How much does a childcare worker make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $16.82 an hour or $2,915 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.82
- Average (mean)
- $35,030
- Jobs
- 518,910
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,260 | $11.66 | |
| 25th | $29,360 | $14.12 | |
| Median | $34,980 | $16.82 | |
| 75th | $38,570 | $18.54 | |
| 90th | $46,010 | $22.12 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| District of Columbia | $47,340 |
| Washington | $41,680 |
| Massachusetts | $40,900 |
| Colorado | $40,750 |
| California | $40,020 |
| Oregon | $38,650 |
| Vermont | $38,030 |
| New York | $37,590 |
| New Hampshire | $37,080 |
| Hawaii | $37,030 |
| Rhode Island | $36,940 |
| Connecticut | $36,660 |
| New Jersey | $36,390 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
| Alaska | $36,200 |
| Maryland | $36,030 |
| New Mexico | $35,840 |
| Illinois | $35,830 |
| Minnesota | $35,520 |
| Montana | $35,120 |
| Arizona | $35,100 |
| Virginia | $34,330 |
| Florida | $34,210 |
| Delaware | $33,210 |
| Wisconsin | $32,460 |
| Utah | $31,630 |
| Michigan | $30,970 |
| Missouri | $30,790 |
| Nebraska | $30,740 |
| North Dakota | $30,290 |
| Indiana | $30,180 |
| Idaho | $30,160 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,140 |
| Nevada | $29,740 |
| Ohio | $29,680 |
| Tennessee | $29,660 |
| South Carolina | $29,650 |
| Kansas | $29,240 |
| North Carolina | $29,140 |
| Kentucky | $28,920 |
| Texas | $28,570 |
| Arkansas | $28,450 |
| Iowa | $28,420 |
| Wyoming | $28,250 |
| Georgia | $28,020 |
| South Dakota | $27,940 |
| Oklahoma | $27,730 |
| West Virginia | $27,710 |
| Louisiana | $22,900 |
| Alabama | $22,720 |
| Mississippi | $22,050 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| North Port, FL | $47,300 |
| San Jose, CA | $45,720 |
| San Francisco, CA | $44,540 |
| Denver, CO | $44,320 |
| Seattle, WA | $43,710 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $43,480 |
| Boulder, CO | $43,380 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $42,860 |
| Longview, WA | $42,300 |
| Modesto, CA | $41,920 |
| Boston, MA | $41,590 |
| Napa, CA | $41,570 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $41,260 |
| Amherst Town, MA | $40,560 |
| Riverside, CA | $40,210 |
In other countries
Childcare Worker belongs to the international group "Child care workers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $16.82 ($34,980 a year).
How much does a childcare worker make a month?
About $2,915 a month before tax, based on a median of $34,980 a year.
How much does a childcare worker make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $24,260 or less a year ($11.66 an hour); the top 10% make $46,010 or more.
Which state pays childcare workers the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $47,340 a year, followed by Washington ($41,680) and Massachusetts ($40,900).
Which city pays childcare workers the most?
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL, with a median of $47,300 a year.
How many childcare workers are there in the United States?
About 518,910 people work as childcare workers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.