What pays better - Childcare or Teacher Aide?

**mumx3littlies** · 29-10-2007 17:56

I'm wanting to do some study so that in a couple of years I can go back to work doing something different to before we had kids. I'd really like to work with children too. Since money will always be a consideration however

I was wondering what sort of hourly rate these jobs attract - childcare or teachers aide. Of course I dont want to know what anyone personally is paid but just a ballpark figure wud be great. Thanks

**ikis84** · 29-10-2007 18:07

IME, teacher's aide work pays better... but it is harder to find work.

**mumx3littlies** · 29-10-2007 18:17

Thanks for that Ikis. I have no idea bout this type of thing as we only moved from NZ last year. Ta

**srguitargirl** · 29-10-2007 19:00

As the other person said Teachers aide is great work if you can find it and even better if your interested in doing special needs teachers aide work, I'm a teacher and I know I appreciated my teachers aide a whole heap she also got to do lots of the fun stuff with the kids and make lots of fun stuff.

I have worked in child care too and well the pay wasn't bad but the hours are longer for the pay and with kids I think some of the shifts would suck to have to do and then try and get home to your own family and make dinner etc unless you can get a part time job or school holiday care position at a day care as sometimes those are shorter hours or should I say better hours.

Good luck I love studying I did child caare, teachers aide and teaching now trying to work out if I want to go back and do my masters LOL

**mumx3littlies** · 29-10-2007 19:01

Originally Posted by srguitargirl

As the other person said Teachers aide is great work if you can find it and even better if your interested in doing special needs teachers aide work, I'm a teacher and I know I appreciated my teachers aide a whole heap she also got to do lots of the fun stuff with the kids and make lots of fun stuff.

I have worked in child care too and well the pay wasn't bad but the hours are longer for the pay and with kids I think some of the shifts would suck to have to do and then try and get home to your own family and make dinner etc unless you can get a part time job or school holiday care position at a day care as sometimes those are shorter hours or should I say better hours.

Good luck I love studying I did child caare, teachers aide and teaching now trying to work out if I want to go back and do my masters LOL

Best of luck if you go back to do your masters

**amandaw** · 29-10-2007 19:13

Teachers Aide is by far the better pay, but as others have said, child care is in much higher demand (as in I have a good friend with no formal qualifications - has 2 boys of her own - who walked into a floating child care job, and is being put through the certificate course as she goes). Also another bonus with teacher aide is that you will have pretty much the same school holidays as your kids, so won't have that debarcle about what to do with the kiddlies for the extra 10 weeks a year.

**mumx3littlies** · 29-10-2007 19:59

Thanks Amandaw. Thats what we were thinking of too was the issue of school hols etc when kids are older. But childcare seems easier to get into IYKWIM

**Seekrit** · 29-10-2007 20:02

I also think that Aides have better working conditions... just from what I heard.

Which state are you in? It's quite hard to find TA work in Brisbane at the moment (unsure of rest of the state). But being a TA is SO rewarding and the conditions are great (school hours, no weekends, 12 weeks paid holidays a year (well you work ADO to get paid hols))

**mumx3littlies** · 29-10-2007 20:14

Hey Seekrit. We are in Victoria. Thanks for that info

**lochiebearsmum** · 29-10-2007 20:19

Hi
I have worked in childcare for 10 years and it is much easier to find work in this field, however it is quite hard work and often over time is just expected. It does take a lot out of you physically with fairly high staff-child ratios 24 children to 2 carers in the 3 to 5 year age group, 16 in 2-3 year age group 10 in the 15 months group and 8 in babies all with just 2 carers. I am strongly considering finding an alternative occupation as i'm not sure i will be able to give my all to the job then come home and do it again!! Also if you are a group leader/director which i have been most times there is work to be taken home for programming, reports at the end of the year etc. definately consider teacher aide, great money, school holidays off and less responsibility