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Child Life Assistant Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Child Interventionist

Pleasanton, CA · On-site

$24 - $28/hr

... to directly assist children with autism in honing vital skills like communication, social ... Contribute to lifelong changes in a child's life.Career Growth: Available for educational and ...

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Child Interventionist

Stockton, CA · On-site

$22 - $26/hr

... to directly assist children with autism in honing vital skills like communication, social ... Contribute to lifelong changes in a child's life.Career Growth: Available for educational and ...

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How much do child life assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for child life assistant in California is $16.52, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.23 and $17.79 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a child life assistant?

Child Life Assistants are healthcare professionals who support Child Life Specialists in helping children and families cope with hospitalization, illness, and medical procedures. They assist in providing therapeutic play, activities, and emotional support to pediatric patients. Their role includes preparing play materials, interacting with children, maintaining a safe play environment, and supporting the psychosocial needs of young patients. Child Life Assistants work in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings to make the hospital experience less stressful for children.

What does a child life assistant do?

The job duties of a child life assistant involve providing support for children and their families when they are in a hospital or receiving inpatient medical care in a healthcare facility. Your responsibilities in this career include planning activities for a patient based on their interests, physical abilities, and psychological and social needs. You may involve therapeutic play that is meant to reduce stress and give patients, parents, and siblings normal interactions and experiences while they are in a hospital setting. As a child life assistant, you may also distribute donations of toys and coordinate volunteers and celebrity visits.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a child life assistant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Child Life Assistant, you need a background in child development or a related field, often accompanied by relevant coursework or experience in pediatric care settings. Familiarity with hospital protocols, educational play tools, and documentation systems is typically required. Compassion, patience, and strong communication skills help build trust with children and support collaboration with healthcare teams. These abilities are crucial for providing emotional support, reducing anxiety, and ensuring a positive experience for young patients in medical environments.

How does a child life assistant typically collaborate with child life specialists and healthcare teams to support pediatric patients?

Child Life Assistants work closely with Child Life Specialists and other healthcare professionals to create a supportive environment for children in medical settings. They help implement therapeutic play activities, prepare materials, and assist with distraction techniques during procedures. Regular communication and teamwork with nurses, doctors, and Child Life Specialists are essential to ensure the emotional and developmental needs of pediatric patients are met. This collaborative approach helps provide holistic care and enhances the overall hospital experience for children and their families.
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Child Life Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Child Life Assistant job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $34,353 per year, or $16.5 per hour.

Child Life Program Assistant

San Francisco, CA • On-site

University of California San Francisco
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools • 10K+ employees

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 13 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

233rd of 623 rated colleges and universities

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Learn more about University of California San Franciscoexternal

Full-time

Posted 23 days ago

Job description


Employment Duration: 1 month (w/ potential for extension)
The Child Life Program Assistant (CLPA) is responsible for managing the delivery of developmentally appropriate play activities, expressive arts, and special events for pediatric patients and family members, including siblings, both at the bedside and in various playroom/activity spaces. The CLPA is responsible for the direct supervision of patients and siblings/guests in the pediatric activity rooms. The CLPA maintains a safe, clean, and developmentally appropriate environment for both group and one-on-one activities and provides orientation and direct supervision of volunteers.
Key Responsibilities
  • Facilitate normalization and positive adjustment of pediatric patients to the hospital experience by introducing and providing a variety of developmentally appropriate play and creative expression opportunities at the bedside and in playroom settings, including the Teen Lounge.
  • Facilitate and promote patient participation in special events, holiday activities, and related programming.
  • Provide direct supervision of patients, families, and guests in pediatric playrooms while managing behavior and environmental conditions to promote safety and infection control.
  • Collaborate with Child Life Specialists, teachers, and the Creative Arts Therapies team to assess and prioritize patient needs, plan appropriate interventions, and identify or refer patients in need of specialized services.
  • Plan and maintain supplies and a calendar of events, collaborating with team members to notify, invite, and engage patients, families, and siblings in activities.
  • Assist in orienting patients and families to hospital features and resources, including the Center for Families, Kaleidoscope TV, Marie Wattis School, and volunteer services.
  • Collaborate with the Volunteer and Community Liaison in the orientation and supervision of Child Life Services/Creative Arts Therapies volunteers.
  • Develop and maintain therapeutic, supportive, and professional relationships with patients and families.
  • Ensure the safety of patients and participants during activities, special events, and programs, including transport to and from activities, while complying with department, hospital, and regulatory policies and procedures.
  • Maintain a safe and therapeutic environment by managing age-appropriate supplies, toys, materials, equipment, and donations in accordance with safety and infection control procedures.
  • Participate in ongoing education and professional development.
  • Participate in the collection of metrics and documentation to capture utilization of play spaces.
  • Demonstrate service excellence through effective communication, professionalism, teamwork, cultural sensitivity, privacy and confidentiality practices, safety awareness, and adherence to organizational standards.
  • Maintain a clean, orderly, and safe work environment.
  • Attend department huddles, staff meetings, retreats, and other meetings as appropriate.
  • Participate in departmental goals and improvement initiatives.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities
N/A
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
  • One year of full-time work experience with children in a group setting.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or a related field.
  • Associate's Degree in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or a related field.
  • One year of experience working in a healthcare setting.

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