Childcare Worker salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A childcare worker earns a median of $34,980 a year ($16.82 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $35,030. About 518,910 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $34,980
- Gross pay
- $1,345.38
- Federal income tax
- −$77.60
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$83.41
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$19.51
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,164.86
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $34,980
- Federal
- $2,018
- FICA
- $2,676
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $30,286
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Childcare Worker salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $47,340 | $48,360 | 1,350 |
| Washington | $41,680 | $42,400 | 4,340 |
| Massachusetts | $40,900 | $42,580 | 13,140 |
| Colorado | $40,750 | $42,410 | 13,310 |
| California | $40,020 | $42,790 | 52,780 |
| Oregon | $38,650 | $39,170 | 5,240 |
| Vermont | $38,030 | $39,380 | — |
| New York | $37,590 | $39,690 | 44,020 |
| New Hampshire | $37,080 | $36,360 | 2,820 |
| Hawaii | $37,030 | $38,210 | 1,870 |
| Rhode Island | $36,940 | $36,530 | 1,800 |
| Connecticut | $36,660 | $38,190 | 12,020 |
| New Jersey | $36,390 | $37,640 | 25,070 |
| Maine | $36,350 | $37,280 | 4,990 |
| Alaska | $36,200 | $37,640 | 1,340 |
| Maryland | $36,030 | $38,030 | 9,750 |
| New Mexico | $35,840 | $35,510 | 4,120 |
| Illinois | $35,830 | $36,560 | 23,900 |
| Minnesota | $35,520 | $35,720 | 11,570 |
| Montana | $35,120 | $33,540 | 2,190 |
| Arizona | $35,100 | $36,350 | 5,530 |
| Virginia | $34,330 | $35,070 | 13,930 |
| Florida | $34,210 | $35,830 | 21,760 |
| Delaware | $33,210 | $34,450 | 1,230 |
| Wisconsin | $32,460 | $33,420 | 5,560 |
| Utah | $31,630 | $32,710 | 4,830 |
| Michigan | $30,970 | $33,100 | 14,010 |
| Missouri | $30,790 | $33,240 | 12,430 |
| Nebraska | $30,740 | $32,670 | 9,390 |
| North Dakota | $30,290 | $32,000 | 4,030 |
| Indiana | $30,180 | $31,330 | 8,280 |
| Idaho | $30,160 | $31,600 | 4,430 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,140 | $31,510 | 13,000 |
| Nevada | $29,740 | $32,030 | 3,740 |
| Ohio | $29,680 | $31,930 | 11,300 |
| Tennessee | $29,660 | $30,720 | 13,650 |
| South Carolina | $29,650 | $30,600 | 10,660 |
| Kansas | $29,240 | $30,430 | 7,430 |
| North Carolina | $29,140 | $30,940 | 12,550 |
| Kentucky | $28,920 | $30,520 | 5,820 |
| Texas | $28,570 | $29,050 | 34,160 |
| Arkansas | $28,450 | $28,930 | 5,400 |
| Iowa | $28,420 | $29,280 | 6,020 |
| Wyoming | $28,250 | $31,340 | 1,110 |
| Georgia | $28,020 | $28,770 | 21,040 |
| South Dakota | $27,940 | $29,720 | 2,370 |
| Oklahoma | $27,730 | $29,170 | 7,590 |
| West Virginia | $27,710 | $27,310 | 1,930 |
| Louisiana | $22,900 | $25,470 | 8,000 |
| Alabama | $22,720 | $25,120 | 4,580 |
| Mississippi | $22,050 | $24,310 | 5,420 |
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BLS occupation: Childcare Workers. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 39-9011). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $16.82; the average is $16.84.
Which state pays childcare workers the most?
District of Columbia ($47,340 median), followed by Washington and Massachusetts.
What is the salary range for a childcare worker?
The bottom 10% earn under $24,260 and the top 10% earn over $46,010 a year.
How much is $34,980 after taxes?
About $30,286 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $29,450 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.