385 metro areas
Childcare Worker Salary by City (2026)
Childcare workers earn the most in North Port, FL, an average of $52,690 a year, against $35,030 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in North Port, FL ($51,450 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $35,030BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $52,690North Port, FL
- Best after cost of living
- $51,450North Port, FL
- Metro areas
- 385With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for childcare workers
Top 10 metro areas
- North Port, FL$52,690
- San Jose, CA$48,460
- San Francisco, CA$46,110
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Boulder, CO$44,280
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,850
- Denver, CO$43,760
- El Centro, CA$43,010
- Ocala, FL$43,010
- Boston, MA-NH$42,930
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $52,690 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $48,460 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,110 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $44,390 |
| Boulder, CO | $44,280 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $43,850 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $43,760 |
| El Centro, CA | $43,010 |
| Ocala, FL | $43,010 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $42,930 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- North Port, FL$52,690 nominal$51,450
- El Centro, CA$43,010 nominal$45,190
- Ocala, FL$43,010 nominal$45,160
- San Jose, CA$48,460 nominal$43,890
- Barnstable Town, MA$42,580 nominal$43,290
- Longview, WA$41,720 nominal$42,770
- Pittsfield, MA$40,250 nominal$42,320
- Lawton, OK$36,230 nominal$42,160
- Boulder, CO$44,280 nominal$42,090
- Amherst Town, MA$41,580 nominal$41,480
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $51,450 |
| El Centro, CA | $45,190 |
| Ocala, FL | $45,160 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $43,890 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $43,290 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $42,770 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $42,320 |
| Lawton, OK | $42,160 |
| Boulder, CO | $42,090 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $41,480 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Childcare Worker salary in every metro area
Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Port, FL | $52,690 | $33,180 | $62,280 | $51,450 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $48,460 | $39,580 | $52,830 | $43,890 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $46,110 | $38,560 | $49,820 | $39,880 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $44,390 | $37,270 | $47,900 | $39,940 |
| 5 | Boulder, CO | $44,280 | $35,860 | $48,420 | $42,090 |
| 6 | Santa Rosa, CA | $43,850 | $37,340 | $47,030 | $40,680 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $43,760 | $36,960 | $47,110 | $41,370 |
| 8 | El Centro, CA | $43,010 | $34,840 | $47,050 | $45,190 |
| 9 | Ocala, FL | $43,010 | $29,930 | $49,440 | $45,160 |
| 10 | Boston, MA-NH | $42,930 | $35,380 | $46,630 | $39,650 |
| 11 | Napa, CA | $42,870 | $36,590 | $45,970 | $38,090 |
| 12 | Riverside, CA | $42,870 | $36,750 | $45,880 | $40,280 |
| 13 | Modesto, CA | $42,600 | $36,380 | $45,680 | $40,920 |
| 14 | Barnstable Town, MA | $42,580 | $36,280 | $45,680 | $43,290 |
