Child care workers’ perception of job worth

Three‐hundred and fifty‐two child care workers from licensed facilities were surveyed regarding their perceptions of deserved job pay and perceived job status and job worth for five categories of child care work [family day care, group day care home, day care center, nursery school, and Head Start work]. Overall, child care workers agreed that society affords nursery school work the highest pay and job status. They did not concur that nursery school work contributed more to society than other child care occupations. Implications for future research and advocacy are discussed.