Tanager Place logo
Tanager Place
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Early Childhood Counselor

Counselor / TherapistNo nightsFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 46m ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Job Location: Med Quarter - Cedar Rapids, IA
  • Position Type: Full Time
  • Education Level: 4 Year Degree
  • Salary Range: Undisclosed
  • Job Shift: Day

Make a Difference Every Day — Become an Early Childhood Counselor with Tanager Are you looking for a role where you can truly change lives? Imagine being the reason a child smiles again, builds self-confidence, or discovers a new dream.

As a Early Childhood Counselor at Tanager, you won’t just have a job — you’ll have a purpose. Every interaction you have can shape a child’s future, helping them feel seen, supported, and safe.

If you believe in the power of human connection, healing, and growth, this is your chance to help a child discover their potential.

About Tanager Since 1879, we’ve been dedicated to supporting children and families in Linn County and as the first children's human services agency in the county, our mission continues to evolve with the needs of our community.

Today, we serve over 4,000 children and teens annually through prevention, treatment, and outreach programs. We’re more than a non-profit — we’re a community of caregivers working together to Inspire, Empower, and Heal.

Position Overview As an Early Childhood Counselor, you will be working directly with children and their families to provide skill building services addressing their mental health needs, while delivering direct care services that are: Client-centered Strengths-based Professional and compassionate In this role, you will provide direct instruction, care, and support to children enrolled in the Therapeutic Child Care (TCC) program.

This role implements developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed practices to create a safe, structured, and nurturing environment. The Counselor delivers daily routines and targeted interventions aligned with each child's treatment plan goals to promote positive outcomes for children and families.

Working closely with the TCC Supervisor, Clinical Manager, the family, and interdisciplinary team, the Counselor integrates therapeutic and educational supports into classroom activities to meet individual needs. Why Choose Tanager? We care for the people who care for our kids.

Full-time employees enjoy: Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, and pet insurance Financial Security: Retirement plan, employer-paid life, short & long-term disability Wellbeing Support: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Work-Life Balance: 10 paid holidays, Compassionate Leave, generous PTO policy Growth Support: tuition reimbursement and opportunities for advancement Convenient Pay: Weekly payroll And most of all — the chance to inspire hope and make a lasting impact Qualifications: Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related human services field Minimum of one year of experience working with children in a structured classroom or group care setting Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the work Required Special Qualifications: Current certifications in CPR, First Aid, and Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter Training or become certified within first three months of hire Must possess a valid Driver License and meet the driving requirements of the Agency Ready to Inspire Hope?

If you’re passionate about helping youth find their strength, voice, and purpose — Tanager is the place for you. Join a team where your work truly matters and where every day brings a new chance to make a positive impact. Apply today and start changing lives — including your own.

Tanager is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Key Responsibilities

The counselor provides direct mental health support and skill-building services to children within a therapeutic child care program. They implement trauma-informed practices and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to deliver care aligned with individual treatment plans.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in social work or a related human services field. A minimum of one year of experience working with children in a structured setting is required, along with a valid driver's license.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Key Skills

Trauma-informed careChild developmentClassroom managementCrisis interventionBehavioral supportCase managementInterdisciplinary collaborationDocumentationClient-centered careStrengths-based approachInstructional support

Early Childhood Mental Health — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 64% are remote, 30% have no call, 54% require no weekends.

Counselor pay on WeekdayDoc is down 2.0% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

Counselor by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedCounselor median $72k (middle half $62k–$81k)336 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost of livingIowa index 87.8US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Counselor listings in Iowa176 active13,602 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 64% remote · 30% no call · 54% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedIowa Counselor listings: 14% state a sign-on bonus (median $8k) · 11% offer loan repayment176 active listings, Nov 2026
Counselor pay trend−2.0% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

43 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

43 jobs · 32 employers
20
<$85k
10
$85k-105k
4
$105k-125k
7
$125k-145k
2
$146k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

29 jobs
401k / retirement match
86% this job
CME allowance
41%
Sign-on bonus
21%
Loan repayment
17%
PSLF eligible
7%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Mental Health Therapist, Contractor - LA / (Remote)Contract

Cartwheel · Cambridge, Massachusetts

$60-$70/hr
#2

Licensed Therapist

BlueSky Telepsych · Concord, North Carolina

$60-$70/hr
#3

Licensed Mental Health Therapist

$123k-$141k
#4

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

$123k-$141k
+ 41 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 5.1
Better work-life than 40% of Counseling listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 13,476 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No nights
Tanager Place logo

About Tanager Place

Mental Health Care
Cedar Rapids, IA
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Pet Insurance
Retirement Plan
Employer-Paid Life Insurance
Short & Long-Term Disability
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Living in Cedar Rapids

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$217k
Typical market rent
$1,274/mo
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
89.0
State income tax
Up to 6%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Cedar Rapids, IA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.