Childcare Worker Salary (BLS 2025)
BLS OEWS May 2025 · BLS occupation: SOC 39-9011 Childcare Workers
Childcare Workers earned a median $34,980 a year ($16.82 an hour) in May 2025 (SOC 39-9011 Childcare Workers).
The middle half earned between $29,360 and $38,570.
All childcare workers, wage-and-salary employees; excludes the self-employed and workers in private households.
Annual figures are BLS hourly wages × 2,080 hours. OEWS covers wage-and-salary workers only, so it leaves out the self-employed, workers in private households, overtime pay and most bonuses.
How pay spreads across Childcare Workers
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24,260 | $11.66 |
| 25th | $29,360 | $14.12 |
| 50th (median) | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| 75th | $38,570 | $18.55 |
| 90th | $46,010 | $22.12 |
| Mean (average) | $35,030 | $16.84 |
SOC 39-9011 Childcare Workers: 518,910 wage-and-salary jobs, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Pay by employer setting
| Employer setting (BLS) | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary and secondary schools | — | $17.80 |
| Child care services (NAICS 6244) | $34,170 | $16.43 |
Median wage for SOC 39-9011 Childcare Workers by industry, BLS OEWS May 2025. Only the hourly median is shown for childcare workers in schools.
Childcare Worker Salary by State
Median annual wage for SOC 39-9011 Childcare Workers in each state, BLS OEWS May 2025, alphabetical. "vs. U.S." compares the state median with the national median of $34,980; it is not adjusted for living costs.
| State | Median | Hourly | 10th–90th | Jobs | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $22,720 | $10.92 | $18,680–$32,330 | 4,580 | −35% |
| Alaska | $36,200 | $17.40 | $30,640–$46,640 | 1,340 | +3% |
| Arizona | $35,100 | $16.88 | $30,830–$45,660 | 5,530 | +0% |
| Arkansas | $28,450 | $13.68 | $23,940–$33,640 | 5,400 | −19% |
| California | $40,020 | $19.24 | $35,340–$52,670 | 52,780 | +14% |
| Colorado | $40,750 | $19.59 | $33,430–$49,190 | 13,310 | +16% |
| Connecticut | $36,660 | $17.63 | $34,940–$44,760 | 12,020 | +5% |
| Delaware | $33,210 | $15.97 | $31,200–$40,410 | 1,230 | −5% |
| District of Columbia | $47,340 | $22.76 | $39,050–$56,790 | 1,350 | +35% |
| Florida | $34,210 | $16.45 | $27,960–$44,730 | 21,760 | −2% |
| Georgia | $28,020 | $13.47 | $22,170–$36,980 | 21,040 | −20% |
| Hawaii | $37,030 | $17.80 | $30,850–$47,270 | 1,870 | +6% |
| Idaho | $30,160 | $14.50 | $17,550–$42,150 | 4,430 | −14% |
| Illinois | $35,830 | $17.23 | $31,200–$44,980 | 23,900 | +2% |
| Indiana | $30,180 | $14.51 | $23,880–$38,250 | 8,280 | −14% |
| Iowa | $28,420 | $13.66 | $21,950–$37,220 | 6,020 | −19% |
| Kansas | $29,240 | $14.06 | $22,810–$37,280 | 7,430 | −16% |
| Kentucky | $28,920 | $13.90 | $21,860–$39,550 | 5,820 | −17% |
| Louisiana | $22,900 | $11.01 | $18,650–$33,610 | 8,000 | −35% |
| Maine | $36,350 | $17.47 | $31,200–$46,020 | 4,990 | +4% |
| Maryland | $36,030 | $17.32 | $31,570–$47,280 | 9,750 | +3% |
| Massachusetts | $40,900 | $19.66 | $34,130–$49,790 | 13,140 | +17% |
| Michigan | $30,970 | $14.89 | $27,210–$39,340 | 14,010 | −11% |
| Minnesota | $35,520 | $17.08 | $28,560–$44,880 | 11,570 | +2% |
| Mississippi | $22,050 | $10.60 | $18,230–$33,600 | 5,420 | −37% |
| Missouri | $30,790 | $14.80 | $28,600–$41,600 | 12,430 | −12% |
| Montana | $35,120 | $16.89 | $27,770–$38,750 | 2,190 | +0% |
| Nebraska | $30,740 | $14.78 | $28,130–$36,660 | 9,390 | −12% |
| Nevada | $29,740 | $14.30 | $27,520–$38,560 | 3,740 | −15% |
| New Hampshire | $37,080 | $17.83 | $27,850–$44,500 | 2,820 | +6% |
| New Jersey | $36,390 | $17.49 | $32,220–$44,800 | 25,070 | +4% |
| New Mexico | $35,840 | $17.23 | $29,880–$42,190 | 4,120 | +2% |
| New York | $37,590 | $18.07 | $33,630–$46,970 | 44,020 | +7% |
| North Carolina | $29,140 | $14.01 | $22,840–$40,990 | 12,550 | −17% |
| North Dakota | $30,290 | $14.56 | $23,310–$37,070 | 4,030 | −13% |
| Ohio | $29,680 | $14.27 | $23,800–$40,390 | 11,300 | −15% |
| Oklahoma | $27,730 | $13.33 | $22,040–$38,580 | 7,590 | −21% |
| Oregon | $38,650 | $18.58 | $32,580–$46,450 | 5,240 | +10% |
| Pennsylvania | $30,140 | $14.49 | $22,710–$39,290 | 13,000 | −14% |
| Rhode Island | $36,940 | $17.76 | $31,410–$45,140 | 1,800 | +6% |
| South Carolina | $29,650 | $14.26 | $22,020–$37,720 | 10,660 | −15% |
| South Dakota | $27,940 | $13.43 | $26,500–$37,840 | 2,370 | −20% |
| Tennessee | $29,660 | $14.26 | $21,730–$38,050 | 13,650 | −15% |
| Texas | $28,570 | $13.73 | $21,750–$37,290 | 34,160 | −18% |
| Utah | $31,630 | $15.21 | $23,040–$43,440 | 4,830 | −10% |
| Vermont | $38,030 | $18.29 | $32,140–$46,030 | Not published | +9% |
| Virginia | $34,330 | $16.51 | $28,150–$44,100 | 13,930 | −2% |
| Washington | $41,680 | $20.04 | $35,340–$50,080 | 4,340 | +19% |
| West Virginia | $27,710 | $13.32 | $22,170–$35,890 | 1,930 | −21% |
| Wisconsin | $32,460 | $15.61 | $24,650–$42,830 | 5,560 | −7% |
| Wyoming | $28,250 | $13.58 | $21,960–$50,040 | 1,110 | −19% |
Job outlook
BLS projects childcare worker employment to decline 2% from 2025 to 2035, but about 150,300 openings a year, all from replacing workers who leave the occupation or the workforce.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 (Occupational Outlook Handbook), SOC 39-9011 Childcare Workers.