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Child Life Assistant Jobs in Utah (NOW HIRING)

You will work closely with our child life assistant who runs this space supporting programming, therapeutic interventions, and volunteer oversight. Required Qualifications * Bachelor's degree.

Child Life Specialist PRN

Lehi, UT · On-site

$24.30 - $37.52/hr

Provides supervision to volunteers, child life pre-internship students and child life assistants. Click on the video link below to see "A Day in the Life of a Child Life Specialist" $1500 Sign-On ...

Child Life Specialist PRN

Lehi, UT · On-site

$24.30 - $37.52/hr

Provides supervision to volunteers, child life pre-internship students and child life assistants. Click on the video link below to see "A Day in the Life of a Child Life Specialist" $1500 Sign-On ...

Child Life Specialist Weekends

Lehi, UT · On-site

$24.30 - $37.52/hr

Provides supervision to volunteers, child life pre-internship students and child life assistants. Click on the video link below to see "A Day in the Life of a Child Life Specialist" $1500 Sign-On ...

$24.30 - $37.52/hr

Provides supervision to volunteers, child life pre-internship students and child life assistants. Click on the video link below to see "A Day in the Life of a Child Life Specialist" $3000 Sign-On ...

$24.30 - $37.52/hr

Provides supervision to volunteers, child life pre-internship students and child life assistants. Click on the video link below to see "A Day in the Life of a Child Life Specialist" $1500 Sign-On ...

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Child Life Assistant information

See Utah salary details

$10

$15

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How much do child life assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for child life assistant in Utah is $15.24, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.12 and $16.39 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.

What are the most commonly searched types of Child Life jobs in Utah?

The most popular types of Child Life jobs in Utah are:

What are popular job titles related to Child Life Assistant jobs in Utah?

For Child Life Assistant jobs in Utah, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Child Life Assistant jobs in Utah look for?

The top searched job categories for Child Life Assistant jobs in Utah are:

What cities in Utah are hiring for Child Life Assistant jobs?

Cities in Utah with the most Child Life Assistant job openings:

Infographic showing various Child Life Assistant job openings in Utah as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 60% Full Time, and 40% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $31,689 per year, or $15.2 per hour.

Child Life Specialist

Salt Lake City, UT • On-site


University of Utah Health
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools • 10K+ employees

7.2

Company rating: 7.2 out of 10

Based on 159 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

388th of 627 rated colleges and universities

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Recommended by students


Full-time

Re-posted 20 days ago


Job description

Overview
As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA
This position plans and provides therapeutic intervention and appropriate psychosocial/developmental care under the general supervision and direction of the Child Life Coordinator for pediatric/adolescent patients and families to assist them in effectively coping with the stress and anxiety of health care experiences as well as to maximize the growth and development of children and adolescents in the hospital setting.
Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.
Responsibilities
Essential Functions
  • Assesses patients and facilitates play interactions with regard to developmental level, interest, capabilities, special concerns, life situations, and stress vulnerability potential related to illness, injury and health care. Documents assessments in interdisciplinary charts when appropriate.
  • Formulates and revises child life patient care plans to develop appropriate strategies for child life care in conjunction with other health team members. Documents implementation of plan on child life documentation form, and when appropriate, in patient's interdisciplinary chart.
  • Provides therapeutic child life care for patients/families based upon the needs assessment and patient care plan. This includes medical play activities, psychological preparation, teaching effective coping behaviors, and staying with children through procedures to help implement effective coping behaviors. Ensures toys and patient activities are developmentally supportive.
  • Provides supportive relationships, emotional support, information and role modeling to patients and family members to foster appropriate interaction with children in a hospital setting.
  • Develops, implements, and evaluates child life care plans and programs to encourage optimum growth, development and self-esteem of children and adolescents, and to facilitate functional family interactions.
  • Facilitates social interactions between patients and families to foster parent-to-parent, peer support and normal social development.
  • Assists in the maintenance of a safe and therapeutic patient care environment.
  • Maintains age-appropriate supply of therapeutic play materials (e.g., arts, crafts, games, books,); evaluates the need for equipment and supplies.
  • Participates in continuing education programs and remains abreast of advances in child development and programs for hospitalized children; provides interdisciplinary in-service education on child development, child life, and the impact of illness, injury and health care on patients and families.
  • Coordinates patient's interactions/activities with available volunteers.
  • Participates in the selection, training, supervision and evaluation of Child Life Assistant I, Child Life Assistant II, Child Life student interns and volunteers.
  • Participate in interdisciplinary rounds and evaluations as a member of the interdisciplinary team.
  • Assists in assessing patient/family needs for outpatient psychosocial care and recommending referrals.
Knowledge / Skills / Abilities
  • Ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined above.
  • Care is appropriate to the population served.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of life span growth and development and the ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual.
  • Demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills.
  • Knowledge of age appropriate activities for children.
  • Knowledge of recreational therapy care for adults and pediatric patient populations.
  • Ability to implement diversionary and recreational activities to enhance coping in adults and pediatric patient populations.
  • Ability to schedule appropriate entertainment and educational activities and address the psychosocial needs of children and families to create a minimally threatening therapeutic environment.
  • Ability to enhance the hospital experience of patients by coordinating efforts of community groups and individuals involved in child life programs.
  • Ability to collaborate with other health care professionals to develop and evaluate psychosocial care and to facilitate holistic care for patients.

Qualifications
Required
  • Bachelor's degree in Child Life or related field, or equivalency.
  • One year related experience.
Licenses Required
  • Current certification as a Child Life Specialist.
  • Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The eCredential is to be obtained within 30 days of hire.
* Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.
Qualifications (Preferred)
Preferred
  • Duel certification in Child Life and Recreational Therapy.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.
  • This position involves intermediate working conditions in a healthcare setting that may exert up to 50 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or otherwise moving patients or objects, such as medical equipment, while providing patient care.

Physical Requirements
Carrying, Color Determination, Listening, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Walking

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About University of Utah

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

The University of Utah is the state’s flagship institution of higher education, with 18 schools and colleges, more than 100 undergraduate majors and graduate programs, and an enrollment of more than 38,000 students. It is a member of the Association of American Universities—an invitation-only, prestigious group of 71 leading research institutions. The U is advancing a new national model for higher education that delivers societal impact through education, research, health care, and community service, while making social, economic, and cultural contributions that improve lives across Utah and around the world.

Industry

Colleges, universities, and professional schools

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Salt Lake City, UT, US


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