How much does a day care worker make in the United States?
This is the median gross salary: half earn more and half earn less. That is $2,961 a month.
- Approx. take-home per month
- $2,556
- Compared with the median pay in the United States
- 0.7 times
- Data from
- 2025
Where the United States ranks among 144 countries
Each line is a country, on a log scale from $100 to $100,000 a year.
In other countries
Median gross salary a year, in dollars.
| 1. Switzerland estimate | $60,510 |
| 2. Iceland estimate | $60,270 |
| 3. Belgium estimate | $54,440 |
| 8. Ireland estimate | $36,440 |
| 9. United States | $35,530 |
| 10. Sweden estimate | $35,280 |
| 144. Nigeria estimate | $329 |
Similar jobs
Service and sales workers
- Preschool teaching assistant$31,340
- Nursing assistant$42,320
- Personal care attendant$48,580
- Personal care workers in health services not elsewhere classified$44,820
By state
Median gross salary a year.
| Vermont | $53,350 |
| District of Columbia | $50,870 |
| Washington | $50,540 |
| Colorado | $46,460 |
| Oregon | $45,180 |
| Hawaii | $45,050 |
| Massachusetts | $44,570 |
| California | $44,460 |
| Alaska | $42,370 |
| Rhode Island | $42,360 |
See all 51 states
| New Hampshire | $41,960 |
| New York | $41,660 |
| Maryland | $41,520 |
| Delaware | $41,230 |
| New Jersey | $40,590 |
| Connecticut | $40,480 |
| Wisconsin | $40,240 |
| Arizona | $39,820 |
| Minnesota | $39,690 |
| Florida | $39,580 |
| Maine | $38,800 |
| Montana | $38,760 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,640 |
| Illinois | $38,530 |
| Virginia | $38,510 |
| Nevada | $37,720 |
| New Mexico | $37,470 |
| Utah | $36,230 |
| North Carolina | $35,680 |
| Indiana | $35,580 |
| Ohio | $34,970 |
| Texas | $34,620 |
| Michigan | $34,130 |
| South Carolina | $34,020 |
| Wyoming | $33,900 |
| Idaho | $33,750 |
| Missouri | $33,460 |
| Nebraska | $32,730 |
| Tennessee | $32,650 |
| North Dakota | $32,440 |
| Kansas | $32,380 |
| Kentucky | $31,980 |
| Georgia | $31,780 |
| South Dakota | $31,680 |
| Iowa | $31,630 |
| Alabama | $31,100 |
| Arkansas | $30,630 |
| West Virginia | $30,530 |
| Oklahoma | $30,110 |
| Louisiana | $26,350 |
| Mississippi | $26,010 |
Jobs in this group in the United States
Official name of each one and its median salary a year.
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Worker | $48,590 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Worker | $48,560 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a day care worker make a month in the United States?
The median gross salary is $2,961 a month, $35,530 a year.
How much does a day care worker make starting out and with experience?
The lowest-paid 10%, usually people starting out, make around $24,670 a year; the top 10%, with experience or senior roles, make more than $47,260.
Which country pays a day care worker the most?
Germany, with a median of $47,740 a year before tax, according to our data.
Which state pays a day care worker the most?
Vermont, with a median of $53,350 a year.
Does a day care worker make more in the United States or in Germany?
In Germany: $47,740 a year against $35,530 in the United States, 1.3 times more.
Who makes more, a day care worker or a preschool teaching assistant?
A day care worker: $35,530 a year against $31,340 for a preschool teaching assistant, 1.1 times more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS survey, 2025. How we calculate