According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, preschool teachers and child-care workers help aid the educational process of children.  The children are normally five years and younger.  These workers attend to educational needs as well as physical, emotional, intellectual, and social growth.  These workers serve as a parent, in a manner of speaking, in the absence of the parents.

    Listed below are the different wages of these workers as well as other workers:

            Median annual earnings-1998-- $17,310

             Middle 50% earned between---- $13,760-22,370

            Lowest 10% earned less than---- $12,000

            Highest 10% earned more than-- $30,310

            Median hourly wages were $6.61 in 1998

            Middle 50%-- between $5.82-8.13

            Lower 10%-- less than $5.49

            Highest 10%-- more than $9.65

      Wages in industries employing these workers range from $5.90 to 7.60.  Benefits do vary from job to job.  Also the wages depend on the educational background of the person.

      In this particular field of work as little as a high school diploma and little or no experience is necessary.  There is some training that may be required.

          In my opinion, there will always be a demand for these jobs, but unless the workers are paid decently, salary presents a problem.

  Felicia Childs