Childcare workers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $24,260 | $11.66 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| Mean (average) | $35,030 | $16.84 |
| 90th percentile | $46,010 | $22.12 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Childcare workers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $22,720 | $18,680 | $32,330 | 4,580 | 0.65 |
| Alaska | $36,200 | $30,640 | $46,640 | 1,340 | 1.24 |
| Arizona | $35,100 | $30,830 | $45,660 | 5,530 | 0.51 |
| Arkansas | $28,450 | $23,940 | $33,640 | 5,400 | 1.24 |
| California | $40,020 | $35,340 | $52,670 | 52,780 | 0.87 |
| Colorado | $40,750 | $33,430 | $49,190 | 13,310 | 1.39 |
| Connecticut | $36,660 | $34,940 | $44,760 | 12,020 | 2.12 |
| Delaware | $33,210 | $31,200 | $40,410 | 1,230 | 0.76 |
| District of Columbia | $47,340 | $39,050 | $56,790 | 1,350 | 0.58 |
| Florida | $34,210 | $27,960 | $44,730 | 21,760 | 0.66 |
| Georgia | $28,020 | $22,170 | $36,980 | 21,040 | 1.29 |
| Guam | $22,020 | $22,020 | $27,000 | ||
| Hawaii | $37,030 | $30,850 | $47,270 | 1,870 | 0.89 |
| Idaho | $30,160 | $17,550 | $42,150 | 4,430 | 1.55 |
| Illinois | $35,830 | $31,200 | $44,980 | 23,900 | 1.17 |
| Indiana | $30,180 | $23,880 | $38,250 | 8,280 | 0.78 |
| Iowa | $28,420 | $21,950 | $37,220 | 6,020 | 1.16 |
| Kansas | $29,240 | $22,810 | $37,280 | 7,430 | 1.55 |
| Kentucky | $28,920 | $21,860 | $39,550 | 5,820 | 0.87 |
| Louisiana | $22,900 | $18,650 | $33,610 | 8,000 | 1.24 |
| Maine | $36,350 | $31,200 | $46,020 | 4,990 | 2.33 |
| Maryland | $36,030 | $31,570 | $47,280 | 9,750 | 1.06 |
| Massachusetts | $40,900 | $34,130 | $49,790 | 13,140 | 1.08 |
| Michigan | $30,970 | $27,210 | $39,340 | 14,010 | 0.95 |
| Minnesota | $35,520 | $28,560 | $44,880 | 11,570 | 1.17 |
| Mississippi | $22,050 | $18,230 | $33,600 | 5,420 | 1.4 |
| Missouri | $30,790 | $28,600 | $41,600 | 12,430 | 1.27 |
| Montana | $35,120 | $27,770 | $38,750 | 2,190 | 1.29 |
| Nebraska | $30,740 | $28,130 | $36,660 | 9,390 | 2.75 |
| Nevada | $29,740 | $27,520 | $38,560 | 3,740 | 0.72 |
| New Hampshire | $37,080 | $27,850 | $44,500 | 2,820 | 1.24 |
| New Jersey | $36,390 | $32,220 | $44,800 | 25,070 | 1.75 |
| New Mexico | $35,840 | $29,880 | $42,190 | 4,120 | 1.42 |
| New York | $37,590 | $33,630 | $46,970 | 44,020 | 1.36 |
| North Carolina | $29,140 | $22,840 | $40,990 | 12,550 | 0.76 |
| North Dakota | $30,290 | $23,310 | $37,070 | 4,030 | 2.81 |
| Ohio | $29,680 | $23,800 | $40,390 | 11,300 | 0.61 |
| Oklahoma | $27,730 | $22,040 | $38,580 | 7,590 | 1.33 |
| Oregon | $38,650 | $32,580 | $46,450 | 5,240 | 0.8 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,140 | $22,710 | $39,290 | 13,000 | 0.64 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,600 | $21,840 | $30,370 | 1,960 | 0.63 |
| Rhode Island | $36,940 | $31,410 | $45,140 | 1,800 | 1.08 |
| South Carolina | $29,650 | $22,020 | $37,720 | 10,660 | 1.39 |
| South Dakota | $27,940 | $26,500 | $37,840 | 2,370 | 1.56 |
| Tennessee | $29,660 | $21,730 | $38,050 | 13,650 | 1.25 |
| Texas | $28,570 | $21,750 | $37,290 | 34,160 | 0.73 |
| Utah | $31,630 | $23,040 | $43,440 | 4,830 | 0.83 |
| Vermont | $38,030 | $32,140 | $46,030 | ||
| Virgin Islands | $28,010 | $23,480 | $35,050 | 50 | 0.48 |
| Virginia | $34,330 | $28,150 | $44,100 | 13,930 | 1.02 |
| Washington | $41,680 | $35,340 | $50,080 | 4,340 | 0.37 |
| West Virginia | $27,710 | $22,170 | $35,890 | 1,930 | 0.83 |
| Wisconsin | $32,460 | $24,650 | $42,830 | 5,560 | 0.57 |
| Wyoming | $28,250 | $21,960 | $50,040 | 1,110 | 1.19 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for childcare workers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 150,300. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 24.2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for childcare workers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Child Development CIP 19.0706
- Child Care Provider/Assistant CIP 19.0709
- Early Childhood and Family Studies CIP 19.0711
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Maintain a safe play environment.
- Observe and monitor children's play activities.
- Communicate with children's parents or guardians about daily activities, behaviors, and related issues.
- Support children's emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts.
- Care for children in institutional setting, such as group homes, nursery schools, private businesses, or schools for people with disabilities.
- Sanitize toys and play equipment.
- Dress children and change diapers.
- Keep records on individual children, including daily observations and information about activities, meals served, and medications administered.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Educational software
- Google Classroom
- Nearpod
- Scheduling software
- Schoology
- Seesaw
- Tadpoles
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Instructing, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Caregiver, Child Care Worker, Child Caregiver, Childcare Provider, Childcare Worker, Daycare Teacher, Daycare Worker, Infant Teacher, Toddler Teacher.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do childcare workers make?
The national median annual wage for childcare workers was $34,980 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $24,260 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $46,010. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do childcare workers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is childcare workers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of childcare workers to change -2.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 150,300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay childcare workers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($47,340), Washington ($41,680), Massachusetts ($40,900). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.