As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Child Life Specialist in the United States is $54,704. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $41,952 to a high of $68,568, with most professionals earning between $48,029 and $61,961.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $61,961 | $5,163 | $1,192 | $30 |
| Average | $54,704 | $4,559 | $1,052 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,029 | $4,002 | $924 | $23 |
An entry-level Child Life Specialist with less than 1 year of experience earns about $53,708. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $54,007. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $55,246. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $56,870, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $57,087.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Child Life Specialist | $53,708 |
| Intermediate Level Child Life Specialist | $54,007 |
| Senior Level Child Life Specialist | $55,246 |
| Specialist Level Child Life Specialist | $56,870 |
| Expert Level Child Life Specialist | $57,087 |
| Entry Level | 2% |
| Mid Level | 1% |
| Senior Level | 1% |
| Top Level | 4% |
| Experienced | 4% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of April 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Child Life Specialist compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $47,829 in 2023 to approximately $47,854 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Child Life Specialist salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Child Life Specialist information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Child Life Specialist job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Child Life Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $54,704 | 70.1% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $4,185 | 5.4% | ||
| 401K/403B | $2,680 | 3.4% | ||
| Disability | $875 | 1.1% | ||
| Healthcare | $6,371 | 8.2% | ||
| Pension | $2,298 | 2.9% | ||
| Time Off | $6,943 | 8.9% | ||
| Total Compensation | $78,056 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| High School | 2.7% |
| Associates | 3.6% |
| Bachelors | 60.5% |
| Masters | 31.7% |
| Doctorate | 1.5% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Child Life Specialist is $54,704. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Child Life Specialist is $26; the average weekly pay of Child Life Specialist is $1,052; the average monthly pay of Child Life Specialist is $4,559.
A Child Life Specialist's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Child Life Specialist earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Child Life Specialist is $68,998.
The highest pay for Child Life Specialist is $68,568.
The lowest pay for Child Life Specialist is $41,952.
Responsible for the design and implementation of pediatric programs, therapies, and activities among young patients. Works with families to assist in caring for childhood hospitalizations or disabilities. Monitors child development to ensure normal progression. Provides in-depth care as needed to more urgent cases. May require a bachelor's degree in area of specialty. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Work is closely managed.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Written Communication: Communicating information through written media to educate, inform and influence the target audience.
CPR: 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.
Retirement Plans: Retirement Plans involve determining retirement income goals and what's needed to achieve those goals.
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.
