Childcare Workers Salary
Personal Care and Service Occupations · 519K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$34,980
Median hourly
$17
Average annual
$35,030
Typical range
$24,260–$46,010
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Childcare Workers is $34,980 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $17 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play..
Most earn between $24,260 and $46,010 a year. There are roughly 519K people employed as childcare workers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Childcare Workers.
- Hourly
- $16.82
- Daily
- $135
- Weekly
- $673
- Bi-weekly
- $1,345
- Monthly
- $2,915
- Annual
- $34,980
$34,980 a year is around the 50th percentile for Childcare Workerss. The median is $34,980.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1District of Columbia$47,340
- 2Washington$41,680
- 3Massachusetts$40,900
- 4Colorado$40,750
- 5California$40,020
- 6Oregon$38,650
- 7Vermont$38,030
- 8New York$37,590
- 9New Hampshire$37,080
- 10Hawaii$37,030
- 11Rhode Island$36,940
- 12Connecticut$36,660
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL$47,300
- 2San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$45,720
- 3San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$44,540
- 4Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$44,320
- 5Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$43,710
- 6Barnstable Town, MA$43,480
- 7Boulder, CO$43,380
- 8San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA$42,860
- 9Longview-Kelso, WA$42,300
- 10Modesto, CA$41,920
- 11Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$41,590
- 12Napa, CA$41,570
Related job titles
Employers advertise Childcare Workers roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$38,140
- Childcare Workers$34,980
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$62,680
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers$59,550
- Health Education Specialists$64,070
- Social and Human Service Assistants$45,930
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$74,260
- Residential Advisors$42,240
What a Childcare Workers does
- Sanitize toys and play equipment.
- Maintain a safe play environment.
- Observe and monitor children's play activities.
- Support children's emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts.
- Instruct children in health and personal habits, such as eating, resting, and toilet habits.
- Read to children and teach them simple painting, drawing, handicrafts, and songs.
- Assist in preparing food and serving meals and refreshments to children.
- Communicate with children's parents or guardians about daily activities, behaviors, and related issues.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Childcare Workers make?
- The median annual wage for Childcare Workers is $34,980 ($17 per hour). Pay ranges from about $24,260 at the 10th percentile to $46,010 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Childcare Workers?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $35,030, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Childcare Workerss the most?
- District of Columbia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $47,340.
- Is Childcare Workers a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 519K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Childcare Workers do?
- Sanitize toys and play equipment.; Maintain a safe play environment.; Observe and monitor children's play activities..