Childcare Workers · Pennsylvania

Childcare Workers Salary in Pennsylvania

Childcare Workers in Pennsylvania earn a median annual wage of $30,140 —13.8% below the national median of $34,980. That ranks PA #33 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$30,140
Median hourly
$14.49
Entry level (P10)
$22,710
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$39,290
90th percentile
Employment
13,000
2.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-13.8%
U.S. $34,980

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$22,710
$27,040
$30,140
$35,970
$22,710$30,140$39,290
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $30,140.

Employment is only 0.64× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Pennsylvania.

Highest-paying states for childcare workers

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Pennsylvania is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$47,340$22.761,3500.58
2Washington$41,680$20.044,3400.37
3Massachusetts$40,900$19.6613,1401.08
4Colorado$40,750$19.5913,3101.39
5California$40,020$19.2452,7800.87
6Oregon$38,650$18.585,2400.80
7Vermont$38,030$18.29——
8New York$37,590$18.0744,0201.36
9New Hampshire$37,080$17.832,8201.24
10Hawaii$37,030$17.801,8700.89

Related occupations in Pennsylvania

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Pennsylvania.

OccupationPennsylvania medianU.S. median
Amusement and Recreation Attendants$28,090$32,150
Recreation Workers$35,710$36,560
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$45,250$47,160
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$36,790$35,790
Animal Caretakers$31,360$35,360
Manicurists and Pedicurists$27,990$35,760

Frequently asked questions

How much do childcare workers make in Pennsylvania?

The median annual wage for childcare workers in Pennsylvania is $30,140, or $14.49 per hour. That is 13.8% below the national median of $34,980.

What is the entry-level childcare workers salary in Pennsylvania?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $22,710 per year ($10.92/hour). The 25th percentile is $27,040.

How many people work as childcare workers in Pennsylvania?

About 13,000 people work in this occupation in Pennsylvania, or 2.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Pennsylvania a good state for childcare workers?

Pennsylvania ranks #33 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.64x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Pennsylvania.

Which state pays childcare workers the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $47,340 per year, followed by Washington ($41,680) and Massachusetts ($40,900).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes