A quality education usually starts at an early age. That is why working parents often enroll their children in day care centers or preschools, when they can't care for them or provide their own personal instruction. Child care site – or program – coordinators plan and oversee the curricula and activities in child care centers, providing a safe and healthy environment for learning. Their salaries usually vary by years of service and geographical location.
Key Responsibilities
Child care site coordinators develop educational and recreational activities for children, such as sports, games, crafts and science projects, to enhance children's motor skills and foster the learning experience. They schedule activities, evaluate staff members and ensure that their units maintain the proper staff-to-child ratios. At times, child care coordinators must respond to complaints or concerns of parents, resolving them by phone, in person or by referring them to their supervisors. These coordinators also order supplies and equipment for their facilities, maintain billing records and ensure that observations and evaluations are completed for all children.
Work Environment
Most child care coordinators are employed in the same facilities as childcare workers, including child care centers, preschools, public schools and religious and civic organizations, such as local YMCAs. They usually work during the day, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, so they can accommodate parents before and after their work hours. Work can sometimes get stressful, as child care site coordinators must ensure all activities are completed, satisfy the needs of parents and ensure their facilities adhere to state and federal regulations.
Education and Qualifications
While some of child care site coordinators have bachelor's degrees, the minimum requirement is typically an associate of arts degree – with coursework in childhood education, development, physical education and recreation. Child care coordinators must also become certified in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Other essential qualifications are leadership, organization, communication, decision-making and computer skills.
Average and Regional Salaries
The average annual salary for a child care site coordinator was $32,000 in 2014, according to Indeed. Salaries for child care coordinators varied the most in the West, where they made the most in California and the least in Hawaii – $35,000 and $20,000, respectively. Overall, they earned the highest salaries of $41,000 in Washington, D.C., and the lowest salaries of $24,000 and $20,000 in Nebraska and Hawaii, respectively.
Career Outlook and Advancement
The awareness that early childhood education is important for a child's development will increase the need for child care workers – a job that's expected to grow by 14 percent through 2022, which is as fast as average. Child care site coordinators may find more job opportunities as the demand for child care workers increases. Those who want to advance can become assistant site managers or site managers, where they plan budgets and oversee all functions of child care facilities – not just the educational programs.
