Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$24,260
- 25th Percentile — Junior$29,360
- 50th Percentile — Median$34,980
- 75th Percentile — Senior$38,570
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$46,010
The top 10% of Childcare Workers earn $46,010 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $24,260, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $48,360 | +38.1% |
| California | $42,790 | +22.2% |
| Massachusetts | $42,580 | +21.6% |
| Colorado | $42,410 | +21.1% |
| Washington | $42,400 | +21.0% |
| New York | $39,690 | +13.3% |
| Vermont | $39,380 | +12.4% |
| Oregon | $39,170 | +11.8% |
| Hawaii | $38,210 | +9.1% |
| Connecticut | $38,190 | +9.0% |
| Maryland | $38,030 | +8.6% |
| Alaska | $37,640 | +7.5% |
| New Jersey | $37,640 | +7.5% |
| Maine | $37,280 | +6.4% |
| Illinois | $36,560 | +4.4% |
| Rhode Island | $36,530 | +4.3% |
| New Hampshire | $36,360 | +3.8% |
| Arizona | $36,350 | +3.8% |
| Florida | $35,830 | +2.3% |
| Minnesota | $35,720 | +2.0% |
| New Mexico | $35,510 | +1.4% |
| Virginia | $35,070 | +0.1% |
| Delaware | $34,450 | -1.7% |
| Montana | $33,540 | -4.3% |
| Wisconsin | $33,420 | -4.6% |
| Missouri | $33,240 | -5.1% |
| Michigan | $33,100 | -5.5% |
| Utah | $32,710 | -6.6% |
| Nebraska | $32,670 | -6.7% |
| Nevada | $32,030 | -8.6% |
| North Dakota | $32,000 | -8.6% |
| Ohio | $31,930 | -8.8% |
| Idaho | $31,600 | -9.8% |
| Pennsylvania | $31,510 | -10.0% |
| Wyoming | $31,340 | -10.5% |
| Indiana | $31,330 | -10.6% |
| North Carolina | $30,940 | -11.7% |
| Tennessee | $30,720 | -12.3% |
| South Carolina | $30,600 | -12.6% |
| Kentucky | $30,520 | -12.9% |
| Kansas | $30,430 | -13.1% |
| South Dakota | $29,720 | -15.2% |
| Iowa | $29,280 | -16.4% |
| Oklahoma | $29,170 | -16.7% |
| Texas | $29,050 | -17.1% |
| Arkansas | $28,930 | -17.4% |
| Georgia | $28,770 | -17.9% |
| West Virginia | $27,310 | -22.0% |
| Louisiana | $25,470 | -27.3% |
| Alabama | $25,120 | -28.3% |
| Mississippi | $24,310 | -30.6% |
What Factors Affect Childcare Workers Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Childcare Workers is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: District of Columbia pays an average of $48,360, while Mississippi pays $24,310 — a gap of $24,050 per year.
The middle half of Childcare Workers earn between $29,360 and $38,570 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $24,260, while the top 10% earn more than $46,010.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Childcare Workers?
The average salary for Childcare Workers in the United States is $35,030 per year, with a median of $34,980.
What is the starting salary for Childcare Workers?
Entry-level Childcare Workers typically earn between $24,260 and $29,360 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Childcare Workers the most?
District of Columbia pays Childcare Workers the most at $48,360 per year on average, followed by California ($42,790) and Massachusetts ($42,580).
How much do Childcare Workers make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $35,030, Childcare Workers earn approximately $16.84 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Childcare Workers a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 518,910 Childcare Workers jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $35,030 and a median of $34,980 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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