Childcare Workers salary
Childcare Workers earn a median of $34,980 a year ($16.82/hr) in the U.S. – from $22,050 in Mississippi to $47,340 in District of Columbia. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$16.82/hr · $34,980 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$24,260$11.66/hr
75% earn more$29,360$14.12/hr
half earn more, half less$34,980$16.82/hr
25% earn more$38,570$18.55/hr
top 10% earn more$46,010$22.12/hr
pulled up by top earners$35,030$16.84/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among childcare workers. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for childcare workers. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
1,350 jobs · $22.76/hr$47,340
4,340 jobs · $20.04/hr$41,680
13,140 jobs · $19.66/hr$40,900
13,310 jobs · $19.59/hr$40,750
52,780 jobs · $19.24/hr$40,020
5,240 jobs · $18.58/hr$38,650
jobs n/a · $18.29/hr$38,030
44,020 jobs · $18.07/hr$37,590
2,820 jobs · $17.83/hr$37,080
1,870 jobs · $17.80/hr$37,030
1,800 jobs · $17.76/hr$36,940
12,020 jobs · $17.63/hr$36,660
25,070 jobs · $17.49/hr$36,390
4,990 jobs · $17.47/hr$36,350
1,340 jobs · $17.40/hr$36,200
9,750 jobs · $17.32/hr$36,030
4,120 jobs · $17.23/hr$35,840
23,900 jobs · $17.23/hr$35,830
11,570 jobs · $17.08/hr$35,520
2,190 jobs · $16.89/hr$35,120
5,530 jobs · $16.88/hr$35,100
13,930 jobs · $16.51/hr$34,330
21,760 jobs · $16.45/hr$34,210
1,230 jobs · $15.97/hr$33,210
5,560 jobs · $15.61/hr$32,460
4,830 jobs · $15.21/hr$31,630
14,010 jobs · $14.89/hr$30,970
12,430 jobs · $14.80/hr$30,790
9,390 jobs · $14.78/hr$30,740
4,030 jobs · $14.56/hr$30,290
8,280 jobs · $14.51/hr$30,180
4,430 jobs · $14.50/hr$30,160
13,000 jobs · $14.49/hr$30,140
3,740 jobs · $14.30/hr$29,740
11,300 jobs · $14.27/hr$29,680
13,650 jobs · $14.26/hr$29,660
10,660 jobs · $14.26/hr$29,650
7,430 jobs · $14.06/hr$29,240
12,550 jobs · $14.01/hr$29,140
5,820 jobs · $13.90/hr$28,920
34,160 jobs · $13.73/hr$28,570
5,400 jobs · $13.68/hr$28,450
6,020 jobs · $13.66/hr$28,420
1,110 jobs · $13.58/hr$28,250
21,040 jobs · $13.47/hr$28,020
2,370 jobs · $13.43/hr$27,940
7,590 jobs · $13.33/hr$27,730
1,930 jobs · $13.32/hr$27,710
8,000 jobs · $11.01/hr$22,900
4,580 jobs · $10.92/hr$22,720
1,960 jobs · $10.86/hr$22,600
5,420 jobs · $10.60/hr$22,050
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 39-9011. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do childcare workers make?
The median wage for childcare workers in the U.S. was $16.82 an hour or $34,980 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $29,360 and $38,570 a year.
Which state pays childcare workers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for childcare workers: $47,340 a year. The lowest published median is in Mississippi at $22,050. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many childcare workers are there?
BLS estimates 518,910 childcare workers were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.