There are a variety of careers that involve children. The article below enlists some high-paying jobs that involve working with children.
Children are the future of a nation, and caring for them demands special attention. Be it in the medical, social, or education profession, children’s needs vary. One of the essential perquisites to work in a career that deals with kids is that you must have the heart to deal with their idiosyncrasies. And, if you’re interested to work with children, but you’re concerned about the wages you’ll earn, then you need to consider some options that are paid better. One of the most popular jobs, which needs one to work with children is that of a teacher. However, there are many other options you can consider as well. A couple of them are highlighted below.
Pediatrician
Job Profile
Pediatricians deal with the health of infants and children. They are responsible for diagnosis as well as treatment of various infections and diseases that the babies come in contact with, as well as any genetic defects or chronic conditions present from birth.
Educational Qualifications
To become a Pediatrician in the US, one needs to study and train consistently for years. An undergraduate four-year college degree followed by a four-year 4-year Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) degree is an essential requirement. There is an entrance exam required to gauge the eligibility criteria. After passing from a medical school, students are expected to complete 3 years of residency programs in hospitals. Obtaining respective licenses from the State you are willing to practice and certifications from the American Board of Pediatrics after complete residency training is essential to practice as a professional pediatrician.
Salary Range
The pediatrician salary depends basically on the experience, specialty, as well as the location of the pediatrician. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary is around USD 140,000 per annum. The salary range is USD 90,000 to USD 400,000 a year depending upon the sector as well as the experience. For an experience of 1-2 years, they can earn USD 135,000, and for an experience of more than 3 years, it is up to USD 290,000. It also depends on the sector they are working for, like in cardiology, the maximum salary is USD 610,000, and in neurology, it is USD 380,000.
Child Psychologist
Job Profile
Child psychologists deal with the psychological development of the children and try to analyze the changes in their behavior and psychology. They perform educational assessment tests and diagnose learning disabilities in children. Most of their work is related to counseling the child.
Educational Qualifications
To become a licensed child psychologist, one needs a Ph.D. in Child Psychology or Doctor of Psychology degree. Requirements for licensing vary for every state. Many states take supervised examinations before granting licenses to practice this profession.
Salary Range
The child psychologist salary again depends upon the experience, place of work, etc. A person working in schools may earn USD 70,000 a year whereas one working independently may earn as much as USD 150,000 a year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary range of child psychologists is USD 65,000 – USD 90,000.
Pediatric Nurse
Job Profile
Pediatric nurses perform physical examination (like body temperature, heartbeat rate) and medical examination (like collecting urine samples) of the children, monitor their progress, and keep a medical record of it all.
Educational Qualifications
Pediatric nurses are Registered Nurses (RNs). They must have a four-year course of Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN). Further, to improve employment and pay scale, they must compulsorily have either a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree or they must be recognized by their respective state board of nursing as advanced practice nurse (APN). They can also become certified pediatric nurses (CPNs) by seeking certifications from the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB).
Salary Range
The median salary range of pediatric nurses is around USD 70,000 – USD 90,000. Again, qualification and experience matters here for earning the salary. For example, the nurse with a bachelor’s degree, earns around USD 60,000 a year, and with an experience or 3-4 years, the figure may change to USD 80,000 a year.
Pediatric Psychiatrist
Job Profile
The pediatric psychiatrist, also called the child psychiatrist, deals with diagnosis and treatment of emotional and mental troubles that the children may be facing. They provide counseling as well as medication for the trauma that the child is going through.
Educational Qualifications
An undergraduate degree followed by a medical school education is the minimum requirement to become a pediatric psychiatrist. After completing a four undergraduate degree, candidates can appear for MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and get a lateral entry in good medical colleges providing 4 year courses in same field. Many medical schools also offer 6 to 7 years M.D. or PhD options to students which is certainly a great boost to career growth. After a M.D. or Ph.D, students must go for certified internship programs of 1 year followed by a 4 year residency program.
Students can also inquire if their medical school provides five year integrated courses for residency programs. Lastly, after completing residential training, students must pass the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) examination, governed by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). Even before one applies for CAP exams, candidates have to prove to ABPN that they have obtained competence in every area and nothing is incomplete. Licenses from respective state is also required.
Salary Range
The median salary of a pediatric psychiatrist is around USD 185,000. This salary varies from place to place and depends upon the experience of the professional as well. The range of salary may vary from USD 140,000 to USD 220,000 based on the above factors.
Remember that these jobs that pay well demand years of education and hard-work before you qualify to earn such high salaries.
