computers
- Medicine dosing syringes
- Microwave ovens
- Passenger cars
- Personal computers
- Security alarm systems
- Vacuum cleaners
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Physical Proximity
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Contact With Others
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
Salary & Job Market
Wages reported for the broader Childcare Workers occupational group (BLS 2024), which includes Nannies.
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $22,900 |
| Median | $32,050 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $44,560 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 520,180
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Childcare Workers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $32,050
Personal Care Aides
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: Varies
Home Health Aides
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: Varies
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $37,120
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $58,570
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.