Childcare worker earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level childcare worker earnings begin at:

$16.97 per hour

$35,290 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level childcare worker earnings begin at:

$13.89 per hour

$28,900 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level childcare worker earnings begin at:

$11.31 per hour

$23,520 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level childcare worker earnings begin at:

$10.43 per hour

$21,690 per year

10th percentile

Starting level childcare worker earnings begin at:

$8.61 per hour

$17,920 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Childcare worker salary by state

State Name Average Salary
District of Columbia $36,330
California $34,170
Washington $33,160
Massachusetts $31,160
Colorado $30,350
New York $29,850
Oregon $29,810
Arizona $29,460
New Jersey $29,460
Maine $29,450
Minnesota $29,430
Vermont $29,270
Connecticut $29,200
Alaska $28,880
Maryland $28,750
Hawaii $28,690
Rhode Island $27,570
Illinois $26,730
Florida $26,630
Virginia $24,420
Missouri $24,360
Wisconsin $24,060
Michigan $23,990
Nevada $23,900
Utah $23,520
Pennsylvania $23,430
North Carolina $23,350
Wyoming $23,340
Montana $23,280
North Dakota $23,280
Kentucky $23,240
Nebraska $23,240
Arkansas $23,230
Ohio $23,230
Virgin Islands, U.S. $23,200
New Hampshire $23,180
New Mexico $23,080
Indiana $23,010
Georgia $22,970
Tennessee $22,880
Delaware $22,850
South Dakota $22,710
Texas $22,610
Kansas $22,460
Iowa $22,380
South Carolina $22,310
Oklahoma $22,190
Idaho $22,060
West Virginia $20,680
Louisiana $19,080
Guam $18,720
Alabama $18,610
Puerto Rico $18,500
Mississippi $17,580

How do childcare worker salaries compare to similar careers?

Childcare workers earn 42% less than similar careers in Utah. On average, they make less than elementary school teachers but more than nannies.

Career Median Salary
Elementary school teacher salary $60K
Kindergarten teacher salary $49K
School counselor salary $49K
Childcare program administrator salary $38K
Preschool teacher salary $30K
Childcare worker salary $24K
Nanny salary $24K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)