| 15 | Salinas, CA | $42,370 | $36,480 | $45,280 | $38,860 |
| 16 | San Diego, CA | $42,370 | $36,250 | $45,360 | $37,870 |
| 17 | Los Angeles, CA | $41,930 | $36,380 | $44,660 | $36,920 |
| 18 | Vallejo, CA | $41,810 | $35,570 | $44,890 | $38,540 |
| 19 | Mount Vernon, WA | $41,770 | $37,000 | $44,100 | $40,770 |
| 20 | Longview, WA | $41,720 | $37,110 | $44,010 | $42,770 |
| 21 | Stockton, CA | $41,640 | $35,730 | $44,550 | $39,620 |
| 22 | Santa Maria, CA | $41,620 | $36,250 | $44,260 | $38,250 |
| 23 | Amherst Town, MA | $41,580 | $34,670 | $44,970 | $41,480 |
| 24 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $41,580 | $35,980 | $44,320 | $38,290 |
| 25 | Sacramento, CA | $41,370 | $36,070 | $43,990 | $38,780 |
| 26 | Kahului, HI | $41,200 | $34,960 | $44,280 | $37,660 |
| 27 | Santa Cruz, CA | $41,200 | $35,460 | $44,030 | $37,490 |
| 28 | Portland, OR-WA | $40,790 | $35,510 | $43,390 | $38,690 |
| 29 | Oxnard, CA | $40,680 | $35,630 | $43,180 | $36,800 |
| 30 | Worcester, MA | $40,480 | $33,490 | $43,910 | $39,480 |
| 31 | Pittsfield, MA | $40,250 | $34,320 | $43,160 | $42,320 |
| 32 | Bremerton, WA | $40,230 | $35,570 | $42,520 | $38,090 |
| 33 | Spokane, WA | $40,230 | $35,420 | $42,600 | $40,090 |
| 34 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $40,160 | $33,430 | $43,490 | $36,880 |
| 35 | Yuba City, CA | $40,100 | $34,860 | $42,660 | $38,470 |
| 36 | Visalia, CA | $40,080 | $34,900 | $42,620 | $40,150 |
| 37 | Bridgeport, CT | $40,060 | $36,480 | $41,830 | $37,490 |
| 38 | New York, NY-NJ | $40,020 | $34,860 | $42,560 | $35,550 |
| 39 | Fairbanks, AK | $39,940 | $32,280 | $43,700 | $38,700 |
| 40 | Wenatchee, WA | $39,920 | $36,280 | $41,700 | $38,440 |
| 41 | Hanford, CA | $39,850 | $34,860 | $42,310 | $39,220 |
| 42 | Redding, CA | $39,640 | $34,880 | $41,970 | $39,370 |
| 43 | Olympia, WA | $39,620 | $35,570 | $41,620 | $38,220 |
| 44 | Burlington, VT | $39,600 | $34,960 | $41,870 | $39,230 |
| 45 | Chico, CA | $39,400 | $34,720 | $41,700 | $38,930 |
| 46 | Springfield, MA | $39,400 | $33,780 | $42,160 | $41,020 |
| 47 | Colorado Springs, CO | $39,120 | $33,110 | $42,080 | $38,850 |
| 48 | Bellingham, WA | $39,020 | $36,710 | $40,160 | $37,760 |
| 49 | Flagstaff, AZ | $39,000 | $34,240 | $41,350 | $38,870 |
| 50 | Merced, CA | $38,980 | $34,470 | $41,200 | $39,660 |
| 51 | Yakima, WA | $38,830 | $35,650 | $40,390 | $40,640 |
| 52 | Fresno, CA | $38,790 | $34,510 | $40,890 | $37,970 |
| 53 | Kennewick, WA | $38,770 | $36,050 | $40,120 | $38,740 |
| 54 | Santa Fe, NM | $38,500 | $32,030 | $41,680 | $38,980 |
| 55 | Bakersfield, CA | $38,400 | $35,530 | $39,810 | $38,060 |
| 56 | Salem, OR | $38,250 | $32,340 | $41,160 | $36,900 |
| 57 | Albany, NY | $38,230 | $33,340 | $40,620 | $38,400 |
| 58 | Ithaca, NY | $38,080 | $34,280 | $39,960 | $36,860 |
| 59 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $38,060 | $33,630 | $40,250 | $34,780 |
| 60 | Bend, OR | $38,040 | $33,550 | $40,270 | $36,720 |
| 61 | Grants Pass, OR | $37,940 | $33,970 | $39,890 | $38,810 |
| 62 | Greeley, CO | $37,900 | $32,530 | $40,540 | $37,830 |
| 63 | New Haven, CT | $37,880 | $35,360 | $39,120 | $36,230 |
| 64 | Portland, ME | $37,790 | $34,200 | $39,560 | $37,100 |
| 65 | Anchorage, AK | $37,650 | $33,220 | $39,830 | $35,710 |
