Best Jobs You Can Get with a Child Development Degree (High Salary Options)

If you enjoy working with kids and supporting their development, a career in child development could be rewarding and remarkably well-paid. In the USA, child development professionals can expect to earn an average annual salary of USD 49,000, with those having significant experience earning almost USD 76,000 and beyond.

With over 300,000 people across the USA already working in the fields of early childhood education, childcare, and family support programs, the demand for skilled professionals in this sector is increasing.

There are many meaningful opportunities for you to support children’s development to make a significant difference in their lives. Let’s take a look at the best child development jobs that you can explore with a child development degree in the USA.

Child Development Jobs With High Earning Potential

Here’s an overview of lucrative child development degree jobs that you can explore, with the average salary for each role:

Jobs with a Child Development Degree	Average Annual Salary
Preschool Center Director	USD 58,170
Child Life Specialist	USD 96,572
Elementary School Teacher	USD 52,101
Post-Secondary Education Teacher	USD 51,531
Social Worker	USD 70,197
Family Therapist	USD 100,557
Preschool Special Education Teacher	USD 52,647
Speech Language Pathologist	USD 129,201
Behavioral Specialist	USD 149,495
Pediatric Occupational Therapist	USD 86,665

1. Preschool Center Director
2. Child Life Specialist
3. Elementary School Teacher
4. Post-Secondary Education Teacher
5. Child Welfare Social Workers
6. Family Therapist
7. Preschool Special Education Teacher
8. Speech Language Pathologist
9. Behavioral Specialist
10. Pediatric Occupational Therapist
11. Early Childhood Education Director
12. Developmental Psychologist
13. Education Consultant
14. Special Education Specialist

1. Preschool Center Director

Preschool Center Directors are responsible for overseeing preschool programs, supervising staff, and implementing curriculum. The combination of leadership and child development makes for a rewarding and impactful job.

2. Child Life Specialist

Working in hospitals supporting children and families through the medical process is part of this role. This pathway combines psychology, play therapy, and counseling skills, while also relieving stress whenever possible.

3. Elementary School Teacher

In this role, you get to influence early learners’ academic experiences while fostering creativity and social development. A background in child development can make you a more effective teacher and classroom manager.

4. Post-Secondary Education Teacher

You can teach early childhood and child development college students. Opportunities for research and mentorship make this a rewarding and respected career.

5. Child Welfare Social Workers

Child Welfare Social Workers are advocates for the protection, safety, and well-being of children in both family and community settings. They help protect, intervene, and support families.

Also Read: Diverse Career Paths for Child Life Specialists

6. Family Therapist

A Family Therapist is a professional who has special training focused on improving communication and family dynamics. They guide families with emotional, behavioral, or relationship problems.

7. Preschool Special Education Teacher

This role involves working with preschoolers with developmental delays and disabilities. You can teach to facilitate inclusion while maximizing each child’s potential to learn.

8. Speech Language Pathologist

You get to help children manage speech, language, and communication challenges. A unique profession that blends education and health, with a high demand and good salaries.

9. Behavioral Specialist

As a Behavioral Specialist, you can create strategies to support children facing behavioral or emotional challenges. Often, work takes place in schools or clinics to improve the outcomes for children and their families.

10. Pediatric Occupational Therapist

These professionals assist children in developing everyday motor, sensory, and living skills. A meaningful healthcare profession with high earnings.

11. Early Childhood Education Director

The Early Childhood Education Director establishes early learning centers, manages staff and resources, and oversees the underlying standards of educational curricula. A fully rounded profession offering education, leadership, and community impact.

12. Developmental Psychologist

You get to research children’s emotional, cognitive, and social development. This leads to employment in teaching, research, clinical, or educational settings, influencing overall child-centered practices.

13. Education Consultant

Consult school systems, childcare centers, and families on effective teaching strategies and plans for early childhood as an Education Consultant. You get to provide flexibility and many career avenues.

14. Special Education Specialist

A Special Education Specialist works with students who have varying degrees of learning difficulties to create and implement a personalized success plan. A patient, empathetic professional with a respect for child development.

Also Read: Why 2025 is the Ideal Year to Start a Master’s Program in Child Life?

Career Growth Trends in Child Development Fields

Child development offers strong potential for job growth due to demand for service in areas like early intervention and inclusive education, as well as government investment in child and family services. Further, the emphasis on interdisciplinary work, integrated technology, and social-emotional learning (SEL) also boosts careers in this field.

There are areas of potential growth, such as, the early childhood education sector, special education, child and family life, therapy and social work, research, and positions of leadership that could influence the future of child development. Through continued emphasis on interdisciplinary work, you will have the opportunity to work with professionals from a variety of training backgrounds and with more digital interventions to support children’s growth and development.

Key Drivers of Growth:

• Investment: Growth in both governmental and private sector investment in early childhood education creates further opportunities for employment for accredited professionals.
• Specialized Needs: Growing awareness of a need for professionals who can support children with specialized needs, including early intervention and the creation of inclusive learning environments.
• Technology Integration: The integration of digital tools, applications, and interactive technologies into education and child development is growing.
• Holistic Learning: An increased focus on social-emotional learning (SEL), which involves teaching children how to regulate their emotions, build positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

How Edgewood’s Child Development-Focused Programs Support Career Advancement?

Edgewood’s programs, rooted in child development, will connect you to your passion and grow your professional skills, providing the qualifications and confidence to succeed in multiple professions. Edgewood programs are based on developmental theory as well as experience and practicality. They are closely related to community organizations. Candidates can gain classroom knowledge while having real-world experience and opportunities to be engaged in careers such as early education, counseling, and family services.

The programs emphasize on leadership, advocacy, and research, which are skills that can translate to careers such as child life specialist, school counselor, and educational administrator. By combining academic and practical application, Edgewood provides the opportunity to prepare itself and its learners to compete in the job market and attain well-paying careers in child development.

FAQs on High Salary Jobs with Child Development Degree

Q: What are the highest-paying careers that require a degree in child development?
Ans: Family therapists, behavioral specialists, and speech-language pathologists are among the professions that earn the highest salaries, typically ranging from USD 129,000 to USD 149,000, depending on experience and training.

Q: Can I work in healthcare with a child development background?
Ans: Yes. Many graduates choose to work in the health care field as child life specialists, pediatric therapists, and behavioral analysts, among other health care professionals, especially when they add certifications or get graduate degrees.

Q: Do I need a master’s degree for high-paying child development jobs?
Ans: In most cases, yes. Occupations such as psychologist, therapist, professor, etc., will usually require master’s or doctoral degrees to access the meaningful salary brackets. So, you can expect high-paying jobs with a child development degree.

Q: How long does it take to become a child life specialist?
Ans: Generally, it takes about 4 years to earn a bachelor’s degree in child development or a related field, followed by an additional 1–2 years of clinical experience and certification.

Q: Is a child development degree a good choice for therapy-related careers?
Ans: Definitely, a child development major prepares students with the fundamentals of psychology and human growth, so it is perfect for any applied therapy career (counselor, occupational therapist, speech therapist).