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Child Life Assistant Jobs in Rio Rancho, NM (NOW HIRING)

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Child Life Assistant information

See Rio Rancho, NM salary details

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How much do child life assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for child life assistant in Rio Rancho, NM is $15.74, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.56 and $16.97 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 job categories do people searching Child Life Assistant jobs in Rio Rancho, NM look for?

The top searched job categories for Child Life Assistant jobs in Rio Rancho, NM are:

What cities near Rio Rancho, NM are hiring for Child Life Assistant jobs?

Cities near Rio Rancho, NM with the most Child Life Assistant job openings:

Infographic showing various Child Life Assistant job openings in Rio Rancho, NM as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $32,742 per year, or $15.7 per hour.

CHILD AND YOUTH PROGRAM ASSISTANT

Child Development Center | Barksdale Life

Kirtland Air Force Base, NM • On-site

$18.70/hr

Part-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 2 days ago


Job description

About the position: Maxwell CDC Kirtland AFB, NM.
Employee Child Care Discount applicable to this position (see Additional Information).
Filled as Flexible (guarantees 00 hrs/wk) or Regular Part-Time (guarantees 20 hrs/wk) employment category.
Regular Part-Time may be eligible for benefits (Medical/Dental, Group Life, 401(k), AFNAF Retirement).
Pay based on experience, education, and/or certification:
Target Level: $ 21.99
Intermediate Level: $ 19.20.57
Entry Level: $ 18.70Qualifications:Who May Apply: Open to everyone. Applicants will be categorized by preference(s) and/or priority consideration eligibilities. An applicant's eligibility will be determined based on eligibility claimed in the questionnaire and proof of eligibility MUST be provided with application by the closing date, 09/18/2026
  • Business Based Action
  • Military Spouse Preference
  • Outside Applicant Veteran
  • Spouse/Widow/Parent of Veteran
  • Transition Hiring Preference

In order to qualify, you must meet the experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application.
Qualifying Experience: ALL LEVELS
Must be a high school graduate, or equivalent; and be able to provide proof (i.e., diploma or equivalent) for verification.
AND
CY PROGRAM ASSISTANT (TARGET LEVEL):
*Applicant MUST provide Resume AND High School Diploma or College Transcripts (failure to upload resume AND diploma/transcript will disqualify applicant from further consideration)
  • 18 months working in any childcare or youth program. Completion of DoD approved competency-training courses. Additionally, entry and intermediate level training must be completed and evident by Service-issued documentation.
  • 18 months of experience working in a childcare or youth program, plus possession and maintenance of one of the following directly related to the age group of the position to which assigned: child development associate credential, military school age credential, or other nationally recognized youth development credential.
  • 18 months of experience working in a childcare or youth program, plus an associate degree that includes a major course of study (24 credit hours) with content directly related to the age group to which assigned, from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university.
  • Possession and maintenance of one of the following directly related to the age group of the position to which assigned: child development associate credential, military school age credential, Army youth practicum or other nationally recognized youth development credential.
  • A bachelor's degree or at least 120 semester hours with a major course of study (24 credit hours) from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university with content directly related to: early childhood education, child development, youth development, human development, elementary education, special education, secondary education, youth program administration, recreation, and physical education.

CY PROGRAM ASSISTANT (INTERMEDIATE LEVEL):
*Applicant MUST provide Resume AND High School Diploma or College Transcripts (failure to upload resume AND diploma/transcript will disqualify applicant from further consideration)
  • Six months experience equivalent to the CY-01 Entry Level working in a group program for children or youth AND Completion of 3 AF modules (or equivalent) AND AF Orientation Training Program.

CY PROGRAM ASSISTANT (ENTRY LEVEL):
*Applicant MUST provide Resume AND High School Diploma or College Transcripts (failure to upload resume AND diploma/transcript will disqualify applicant from further consideration)
  • This is an entry level position; no previous experience required.
Education:Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. This position does allow for education substitution in order to qualify.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.Employment Type: OTHER