Childcare Worker salary in the U.S.
Childcare Workers in the U.S. earn a median of $34,980 a year ($16.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 518,910 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,010 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $35,030, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for childcare workers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,260 | $11.66 |
| 25th percentile | $29,360 | $14.12 |
| Median | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| 75th percentile | $38,570 | $18.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,010 | $22.12 |
| Average (mean) | $35,030 | $16.84 |
Half of childcare workers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,915 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,457.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,345.38 |
| Weekly | $672.69 |
| Hourly | $16.82 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Childcare Worker salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $47,340 | 1,350 |
| Washington | $41,680 | 4,340 |
| Massachusetts | $40,900 | 13,140 |
| Colorado | $40,750 | 13,310 |
| California | $40,020 | 52,780 |
| Oregon | $38,650 | 5,240 |
| Vermont | $38,030 | n/a |
| New York | $37,590 | 44,020 |
| New Hampshire | $37,080 | 2,820 |
| Hawaii | $37,030 | 1,870 |
| Rhode Island | $36,940 | 1,800 |
| Connecticut | $36,660 | 12,020 |
| New Jersey | $36,390 | 25,070 |
| Maine | $36,350 | 4,990 |
| Alaska | $36,200 | 1,340 |
| Maryland | $36,030 | 9,750 |
| New Mexico | $35,840 | 4,120 |
| Illinois | $35,830 | 23,900 |
| Minnesota | $35,520 | 11,570 |
| Montana | $35,120 | 2,190 |
| Arizona | $35,100 | 5,530 |
| Virginia | $34,330 | 13,930 |
| Florida | $34,210 | 21,760 |
| Delaware | $33,210 | 1,230 |
| Wisconsin | $32,460 | 5,560 |
| Utah | $31,630 | 4,830 |
| Michigan | $30,970 | 14,010 |
| Missouri | $30,790 | 12,430 |
| Nebraska | $30,740 | 9,390 |
| North Dakota | $30,290 | 4,030 |
| Indiana | $30,180 | 8,280 |
| Idaho | $30,160 | 4,430 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,140 | 13,000 |
| Nevada | $29,740 | 3,740 |
| Ohio | $29,680 | 11,300 |
| Tennessee | $29,660 | 13,650 |
| South Carolina | $29,650 | 10,660 |
| Kansas | $29,240 | 7,430 |
| North Carolina | $29,140 | 12,550 |
| Kentucky | $28,920 | 5,820 |
| Texas | $28,570 | 34,160 |
| Arkansas | $28,450 | 5,400 |
| Iowa | $28,420 | 6,020 |
| Wyoming | $28,250 | 1,110 |
| Georgia | $28,020 | 21,040 |
| Virgin Islands | $28,010 | 50 |
| South Dakota | $27,940 | 2,370 |
| Oklahoma | $27,730 | 7,590 |
| West Virginia | $27,710 | 1,930 |
| Louisiana | $22,900 | 8,000 |
| Alabama | $22,720 | 4,580 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,600 | 1,960 |
| Mississippi | $22,050 | 5,420 |
| Guam | $22,020 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for childcare workers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $47,300 | 1,530 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $45,720 | 3,090 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $44,540 | 8,260 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $44,320 | 7,870 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $43,710 | 2,520 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $43,480 | 270 |
| Boulder, CO | $43,380 | 1,060 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $42,860 | 370 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $42,300 | 30 |
| Modesto, CA | $41,920 | 660 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $41,590 | 10,440 |
| Napa, CA | $41,570 | 170 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $41,260 | 620 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $40,560 | 240 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $40,210 | 5,110 |
Metro areas with the most childcare workers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 48,780 | $37,870 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 17,540 | $36,610 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 16,530 | $39,890 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 13,220 | $28,840 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 11,650 | $37,610 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 10,440 | $41,590 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 8,690 | $29,530 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 8,660 | $31,110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 8,260 | $44,540 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 7,960 | $34,520 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 7,870 | $44,320 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 7,740 | $36,310 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 6,660 | $31,770 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 6,150 | $34,750 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 5,810 | $31,060 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Recreation Worker | $36,560 | $17.58 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| Residential Advisor | $42,240 | $20.31 |
| Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Animal Caretaker | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Manicurists and Pedicurists | $35,760 | $17.19 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $32,910 | $15.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers | $48,590 | $23.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | $48,560 | $23.34 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Skincare Specialist | $45,330 | $21.79 |
| Tour and Travel Guides | $38,120 | $18.33 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 39-9011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make in the U.S.?
The median salary for childcare workers in the U.S. is $34,980 a year, or $16.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid childcare workers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of childcare workers in the U.S. earn at least $46,010 a year. The top 25% earn $38,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for childcare workers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,260 a year, and a quarter of childcare workers earn $29,360 or less.
How many childcare workers work in the U.S.?
About 518,910 childcare workers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.