What are the main factors that influence a Child Life Program Specialist's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Child Life Program Specialist's salary?

A Child Life Program Specialist's salary grows with experience: starting around $54,256 for beginners, reaching about $55,841 at mid-level, and approach $57,135 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Child Life Program Specialist?

Child Life Program Specialist salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Child Life Program Specialist roles are District of Columbia $61,400, California $61,170, Massachusetts $60,360. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Child Life Program Specialist roles make?

Salaries for Child Life Program Specialist level roles vary by specialization: Child Welfare Specialist: $136,368; Director of Child Life Programs: $106,900; Head of Child Life Programs: $106,870; Child Life Program Director: $106,868; Child Specialist: $57,310.

How do different companies affect a Child Life Program Specialist's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Child Life Program Specialist roles. Large, established industry leaders like New York Police Department ($97,099) and State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority ($95,962) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $75,106.

Child Life Program Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Child Life Program Specialist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Child Life Program Specialist in the United States is $55,460 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.

However, a Child Life Program Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $65,203
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $47,390 to $60,560
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $40,043

10% $40,043

50% (Median) $55,460

90% $65,203

Child Life Program Specialist Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$60,560	$5,047	$1,165	$29
Average	$55,460	$4,622	$1,067	$27
25th Percentile	$47,390	$3,949	$911	$23

Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

For HR & Compensation Team

What should I pay?

See how Salary.com helps teams price roles more accurately.

Benchmark Child Life Program Specialist with confidence

Get deeper market data to support decisions.

Work Email

Phone No.

Choose a perfect time to talk with a compensation expert.

Book a Demo

Choose your preferred time

All times are listed as US Eastern time (Boston/New York)

By submitting, you consent to receiving communications from Salary.com. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Unsubscribe anytime.

Key Factors That Influence Child Life Program Specialist Salaries

A Child Life Program Specialist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Child Life Program Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Child Life Program Specialist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $54,256
Early Career (1-2 years): $54,617
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $55,841
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $56,982
Expert (over 8 years): $57,135

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Child Life Program Specialist	$54,256
Intermediate Level Child Life Program Specialist	$54,617
Senior Level Child Life Program Specialist	$55,841
Specialist Level Child Life Program Specialist	$56,982
Expert Level Child Life Program Specialist	$57,135

View as Graph

How Do Child Life Program Specialist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Child Life Program Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $61,400.
California: $61,170.
Massachusetts: $60,360.

District of Columbia $61,400 California $61,170 Massachusetts $60,360 Washington $60,130 New Jersey $60,110 Alaska $60,040 Connecticut $59,270 New York $58,960

Hawaii $57,970 Rhode Island $57,500 Maryland $57,180 Minnesota $56,750 Colorado $56,590 Illinois $56,530 Oregon $56,320 Delaware $56,160

New Hampshire $56,070 Virginia $55,850 Pennsylvania $55,210 Nevada $54,890 North Dakota $54,780 Michigan $54,620 Wisconsin $54,560 Vermont $54,430

Texas $54,100 Maine $54,070 Arizona $54,040 Ohio $54,000 Georgia $53,490 Indiana $53,240 Wyoming $53,190 Utah $53,110

Iowa $53,080 Kansas $52,810 Louisiana $52,730 North Carolina $52,700 Missouri $52,690 Florida $52,480 Montana $52,360 Nebraska $52,250

Kentucky $52,190 South Carolina $51,970 Tennessee $51,830 Idaho $51,770 New Mexico $51,370 Oklahoma $51,280 Alabama $50,950 South Dakota $50,400

Arkansas $50,100 West Virginia $49,940 Mississippi $49,460

Top Paying Cities for Child Life Program Specialists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $69,950
San Francisco: $69,180
Oakland: $67,730

