Early Childhood Education

• Early childhood education, including daycare, is typically the easiest career in children's services to enter. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 44 percent of daycare services workers in the country had a high school diploma or less in 2008. Pay rates are commensurate with the education level required. Positions include preschool teachers and teachers assistants as well as daycare management professionals. Workers with a master's degree in early childhood education command better pay than those without such a degree and frequently work as directors.
  
  

K-12

• Generally, a career in K-12 education requires at least a four-year degree, plus additional training in a teacher education program, which you often can take concurrently while you teach in the classroom. Pay and benefits tend to be better than what's available in the early childhood field. Many educators have master's degrees. Most schools operate 10 months out of the year, allowing teachers to take off two months per year or more. Pay rates are modest compared with other fields requiring comparable education. Union membership is common among public school teachers. Workers with advanced degrees can pursue careers in administration.
  
  

Social Services

• Social workers provide assistance, guidance and intervention in cases in which children or families are experiencing challenges. These challenges can be financial, medical or behavioral. Social workers and counselors help families access needed government and private services and monitor children and their families for signs of abuse and neglect. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nonsupervisory family services workers earned an average of $13.13 per hour in 2008. Those with advanced degrees can earn more.
  
  

Medicine

• The medical field, including pediatric medicine, pediatric nursing and family care, is the most academically demanding of children's services career fields. Medical doctors must attend four years of medical school after college, plus complete a residency program of one to three years before they can practice unsupervised. Nurses must complete a demanding degree program as well. Generally, compensation is in line with the educational requirements.