Childcare Workers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for childcare workers is $34,980, or $16.82 per hour. About 518,910 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $47,340 in District of Columbia to $22,050 in Mississippi.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 51 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $47,340 | $22.76 | 1,350 | 0.58 |
| 2 | Washington | $41,680 | $20.04 | 4,340 | 0.37 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $40,900 | $19.66 | 13,140 | 1.08 |
| 4 | Colorado | $40,750 | $19.59 | 13,310 | 1.39 |
| 5 | California | $40,020 | $19.24 | 52,780 | 0.87 |
| 6 | Oregon | $38,650 | $18.58 | 5,240 | 0.80 |
| 7 | Vermont | $38,030 | $18.29 | — | — |
| 8 | New York | $37,590 | $18.07 | 44,020 | 1.36 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $37,080 | $17.83 | 2,820 | 1.24 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $37,030 | $17.80 | 1,870 | 0.89 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $36,940 | $17.76 | 1,800 | 1.08 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $36,660 | $17.63 | 12,020 | 2.12 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $36,390 | $17.49 | 25,070 | 1.75 |
| 14 | Maine | $36,350 | $17.47 | 4,990 | 2.33 |
| 15 | Alaska | $36,200 | $17.40 | 1,340 | 1.24 |
| 16 | Maryland | $36,030 | $17.32 | 9,750 | 1.06 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $35,840 | $17.23 | 4,120 | 1.42 |
| 18 | Illinois | $35,830 | $17.23 | 23,900 | 1.17 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $35,520 | $17.08 | 11,570 | 1.17 |
| 20 | Montana | $35,120 | $16.89 | 2,190 | 1.29 |
| 21 | Arizona | $35,100 | $16.88 | 5,530 | 0.51 |
| 22 | Virginia | $34,330 | $16.51 | 13,930 | 1.02 |
| 23 | Florida | $34,210 | $16.45 | 21,760 | 0.66 |
| 24 | Delaware | $33,210 | $15.97 | 1,230 | 0.76 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $32,460 | $15.61 | 5,560 | 0.57 |
| 26 | Utah | $31,630 | $15.21 | 4,830 | 0.83 |
| 27 | Michigan | $30,970 | $14.89 | 14,010 | 0.95 |
| 28 | Missouri | $30,790 | $14.80 | 12,430 | 1.27 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $30,740 | $14.78 | 9,390 | 2.75 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $30,290 | $14.56 | 4,030 | 2.81 |
| 31 | Indiana | $30,180 | $14.51 | 8,280 | 0.78 |
| 32 | Idaho | $30,160 | $14.50 | 4,430 | 1.55 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $30,140 | $14.49 | 13,000 | 0.64 |
| 34 | Nevada | $29,740 | $14.30 | 3,740 | 0.72 |
| 35 | Ohio | $29,680 | $14.27 | 11,300 | 0.61 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $29,660 | $14.26 | 13,650 | 1.25 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $29,650 | $14.26 | 10,660 | 1.39 |
| 38 | Kansas | $29,240 | $14.06 | 7,430 | 1.55 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $29,140 | $14.01 | 12,550 | 0.76 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $28,920 | $13.90 | 5,820 | 0.87 |
| 41 | Texas | $28,570 | $13.73 | 34,160 | 0.73 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $28,450 | $13.68 | 5,400 | 1.24 |
| 43 | Iowa | $28,420 | $13.66 | 6,020 | 1.16 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $28,250 | $13.58 | 1,110 | 1.19 |
| 45 | Georgia | $28,020 | $13.47 | 21,040 | 1.29 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $27,940 | $13.43 | 2,370 | 1.56 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $27,730 | $13.33 | 7,590 | 1.33 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $27,710 | $13.32 | 1,930 | 0.83 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $22,900 | $11.01 | 8,000 | 1.24 |
| 50 | Alabama | $22,720 | $10.92 | 4,580 | 0.65 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $22,050 | $10.60 | 5,420 | 1.40 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do childcare workers make?
The median annual wage for childcare workers in the United States is $34,980, or $16.82 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $24,260, and the top 10% earn $46,010.
How many childcare workers are employed in the U.S.?
About 518,910 people work as childcare workers nationwide.
Which state pays childcare workers the most?
District of Columbia pays the most at a median of $47,340, followed by Washington ($41,680) and Massachusetts ($40,900).
Which state pays childcare workers the least?
Mississippi has the lowest median at $22,050.
Where are childcare workers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is North Dakota at 2.81×.