San Jose, CA $69,950

San Francisco, CA $69,180

Oakland, CA $67,730

New York, NY $63,860

Paramus, NJ $63,080

Queens Village, NY $63,080

Passaic, NJ $63,020

Bergenfield, NJ $63,020

Stamford, CT $62,900

Huntington, NY $62,870

Newark, NJ $62,460

Bridgeport, CT $62,350

Vallejo, CA $62,240

New Brunswick, NJ $62,210

Petaluma, CA $62,180

Middlesex, NJ $62,080

Somerset, NJ $62,040

Santa Cruz, CA $61,960

Boston, MA $61,630

Monterey, CA $61,430

Seattle, WA $61,300

Santa Rosa, CA $61,290

Los Angeles, CA $61,280

Juneau, AK $61,130

Washington, DC $61,070

Orange, CA $60,870

Santa Ana, CA $60,730

Long Beach, CA $60,670

Anaheim, CA $60,660

Anchorage, AK $60,630

Santa Maria, CA $60,470

Everett, WA $60,460

Danbury, CT $60,260

Bremerton, WA $60,180

Tacoma, WA $59,990

New Suffolk, NY $59,980

Sacramento, CA $59,970

Santa Barbara, CA $59,910

Trenton, NJ $59,850

San Diego, CA $59,850

Brockton, MA $59,790

Fairbanks, AK $59,650

Lompoc, CA $59,510

Lowell, MA $59,460

Ventura, CA $59,450

Nashua, NH $59,440

Stockton, CA $59,440

Modesto, CA $59,030

Poughkeepsie, NY $58,910

Olympia, WA $58,800

Kennewick, WA $58,800

New Haven, CT $58,780

Lawrence, MA $58,580

Hartford, CT $58,530

Riverside, CA $58,520

New Bedford, MA $58,460

Richland, WA $58,460

Bakersfield, CA $58,380

San Bernardino, CA $58,360

New Britain, CT $58,350

Atlantic City, NJ $58,350

New London, CT $58,330

Norwich, CT $58,320

Portsmouth, NH $58,300

Boulder, CO $58,190

Portland, OR $58,110

Worcester, MA $58,110

Minneapolis, MN $57,930

Philadelphia, PA $57,860

Honolulu, HI $57,670

Saint Paul, MN $57,650

Vineland, NJ $57,630

Providence, RI $57,470

Chicago, IL $57,310

Bellingham, WA $57,250

Springfield, MA $57,200

Baltimore, MD $57,180

Chico, CA $57,050

Pittsfield, MA $56,900

Manchester, NH $56,790

Spokane, WA $56,550

Denver, CO $56,540

Albany, NY $56,280

Troy, NY $56,260

Nassau, NY $56,200

Schenectady, NY $56,140

Wilmington, DE $56,100

Burlington, VT $56,020

Salem, OR $56,000

Portland, ME $55,830

Yakima, WA $55,770

Rochester, MN $55,600

Reno, NV $55,570

Fresno, CA $55,570

Milwaukee, WI $55,520

Detroit, MI $55,470

Ann Arbor, MI $55,460

Allentown, PA $55,450

Colorado Springs, CO $55,350

Syracuse, NY $55,330

Carson City, NV $55,330

Houston, TX $55,250

Eugene, OR $55,220

Gary, IN $55,150

Springfield, OR $55,110

Bismarck, ND $55,100

Galveston, TX $55,060

Medford, OR $54,980

Fort Collins, CO $54,960

Concord, NH $54,930

Austin, TX $54,910

Mesa, AZ $54,790

Reading, PA $54,790

Phoenix, AZ $54,780

Dallas, TX $54,770

Saint Cloud, MN $54,710

Madison, WI $54,640

Utica, NY $54,490

Rochester, NY $54,400

Des Moines, IA $54,400

Raleigh, NC $54,390

Atlanta, GA $54,310

Battle Creek, MI $54,290

Salt Lake City, UT $54,270

Lancaster, PA $54,190

Harrisburg, PA $54,110

Kansas City, MO $54,060

Kansas City, KS $54,050

Champaign, IL $54,050

Fort Worth, TX $54,040

Columbus, OH $54,030

Boca Raton, FL $54,020

Pittsburgh, PA $54,000

Richmond, VA $53,970

Indianapolis, IN $53,960

Cleveland, OH $53,960

