Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Childcare workers (SOC 39-9011) employed 518,910 people in May 2025. The median pay is $34,980 a year ($16.82 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $24,260 and the highest-paid 10% more than $46,010. BLS projects its employment to change by -2.0% between 2025 and 2035 (about 150,300 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest median pay: District of Columbia ($47,340), Washington ($41,680), Massachusetts ($40,900). Most jobs: California (52,780), New York (44,020), Texas (34,160).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,260 | $11.66 |
| 25th percentile | $29,360 | $14.12 |
| Median | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| Mean | $35,030 | $16.84 |
| 75th percentile | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $46,010 | $22.12 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 1,010,300 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 990,400 |
| Change in jobs | -19,900 |
| Percent change | -2.0% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 150,300 |
| Self-employed share | 24.2% |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4,580 | 0.65 | $22,720 | $18,680 | $32,330 | -35% | 57% |
| Alaska | 1,340 | 1.24 | $36,200 | $30,640 | $46,640 | +3% | 48% |
| Arizona | 5,530 | 0.51 | $35,100 | $30,830 | $45,660 | +0% | 57% |
| Arkansas | 5,400 | 1.24 | $28,450 | $23,940 | $33,640 | -19% | 41% |
| California | 52,780 | 0.87 | $40,020 | $35,340 | $52,670 | +14% | 63% |
| Colorado | 13,310 | 1.39 | $40,750 | $33,430 | $49,190 | +16% | 54% |
| Connecticut | 12,020 | 2.12 | $36,660 | $34,940 | $44,760 | +5% | 51% |
| Delaware | 1,230 | 0.76 | $33,210 | $31,200 | $40,410 | -5% | 55% |
| District of Columbia | 1,350 | 0.58 | $47,340 | $39,050 | $56,790 | +35% | 49% |
| Florida | 21,760 | 0.66 | $34,210 | $27,960 | $44,730 | -2% | 64% |
| Georgia | 21,040 | 1.29 | $28,020 | $22,170 | $36,980 | -20% | 64% |
| Hawaii | 1,870 | 0.89 | $37,030 | $30,850 | $47,270 | +6% | 63% |
| Idaho | 4,430 | 1.55 | $30,160 | $17,550 | $42,150 | -14% | 55% |
| Illinois | 23,900 | 1.17 | $35,830 | $31,200 | $44,980 | +2% | 44% |
| Indiana | 8,280 | 0.78 | $30,180 | $23,880 | $38,250 | -14% | 44% |
| Iowa | 6,020 | 1.16 | $28,420 | $21,950 | $37,220 | -19% | 41% |
| Kansas | 7,430 | 1.55 | $29,240 | $22,810 | $37,280 | -16% | 44% |
| Kentucky | 5,820 | 0.87 | $28,920 | $21,860 | $39,550 | -17% | 41% |
| Louisiana | 8,000 | 1.24 | $22,900 | $18,650 | $33,610 | -35% | 56% |
| Maine | 4,990 | 2.33 | $36,350 | $31,200 | $46,020 | +4% | 40% |
| Maryland | 9,750 | 1.06 | $36,030 | $31,570 | $47,280 | +3% | 57% |
| Massachusetts | 13,140 | 1.08 | $40,900 | $34,130 | $49,790 | +17% | 54% |
| Michigan | 14,010 | 0.95 | $30,970 | $27,210 | $39,340 | -11% | 45% |
| Minnesota | 11,570 | 1.17 | $35,520 | $28,560 | $44,880 | +2% | 44% |
| Mississippi | 5,420 | 1.40 | $22,050 | $18,230 | $33,600 | -37% | 54% |
| Missouri | 12,430 | 1.27 | $30,790 | $28,600 | $41,600 | -12% | 42% |
| Montana | 2,190 | 1.29 | $35,120 | $27,770 | $38,750 | +0% | 40% |
| Nebraska | 9,390 | 2.75 | $30,740 | $28,130 | $36,660 | -12% | 43% |
| Nevada | 3,740 | 0.72 | $29,740 | $27,520 | $38,560 | -15% | 69% |
| New Hampshire | 2,820 | 1.24 | $37,080 | $27,850 | $44,500 | +6% | 50% |
| New Jersey | 25,070 | 1.75 | $36,390 | $32,220 | $44,800 | +4% | 59% |
| New Mexico | 4,120 | 1.42 | $35,840 | $29,880 | $42,190 | +2% | 37% |
| New York | 44,020 | 1.36 | $37,590 | $33,630 | $46,970 | +7% | 52% |
| North Carolina | 12,550 | 0.76 | $29,140 | $22,840 | $40,990 | -17% | 55% |
| North Dakota | 4,030 | 2.81 | $30,290 | $23,310 | $37,070 | -13% | 39% |
| Ohio | 11,300 | 0.61 | $29,680 | $23,800 | $40,390 | -15% | 44% |
| Oklahoma | 7,590 | 1.33 | $27,730 | $22,040 | $38,580 | -21% | 45% |
| Oregon | 5,240 | 0.80 | $38,650 | $32,580 | $46,450 | +10% | 50% |
| Pennsylvania | 13,000 | 0.64 | $30,140 | $22,710 | $39,290 | -14% | 50% |
| Rhode Island | 1,800 | 1.08 | $36,940 | $31,410 | $45,140 | +6% | 46% |
| South Carolina | 10,660 | 1.39 | $29,650 | $22,020 | $37,720 | -15% | 51% |
| South Dakota | 2,370 | 1.56 | $27,940 | $26,500 | $37,840 | -20% | 43% |
| Tennessee | 13,650 | 1.25 | $29,660 | $21,730 | $38,050 | -15% | 52% |
| Texas | 34,160 | 0.73 | $28,570 | $21,750 | $37,290 | -18% | 62% |
| Utah | 4,830 | 0.83 | $31,630 | $23,040 | $43,440 | -10% | 60% |
| Virginia | 13,930 | 1.02 | $34,330 | $28,150 | $44,100 | -2% | 58% |
| Washington | 4,340 | 0.37 | $41,680 | $35,340 | $50,080 | +19% | 53% |
| West Virginia | 1,930 | 0.83 | $27,710 | $22,170 | $35,890 | -21% | 38% |
| Wisconsin | 5,560 | 0.57 | $32,460 | $24,650 | $42,830 | -7% | 42% |
| Wyoming | 1,110 | 1.19 | $28,250 | $21,960 | $50,040 | -19% | 42% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 1,530 | $47,300 | $31,300 | $79,360 | 1.35 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 3,090 | $45,720 | $37,780 | $62,670 | 0.82 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 8,260 | $44,540 | $37,930 | $57,410 | 1.04 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 7,870 | $44,320 | $35,860 | $49,300 | 1.47 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,520 | $43,710 | $36,080 | $53,810 | 0.36 |
