Service & RetailCompare

Childcare Worker

O*NET: Childcare Workers·39-9011.00

The Verdict:Childcare demands hands-on physical care like dressing, feeding, and supervising play in unpredictable group settings no robot handles. Real-time emotional guidance, discipline, and behavioral observation require human judgment parents trust for their children's development. AI aids admin and planning, but the relational core endures over the next decade.

Resilience Score

/100

Highly Resilient

Score tiers

Highly Resilient81–100

Resilient61–80

Moderate Risk41–60

High Risk21–40

Critical Risk0–20

How is this scored?

Task Resilience

How much of this role's daily work remains beyond AI and robotic automation.

30% of score

Physical Presence

The degree to which this job needs a human present — hands-on, in the field, or in the room.

20% of score

Human Necessity

How important the unique human edge is — for trust, accountability, or judgment.

15% of score

Regulatory Shield

How strong the legal requirement is for a human in this job (by law, licensing, or credentials).

13% of score

Technological Maturity

How far AI remains from performing this role's core functions.

10% of score

Displacement Evidence

The volume of jobs in this field being eliminated by AI or automation right now.

12% of score

Score last updated: February 2026Full methodology

Avg Salary

Median annual wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 release.

$32k

Job Growth (10yr)

Projected change in total number of jobs (not salary) from 2024–2034. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections.

-2.9%

AI Exposure

Percentage of this role's analyzed tasks that AI can handle autonomously or nearly so. 1 of 24 tasks are classified as AI-exposed.

Low exposure

Task Analysis

This role's core work is hard to automate.
18 of 24 tasks require human judgment, presence, or trust. The 21% that are AI-leverage offer an edge — professionals who learn these tools will outperform those who don't.

1exposed

5AI leverage

18human-essential

View all 24 tasks

AI Can Handle This1 task

Tasks AI can do autonomously or nearly so

Perform general administrative tasks, such as taking attendance, editing internal paperwork, and making phone calls.

AI Leverage5 tasks

Master these tools — humans who do outperform those who don't

Communicate with children's parents or guardians about daily activities, behaviors, and related issues.

Keep records on individual children, including daily observations and information about activities, meals served, and medications administered.

Create developmentally appropriate lesson plans.

Help children with homework and school work.

Perform general personnel functions, such as supervision, training, and scheduling.

Human Advantage18 tasks

Tasks requiring trust, presence, or novel judgment

Maintain a safe play environment.

Observe and monitor children's play activities.

Support children's emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts.

Care for children in institutional setting, such as group homes, nursery schools, private businesses, or schools for people with disabilities.

Sanitize toys and play equipment.

Dress children and change diapers.

Identify signs of emotional or developmental problems in children and bring them to parents' or guardians' attention.

Instruct children in health and personal habits, such as eating, resting, and toilet habits.

Organize and store toys and materials to ensure order in activity areas.

Perform housekeeping duties, such as laundry, cleaning, dish washing, and changing of linens.

Read to children and teach them simple painting, drawing, handicrafts, and songs.

Assist in preparing food and serving meals and refreshments to children.

Discipline children and recommend or initiate other measures to control behavior, such as caring for own clothing and picking up toys and books.

Regulate children's rest periods.

Organize and participate in recreational activities and outings, such as games and field trips.

Sterilize bottles and prepare formulas.

Provide care for children with physical, developmental, or mental health disabilities.

Accompany children to and from school, on outings, and to medical appointments.

Resilience Landscape

Childcare Worker lands in Stable, Lower Pay

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