Cincinnati, OH $53,890

Las Vegas, NV $53,890

Petersburg, VA $53,810

Huntsville, AL $53,720

Lansing, MI $53,690

Lebanon, PA $53,680

Pueblo, CO $53,670

Appleton, WI $53,660

Buffalo, NY $53,640

Dayton, OH $53,620

Racine, WI $53,610

Charlotte, NC $53,600

Saint Louis, MO $53,590

York, PA $53,550

Elkhart, IN $53,550

Gastonia, NC $53,540

Billings, MT $53,530

Beaumont, TX $53,510

Lorain, OH $53,500

Benton Harbor, MI $53,490

Toledo, OH $53,480

Rock Hill, SC $53,450

Binghamton, NY $53,450

Rockford, IL $53,420

Springfield, IL $53,400

Elyria, OH $53,390

Fargo, ND $53,390

Flagstaff, AZ $53,350

Fort Lauderdale, FL $53,320

Duluth, MN $53,290

Miami, FL $53,290

Cheyenne, WY $53,250

Grand Forks, ND $53,250

Bangor, ME $53,130

Cedar Rapids, IA $53,060

Durham, NC $53,040

Louisville, KY $53,040

Grand Rapids, MI $53,030

Hialeah, FL $53,020

Casper, WY $52,940

Scranton, PA $52,880

New Orleans, LA $52,860

Virginia Beach, VA $52,850

Akron, OH $52,830

Peoria, IL $52,750

Sarasota, FL $52,740

Nashville, TN $52,700

Omaha, NE $52,700

Green Bay, WI $52,700

Baton Rouge, LA $52,680

Charleston, SC $52,670

Jamestown, NY $52,640

Davenport, IA $52,640

Tucson, AZ $52,610

Saint Petersburg, FL $52,580

Tampa, FL $52,570

Evansville, IN $52,530

Port Arthur, TX $52,530

Bradenton, FL $52,510

Santa Fe, NM $52,410

Orlando, FL $52,310

Clearwater, FL $52,290

La Crosse, WI $52,180

Canton, OH $52,180

Albuquerque, NM $52,140

Newport News, VA $52,140

High Point, NC $52,120

Ogden, UT $52,100

Corpus Christi, TX $52,060

Norfolk, VA $52,020

Laramie, WY $52,020

Rock Island, IL $51,990

Saginaw, MI $51,980

Jacksonville, FL $51,970

Salisbury, NC $51,960

Boise, ID $51,950

Moline, IL $51,920

Fort Myers, FL $51,910

Memphis, TN $51,890

Tulsa, OK $51,870

Waterloo, IA $51,830

Spartanburg, SC $51,780

Lincoln, NE $51,750

Fort Wayne, IN $51,740

Provo, UT $51,730

Cedar Falls, IA $51,670

San Antonio, TX $51,640

Greensboro, NC $51,620

South Bend, IN $51,620

Savannah, GA $51,560

Birmingham, AL $51,530

Muskegon, MI $51,530

Winston Salem, NC $51,500

Lake Charles, LA $51,370

Anderson, IN $51,360

Lexington, KY $51,340

Augusta, GA $51,320

Greenville, SC $51,320

Lima, OH $51,280

Wichita, KS $51,270

Tuscaloosa, AL $51,270

Columbia, SC $51,220

Springfield, OH $51,210

Asheville, NC $51,120

Bloomington, IN $51,080

Knoxville, TN $50,880

Shreveport, LA $50,880

Wilmington, NC $50,810

Roanoke, VA $50,810

Topeka, KS $50,710

Frankfort, KY $50,700

Oklahoma City, OK $50,660

Chillicothe, OH $50,640

Longview, TX $50,640

Melbourne, FL $50,630

Sioux Falls, SD $50,540

Mobile, AL $50,540

Terre Haute, IN $50,510

Altoona, PA $50,480

Amarillo, TX $50,440

Killeen, TX $50,420

Fayetteville, AR $50,380

Chattanooga, TN $50,360

Sioux City, IA $50,310

Idaho Falls, ID $50,300

Lynchburg, VA $50,260

Gainesville, FL $50,190

Portsmouth, OH $50,160

Little Rock, AR $50,150

Youngstown, OH $50,130

Lafayette, LA $50,130

Daytona Beach, FL $50,090

Clarksville, TN $50,090

Pensacola, FL $50,080

Temple, TX $50,080