| Boulder, CO | 1,060 | $43,380 | $34,590 | $59,360 | 1.65 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 370 | $42,860 | $34,580 | $47,050 | 0.90 |
| Modesto, CA | 660 | $41,920 | $34,570 | $50,160 | 1.01 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 10,440 | $41,590 | $34,570 | $49,790 | 1.16 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 620 | $41,260 | $36,350 | $51,680 | 0.91 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 5,110 | $40,210 | $36,040 | $49,710 | 0.89 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 810 | $40,010 | $34,320 | $49,560 | 0.84 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 16,530 | $39,890 | $34,980 | $48,390 | 0.79 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 4,420 | $39,800 | $35,400 | $50,670 | 0.86 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 3,020 | $39,590 | $33,850 | $47,200 | 0.75 |
| Salinas, CA | 530 | $39,520 | $35,090 | $50,220 | 0.85 |
| Worcester, MA | 1,230 | $39,300 | $32,240 | $47,780 | 1.06 |
| Vallejo, CA | 570 | $38,850 | $34,420 | $49,310 | 1.18 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 2,280 | $38,390 | $35,130 | $49,460 | 0.63 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 790 | $38,390 | $35,410 | $51,450 | 1.18 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 860 | $38,340 | $34,980 | $47,400 | 0.80 |
| El Centro, CA | 380 | $38,220 | $34,320 | $51,260 | 1.76 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 330 | $38,050 | $35,230 | $48,470 | 1.01 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 3,720 | $38,020 | $36,430 | $46,550 | 2.76 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 48,780 | $37,870 | $34,360 | $46,970 | 1.54 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 11,650 | $37,610 | $32,160 | $50,220 | 1.11 |
| Salem, OR | 430 | $37,320 | $30,640 | $45,770 | 0.68 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 2,880 | $37,230 | $31,470 | $45,730 | 1.21 |
| Visalia, CA | 680 | $37,190 | $34,320 | $50,490 | 1.19 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 1,380 | $37,160 | $31,080 | $45,780 | 1.30 |
| Springfield, MA | 600 | $36,910 | $32,720 | $46,310 | 0.90 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 460 | $36,760 | $31,810 | $44,780 | 0.87 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 1,410 | $36,710 | $30,760 | $46,020 | 0.95 |
| Greeley, CO | 490 | $36,690 | $30,990 | $44,550 | 1.23 |
| Chico, CA | 310 | $36,660 | $34,320 | $48,080 | 1.18 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 2,460 | $36,620 | $32,140 | $46,000 | 2.56 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 17,540 | $36,610 | $31,200 | $45,940 | 1.16 |
| Merced, CA | 390 | $36,590 | $34,320 | $47,880 | 1.46 |
| New Haven, CT | 1,960 | $36,550 | $35,260 | $44,610 | 2.08 |
| Fresno, CA | 1,520 | $36,480 | $34,430 | $46,420 | 0.96 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 740 | $36,420 | $31,360 | $44,760 | 1.31 |
| Kingston, NY | 460 | $36,360 | $32,640 | $44,810 | 2.32 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 2,190 | $36,340 | $31,090 | $42,120 | 1.63 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 7,740 | $36,310 | $29,730 | $46,370 | 1.19 |
| Anchorage, AK | 860 | $36,280 | $30,620 | $46,360 | 1.46 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 1,810 | $36,230 | $32,240 | $46,390 | 2.02 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 910 | $36,210 | $22,610 | $41,170 | 1.36 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 1,690 | $36,190 | $35,590 | $46,320 | 1.49 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 2,420 | $36,170 | $32,620 | $47,240 | 1.61 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 810 | $35,950 | $34,940 | $43,280 | 1.91 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 3,630 | $35,920 | $34,220 | $43,620 | 1.81 |
| Binghamton, NY | 640 | $35,890 | $32,240 | $39,870 | 1.98 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 4,230 | $35,760 | $30,900 | $46,030 | 0.53 |
| Billings, MT | 440 | $35,740 | $27,950 | $36,770 | 1.40 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 1,350 | $35,670 | $34,590 | $43,420 | 2.51 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 1,140 | $35,640 | $33,000 | $44,490 | 1.43 |
| Missoula, MT | 330 | $35,510 | $27,710 | $37,680 | 1.45 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 2,100 | $35,410 | $32,240 | $44,010 | 1.18 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,660 | $35,210 | $28,130 | $51,440 | 0.65 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 530 | $35,190 | $32,240 | $42,740 | 1.35 |
The median is $34,980 a year ($16.82 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $24,260 and the highest-paid tenth over $46,010 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
518,910 in May 2025, and BLS projects -2.0% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
District of Columbia, with a median of $47,340 (among states with published figures).