Childcare Workers Salary by State
The national median pay for childcare workers is $34,980 a year. By state, it ranges from $22,050 in Mississippi to $47,340 in District of Columbia.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $24,260
- 25th percentile
- $29,360
- Median
- $34,980
- 75th percentile
- $38,570
- Top 10%
- $46,010
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 518,910 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $47,340 | +35% | $39,050 | $56,790 | 1,350 |
| 2 | Washington | $41,680 | +19% | $35,340 | $50,080 | 4,340 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $40,900 | +17% | $34,130 | $49,790 | 13,140 |
| 4 | Colorado | $40,750 | +16% | $33,430 | $49,190 | 13,310 |
| 5 | California | $40,020 | +14% | $35,340 | $52,670 | 52,780 |
| 6 | Oregon | $38,650 | +10% | $32,580 | $46,450 | 5,240 |
| 7 | Vermont | $38,030 | +9% | $32,140 | $46,030 | Not published |
| 8 | New York | $37,590 | +7% | $33,630 | $46,970 | 44,020 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $37,080 | +6% | $27,850 | $44,500 | 2,820 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $37,030 | +6% | $30,850 | $47,270 | 1,870 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $36,940 | +6% | $31,410 | $45,140 | 1,800 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $36,660 | +5% | $34,940 | $44,760 | 12,020 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $36,390 | +4% | $32,220 | $44,800 | 25,070 |
| 14 | Maine | $36,350 | +4% | $31,200 | $46,020 | 4,990 |
| 15 | Alaska | $36,200 | +3% | $30,640 | $46,640 | 1,340 |
| 16 | Maryland | $36,030 | +3% | $31,570 | $47,280 | 9,750 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $35,840 | +2% | $29,880 | $42,190 | 4,120 |
| 18 | Illinois | $35,830 | +2% | $31,200 | $44,980 | 23,900 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $35,520 | +2% | $28,560 | $44,880 | 11,570 |
| 20 | Montana | $35,120 | 0% | $27,770 | $38,750 | 2,190 |
| 21 | Arizona | $35,100 | 0% | $30,830 | $45,660 | 5,530 |
| 22 | Virginia | $34,330 | −2% | $28,150 | $44,100 | 13,930 |
| 23 | Florida | $34,210 | −2% | $27,960 | $44,730 | 21,760 |
| 24 | Delaware | $33,210 | −5% | $31,200 | $40,410 | 1,230 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $32,460 | −7% | $24,650 | $42,830 | 5,560 |
| 26 | Utah | $31,630 | −10% | $23,040 | $43,440 | 4,830 |
| 27 | Michigan | $30,970 | −11% | $27,210 | $39,340 | 14,010 |
| 28 | Missouri | $30,790 | −12% | $28,600 | $41,600 | 12,430 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $30,740 | −12% | $28,130 | $36,660 | 9,390 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $30,290 | −13% | $23,310 | $37,070 | 4,030 |
| 31 | Indiana | $30,180 | −14% | $23,880 | $38,250 | 8,280 |
| 32 | Idaho | $30,160 | −14% | $17,550 | $42,150 | 4,430 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $30,140 | −14% | $22,710 | $39,290 | 13,000 |
| 34 | Nevada | $29,740 | −15% | $27,520 | $38,560 | 3,740 |
| 35 | Ohio | $29,680 | −15% | $23,800 | $40,390 | 11,300 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $29,660 | −15% | $21,730 | $38,050 | 13,650 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $29,650 | −15% | $22,020 | $37,720 | 10,660 |
| 38 | Kansas | $29,240 | −16% | $22,810 | $37,280 | 7,430 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $29,140 | −17% | $22,840 | $40,990 | 12,550 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $28,920 | −17% | $21,860 | $39,550 | 5,820 |
| 41 | Texas | $28,570 | −18% | $21,750 | $37,290 | 34,160 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $28,450 | −19% | $23,940 | $33,640 | 5,400 |
| 43 | Iowa | $28,420 | −19% | $21,950 | $37,220 | 6,020 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $28,250 | −19% | $21,960 | $50,040 | 1,110 |
| 45 | Georgia | $28,020 | −20% | $22,170 | $36,980 | 21,040 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $27,940 | −20% | $26,500 | $37,840 | 2,370 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $27,730 | −21% | $22,040 | $38,580 | 7,590 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $27,710 | −21% | $22,170 | $35,890 | 1,930 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $22,900 | −35% | $18,650 | $33,610 | 8,000 |
| 50 | Alabama | $22,720 | −35% | $18,680 | $32,330 | 4,580 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $22,050 | −37% | $18,230 | $33,600 | 5,420 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Childcare Workers salary questions
Which state pays childcare workers the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $47,340 a year (+35% vs. the national median of $34,980). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays childcare workers the least?
Mississippi, with a median of $22,050 a year (−37% vs. national).
Where do most childcare workers work?
California has the most jobs, about 52,780, with a median of $40,020.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.