Hopkinsville, KY $49,910

Erie, PA $49,900

Florence, SC $49,880

Charleston, WV $49,790

Great Falls, MT $49,760

Macon, GA $49,690

Tallahassee, FL $49,680

Fayetteville, NC $49,670

Waco, TX $49,660

Helena, MT $49,620

Pine Bluff, AR $49,600

Vincennes, IN $49,530

Lubbock, TX $49,510

Alamogordo, NM $49,480

Twin Falls, ID $49,430

Rapid City, SD $49,410

Jackson, MS $49,310

Huntington, WV $49,310

Greenville, MS $49,300

Parkersburg, WV $49,250

Montgomery, AL $49,240

Wichita Falls, TX $49,180

Springfield, MO $49,180

Biloxi, MS $49,150

Monroe, LA $49,100

Johnstown, PA $49,060

Sumter, SC $49,040

Columbus, GA $49,030

Pascagoula, MS $48,930

Abilene, TX $48,930

Kingsport, TN $48,780

Albany, GA $48,780

Gulfport, MS $48,770

Alexandria, LA $48,580

Fort Smith, AR $48,440

El Paso, TX $48,300

Las Cruces, NM $48,050

Harlingen, TX $47,900

Pocatello, ID $47,900

Florence, AL $47,820

Brownsville, TX $47,810

Mcallen, TX $47,700

Dothan, AL $47,620

Columbus, MS $47,290

Altus, OK $47,030

Lawton, OK $46,930

Pierre, SD $46,730

What Skills Can Increase a Child Life Program Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Written Communication (Mentioned in 5.28% Job Postings): Communicating information through written media to educate, inform and influence the target audience.
CPR (Mentioned in 6.47% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
Case Management (Mentioned in 3.33% Job Postings): Connecting patients with suitable healthcare providers, resources, and services to ensure they receive optimal, cost-effective care.

Skills	Demand Percentage
Written Communication	5.28%
CPR	6.47%
Case Management	3.33%

See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Child Life Program Specialist's salary.

Facilitation: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Flexibility: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Facilitation	$57,678	4%
Flexibility	$57,124	3%
Coordination	$57,124	3%

Get Latest Data

Child Life Program Specialist Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Child Life Program Specialist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $58,865. While startup companies pay approximate $50,129.

Child Life Program Specialist Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$50,129
Growth Stage	51~500	$52,930
Established	501~5000	$56,927
Enterprise	5000+	$58,865

Child Life Program Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Child Life Program Specialist roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 30% above the average. Conversely, Child Life Program Specialist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Child Life Program Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Child Life Program Specialist

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare	$72,098	$35.0	30%

How Education impacts a Child Life Program Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Child Life Program Specialists enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Child Life Program Specialist with a Associate's Degree is between $56,444 and $60,169).

