5 High-Paying Jobs Where You’ll Work With Kids

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There are numerous satisfying career options available for people who prefer working with kids. Different professional sectors, ranging from education and healthcare to mental health services and juvenile justice, provide lucrative career options for those who want to create positive change for children.

Learning about high-paying positions where you’ll work with children can help you choose a profession that fits your abilities and personal and financial goals.

Here are five profitable career paths that involve direct work with children, along with insight into essential job duties and typical compensation, so you can make informed decisions while selecting your career.

Psychologist

• Average annual salary: $111,725

As a psychologist, you can help children achieve better mental and emotional health by providing critical support. Your expertise can direct you toward research about child development or clinical work, which involves direct interaction with young patients.

Research psychologists can study to acquire extensive information about child cognitive processes and conduct data analysis to understand child development. If you choose the clinical path, you can have continual interaction with children and adolescents. Likewise, you’d be able to set treatment plans while providing therapy.

According to Indeed, the average annual salary for a psychologist is just shy of $112,000.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

• Average annual salary: $271,421

Child and adolescent psychiatrist are medical professionals who diagnose, treat and manage mental health issues in children and adolescents. Before working as one, you must obtain a medical degree, complete a psychiatric residency, and be trained in child and adolescent psychiatry.

One of the key abilities of child advocates is exceptional communication and complete knowledge of child welfare legislation. This will help them excel in their position.

Child and adolescent psychiatrists are responsible for collaborating with families and executing plans that serve children’s best interests. They help children and their families understand complex mental health conditions by providing them with essential services during critical times.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for this type of position is over $271,000 per year.

Pediatrician

• Average annual salary: $204,838

Pediatricians focus on providing medical treatment to patients who are between infancy and the end of their teenage years. Their comprehensive education allows them to evaluate and manage numerous health problems that affect the younger demographic.

The primary role of pediatricians is routine assessment and prevention care for their patients. However, there can be professional specializations that addresses complex treatment needs.

As healthcare professionals, pediatricians manage complete assessments, request and analyze diagnostic tests, create treatment plans, prescribe medicines, and perform medical procedures when required. Through their knowledge, they provide individualized healthcare, which drives children toward positive growth and development.

According to Indeed, pediatricians receive an average annual salary of almost $205,000.

School Principal

• Average annual salary: $128,009

People wishing to lead schools while supporting education systems can excel as school principals. School principals manage the daily operations of school institutions and help students and staff members succeed within a productive educational environment.

Beyond basic management responsibilities, school principals lead the development of both school culture and educational standards at their institutions. Through budget-handling activities, funding acquisition and policy implementation, principals ensure student success. Other duties of a school principal include hiring and mentoring educators who work to maintain high-quality instructional standards at their institutions.

Most school principals start as classroom teachers before transitioning to leadership positions. If you want to become a school principal, you’ll typically need to earn a master’s degree in education or administration. These positions usually offer good financial packages while allowing you to leave enduring marks on educational systems through your work with young students.

According to Indeed, the average annual salary for a school principal is just over $128,000.

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

• Average annual salary: $133,215

Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) are advanced practice nurses who focus on the healthcare needs of children from infancy to adolescence. They serve an important role in clinical settings, offering both primary care and more specialized treatments. PNPs may work closely with pediatricians or independently in community health centers, schools and private offices. 

PNPs do routine examinations, diagnose common pediatric disorders and treat chronic illnesses. Likewise, they provide preventive care and health education to children and their families. They also manage complex cases and often play a critical role in the early detection of developmental issues and behavioral concerns.

According to Indeed, PNPs make an average annual salary of about $133,000.

Create Positive Change Working With Children

Professionals working with children achieve the highest satisfaction when their career matches their abilities. This is because they get to focus on personal interests and meet their financial goals.

High-paying jobs that serve children enable you to create substantial positive changes, whether through medical care, emotional support or educational guidance. Working with children can be challenging but rewarding, especially if you love children.

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