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Child Life Therapist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Nebraska Medicine

Child Life Specialist

Omaha, NE · On-site

Works on the Child Life and Family Development team with a Music Therapist and Hospital Teachers to provide socialization, normalizing activities, and special programming for pediatric patients and ...

Nebraska Medicine

Child Life Specialist

Omaha, NE

Works on the Child Life and Family Development team with a Music Therapist and Hospital Teachers to provide socialization, normalizing activities, and special programming for pediatric patients and ...

Uw

Child Life Specialist

Seattle, WA · On-site

$36.72/hr

Harborview Medical Center - Rehab Therapies has an outstanding opportunity for a Child Life Specialist Under general supervision from the nursing team, a Child Life Specialist works with patients ...

Novant Health

Child Life Specialist II

Charlotte, NC · On-site

Child Life Center, Emergency Hours : 12:00 PM - 8:30 PM, 5 days per week. Rotating weekends About ... Recreational Therapy, Psychology, or related field, required. Graduate Degree, preferred.

Catholic Health

Child Life Specialist

West Islip, NY

$31.96 - $38.85/hr

Baccalaureate degree in Child Life, Child Development, Creative Arts Therapy or related field ... Creative Arts Therapy (A.T.R., M.T., etc.) registration/certification eligibility is preferred ...

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How much do child life therapist jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for child life therapist in the United States is $85,000.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $77,500.00 and $92,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Does a Child Life Therapist Do?

A child life therapist works directly with children and their families who are undergoing care for an illness, disability, or injury. As a child life therapist, you play and socialize with your patients, provide therapy and medical education to them and their families, help them understand their treatment plan, and provide support to patients in their families by connecting them to valuable resources in their community. You conduct your job duties in a hospital setting, usually within the pediatric department of a medical facility. Child life therapists sometimes also work within communities to spread awareness about their patients’ medical conditions in schools, government offices, and to community members.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Child Life Therapist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Child Life Therapist, you need a solid background in child development, psychology, or a related field, often supported by a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and Child Life Specialist certification (CCLS). Familiarity with hospital settings, patient charting systems, and therapeutic play tools is typically required. Empathy, strong communication, and resilience are vital soft skills for building rapport with children and supporting families during stressful medical experiences. These competencies are crucial for effectively reducing pediatric patients’ anxiety, improving coping strategies, and enhancing the overall healthcare experience.

What are some typical challenges Child Life Therapists face when working in a hospital setting?

Child Life Therapists often encounter the challenge of supporting children and families through emotionally difficult medical experiences, such as surgeries or long-term hospitalizations. Balancing the needs of multiple patients while coordinating with nurses, doctors, and families can be demanding, especially during busy periods. Additionally, therapists must continuously adapt their interventions to suit children of different ages, backgrounds, and medical conditions. Despite these challenges, strong teamwork and open communication with healthcare staff help ensure the best outcomes for pediatric patients.

What are Child Life Therapists?

Child Life Therapists are healthcare professionals who help children and their families cope with the stress and challenges of hospitalization, illness, or disability. They use play, education, and therapeutic activities to support children's emotional and developmental needs while in medical settings. Child Life Therapists also prepare children for medical procedures, provide emotional support, and work to make the hospital experience less intimidating. Their goal is to promote optimal growth and development, reduce fear and anxiety, and support family involvement.
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Child Life Therapist jobs near you
Child Life Specialist

Child Life Specialist

Nebraska Medicine

Omaha, NE • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Life

Posted 22 days ago

Nebraska Medicine rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 153 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

248th of 864 rated healthcare providers

Job description

Serious Medicine is what we do. Being extraordinary is who we are. Every colleague plays a key role in upholding this promise to our patients and their families.
Shift:
Second Shift (United States of America)
Child Life Specialist
Works with members of the multidisciplinary team to facilitate and implement psychosocial support interventions to decrease stress and anxiety related to the healthcare experience for pediatric patients at Nebraska Medicine. Provides support to inpatient Pediatrics/PICU, NICU, Surgery, Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Multi-Organ Transplant Clinic (completion of pre-transplant evaluations), Emergency Department (respond to pediatric trauma activations), and various Adult Units (support for children of adult patients). Works on the Child Life and Family Development team with a Music Therapist and Hospital Teachers to provide socialization, normalizing activities, and special programming for pediatric patients and their families.
If you have questions about applying for the Child Life Specialist, please contact Jana Whitmarsh at jwhitmarsh@nebraskamed.com
Details
  • Full time and benefits eligible (1.0 FTE)
  • Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
  • Eligible for or currently certified as a Certified Child Life Specialist required 600-hour Child Life clinical internship

Why Work at Nebraska Medicine?
  • Together. Extraordinary. Join a team that values your skills, delivering exceptional care through collaboration.
  • Leading Health Network Work with the region's top academic health network, partnering with UNMC to transform lives through education, research, and patient care.
  • Diversity and Inclusion We value diverse backgrounds and experiences, reflecting the communities we serve.
  • Educational Support Enjoy up to $5,000/year in tuition assistance, a 35% discount at Clarkson College, and career advancement opportunities with covered educational costs.

Be part of something extraordinary at Nebraska Medicine!
Duties: Child Life Specialist
Facilitate and implement psychosocial, emotional and cultural care with other health care providers to meet holistic care needs of a designated group of patients.
Required Qualifications: Child Life Specialist
• Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child development, human development, child life, therapeutic recreation, or psychology required.
• Eligible for or currently certified as a Certified Child Life Specialist required.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification within 30 days of hire required, must be from an American Heart Association (AHA) endorsed program (effective for new hires starting January 1, 2023 or later).
Preferred Qualifications: Child Life Specialist
• Experience with policies, procedure, and protocol manuals preferred.
• Experience with patient care equipment, telecommunication systems, and the different procedure areas within a hospital setting preferred.
Nebraska Medicine is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, sex, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and protected veterans' status.

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