Child Life Program Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

$63,400
$62,400
$61,400
$60,400
$59,400
$58,500
$57,500
$56,500

Typical Education for Child Life Program Specialist
Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	2.7%
High School	2.7%
Associates	3.6%
Bachelors	60.5%
Masters	31.7%
Doctorate	1.5%

View as Graph

Child Life Program Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Child Life Program Specialist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

$47,390

Average $55,460/year

$60,560

$3,949

Average $4,622/month

$5,047

$911

Average $1,067/week

$1,165

$23

Average $27/hour

$29

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$60,560	$5,047	$1,165	$29
Average	$55,460	$4,622	$1,067	$27
25th Percentile	$47,390	$3,949	$911	$23

Child Life Program Specialist Salary Growth & Career Path

Child Life Program Specialist

Next Role

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Child Life Program Specialist, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Child Life Program Specialist Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role	Estimate Salary	Projected Raise
Director of Child Life Programs	$106,900	93%
ASL Interpreter	$72,400	31%

Salary Trends for Child Life Program Specialist

Salaries for a Child Life Program Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $47,829 in 2023 to around $47,289 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Child Life Program Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Child Life Program Specialist Over Time

$???
$47,829
$47,854
$47,289
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$47,829
2024	$47,854
2025	$47,289
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Child Life Program Specialist

Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Child Life Program Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Child Life Program Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

N $97,099/per year

New York Police Department Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $95,962/per year

State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $94,615/per year

US Department of Transportation Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $93,141/per year

US General Services Administration Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

L $92,342/per year

Los Angeles County Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

D $92,011/per year

Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $91,967/per year

US Department of Commerce Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $91,755/per year

US Department of Energy Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

F $91,673/per year

Federal Bureau of Investigation Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

N $90,276/per year

Naval Sea Systems Command Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

T $88,975/per year

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $88,721/per year

San Diego County Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

T $88,664/per year

The TTB Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

L $87,569/per year

Lutheran Services Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

M $85,066/per year

Maryland Inc Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $83,780/per year

State University of New York Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

N $82,969/per year

New York State Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

P $82,703/per year

Puerto Rico Department of Education Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

U $80,526/per year

US Central Command Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

H $80,286/per year

Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

A $79,270/per year

Air Force Reserve Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

A $78,505/per year

American Automobile Association (AAA) Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $76,678/per year

State of Florida - Department of Health Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

N $75,183/per year

New York State Department Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

S $75,106/per year

State University System of Florida Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit the United States

Find Your Next Child Life Program Specialist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Child Life Program Specialist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Child Life Program Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Child Life Program Specialist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Child Life Program Specialist roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

2. Is it hard to get a job as a child life specialist?

The job market for child life specialists is quite competitive, and candidates often need advanced degrees and specializations to stand out. Salaries for this role typically range from $54,580 to $68,270, with a mid-range salary of about $60,880. Gaining relevant experience and credentials can enhance your chances of securing a position.

3. Does a child life specialist need a Masters?

A Child Life Specialist typically needs a bachelor's degree and specific child life coursework, not necessarily a master's. The salary for this role ranges from $54,580 to $68,270, with a median salary of $60,880, reflecting the importance of education and experience in this rewarding field.

4. Can you make good money as a Child Life Specialist?

Yes, you can earn a good salary as a Child Life Specialist. The salary data indicates a minimum of $54,580, a mid-range of $60,880, and a maximum of $68,270. This suggests that with experience and expertise, you can achieve a competitive income in this field.

5. Is there a high demand for Child Life Specialist?

Yes, there is a high demand for Child Life Specialists. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 13% growth in employment for child, family, and school social workers from 2020 to 2030. This role is crucial in helping parents enhance their children's well-being. Salaries for Child Life Program Specialists range from $54,580 to $68,270, with a median of $60,880.

6. What is the highest paid pediatric specialist?

The highest paid pediatric specialists include pediatric critical care medicine, neonatology, and pediatric cardiology, with salaries significantly higher than those of Child Life Program Specialists, who earn between $54,580 and $68,270 annually. While Child Life Program Specialists play a vital role in supporting children and families, their salaries are notably lower than those of other pediatric specialties.

7. Do you need a PHD to be a Child Life Specialist?

A PhD is not required to become a Child Life Specialist. Typically, candidates hold at least a bachelor's degree in child development or a related field, complete a 600-hour internship, and pass a certification exam. Salaries for this role range from approximately $54,580 to $68,270, with a median salary around $60,880.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about