Early Care & Education or Human Services (Associates Degree)

Hey all,
I have to decide asap which major and concentration classes to choose asap. I’ve been rambling about this for years and finally decided that I ultimately want a career that ‘helps’ people, not sure in which way but I do like the idea of therapy, art, counseling, being inspiring, rewarding career (I did want to go for teaching at some point in my life, but changed minds).

Also, I can’t say pay rate is all that matters but I would like to support my family, so finding a job that at least pays 40k a year would be nice along with some work/life balance.

If I had to choose, I would work with children but it doesn’t just have to be children. I also would like to have a degree that may open different doors in the future.

I like the idea of early care & education, although it seems like most jobs are in day cares and that’s not what I am aiming for, also doesn’t seem to have a lot of listings. Human services, I like that I can do different things but I feel a little lost as of which route to take if I were to choose this program. My college offers Drug & abuse or General Track, I’d choose general track… but what would an associates degree matter much in this field?

Based on what I’ve said do you think Early Care & Education or Human Services would be more beneficial?

Sadly, an associates degree in either won’t lead you to jobs paying $40k. Increasingly, pre-K teachers are finding jobs in public elementary schools in some areas where public pre-K is offered in public schools and those jobs need a four year degree and do pay as well as other teaching jobs.

At the moment I am aiming for an associates, but if I was able to I would eventually pursue a bachelors.

If that were the case, I guess I can do teaching and earn my credentials. But, what if I end up not wanting to do teaching anymore I feel I would be stuck with a degree that would only allow me to do something specific.

Where as, maybe with human services I can look into working in a government agency, organizations, social work, working with children or families… I still don’t know what exact position, maybe that’s why I feel so confused. I know I want to help others, just not sure how exactly to the point where I can say yes I want to be a teacher, or instead a coordinator that works for x organization helping people…

I work with and help children, have an associates, and make much more than $40k. I work in healthcare as a respiratory therapist. Many of my coworkers are in the same boat but they’re OTA, PTA, RN, LPN’s. My facility is one of the only places that’ll hire RN’s with as associates in my area though. Try job shadowing these professions before making a firm choice but most of the prerequisites are the same for all the programs. (I’d skip LPN and go for RN if I were offering advice) What programs do your school or nearby schools offer?