| 66 | Providence, RI-MA | $37,610 | $31,820 | $40,440 | $36,950 |
| 67 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $37,590 | $31,050 | $40,810 | $33,880 |
| 68 | Norwich, CT | $37,500 | $34,990 | $38,750 | $37,330 |
| 69 | Kingston, NY | $37,480 | $33,450 | $39,480 | $37,220 |
| 70 | Eugene, OR | $37,360 | $33,200 | $39,400 | $36,780 |
| 71 | Fort Collins, CO | $37,270 | $32,760 | $39,500 | $36,850 |
| 72 | Chicago, IL-IN | $37,210 | $32,260 | $39,670 | $35,920 |
| 73 | Trenton, NJ | $37,210 | $33,970 | $38,810 | $36,060 |
| 74 | Hartford, CT | $37,190 | $34,940 | $38,310 | $36,200 |
| 75 | Jacksonville, FL | $37,090 | $29,740 | $40,710 | $37,280 |
| 76 | Walla Walla, WA | $37,020 | $35,150 | $37,960 | $37,580 |
| 77 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $37,000 | $30,530 | $40,190 | $35,300 |
| 78 | Waterbury, CT | $36,840 | $34,760 | $37,860 | $36,920 |
| 79 | Phoenix, AZ | $36,820 | $31,870 | $39,250 | $35,640 |
| 80 | Lexington Park, MD | $36,770 | $31,890 | $39,170 | $36,490 |
| 81 | Prescott Valley, AZ | $36,710 | $32,160 | $38,960 | $37,360 |
| 82 | Baltimore, MD | $36,690 | $32,360 | $38,830 | $35,110 |
| 83 | Grand Junction, CO | $36,630 | $32,280 | $38,770 | $38,370 |
| 84 | Buffalo, NY | $36,570 | $32,360 | $38,650 | $38,160 |
| 85 | Lewiston, ME | $36,550 | $32,260 | $38,650 | $38,580 |
| 86 | Medford, OR | $36,520 | $33,160 | $38,190 | $36,000 |
| 87 | Binghamton, NY | $36,500 | $32,450 | $38,520 | $39,310 |
| 88 | Pueblo, CO | $36,460 | $32,180 | $38,580 | $39,730 |
| 89 | Corvallis, OR | $36,440 | $32,200 | $38,540 | $35,030 |
| 90 | Glens Falls, NY | $36,340 | $32,570 | $38,210 | $38,310 |
| 91 | Lawton, OK | $36,230 | $21,550 | $43,470 | $42,160 |
| 92 | Bozeman, MT | $36,150 | $30,160 | $39,100 | $35,260 |
| 93 | Naples, FL | $36,130 | $31,350 | $38,480 | $35,010 |
| 94 | Punta Gorda, FL | $36,110 | $31,050 | $38,600 | $35,920 |
| 95 | Utica, NY | $36,030 | $32,300 | $37,860 | $38,880 |
| 96 | Albuquerque, NM | $36,000 | $31,030 | $38,460 | $37,680 |
| 97 | Elmira, NY | $35,820 | $32,260 | $37,590 | $37,950 |
| 98 | Rochester, NY | $35,690 | $32,660 | $37,170 | $36,780 |
| 99 | Syracuse, NY | $35,610 | $32,390 | $37,190 | $37,190 |
| 100 | Bangor, ME | $35,590 | $30,890 | $37,900 | $36,880 |
| 101 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $35,590 | $31,430 | $37,630 | $37,820 |
| 102 | Miami, FL | $35,420 | $29,540 | $38,310 | $31,030 |
| 103 | Decatur, IL | $35,340 | $31,320 | $37,340 | $39,970 |
| 104 | Sheboygan, WI | $35,240 | $29,600 | $38,000 | $37,480 |
| 105 | Madison, WI | $35,190 | $27,060 | $39,210 | $36,170 |
| 106 | Albany, OR | $35,170 | $31,510 | $36,960 | $34,450 |
| 107 | Atlantic City, NJ | $35,150 | $32,680 | $36,380 | $35,560 |
| 108 | Springfield, IL | $35,130 | $31,220 | $37,070 | $37,880 |
| 109 | Champaign, IL | $35,070 | $31,470 | $36,840 | $37,830 |
| 110 | Watertown, NY | $35,010 | $32,430 | $36,300 | $39,920 |
| 111 | Vineland, NJ | $34,990 | $32,220 | $36,360 | $36,460 |
| 112 | Palm Bay, FL | $34,900 | $30,680 | $36,980 | $34,900 |
| 113 | Flint, MI | $34,840 | $27,500 | $38,460 | $37,450 |
| 114 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $34,820 | $29,330 | $37,520 | $33,950 |
| 115 | Farmington, NM | $34,760 | $29,990 | $37,090 | $39,630 |
| 116 | Racine, WI | $34,760 | $28,080 | $38,040 | $36,220 |
| 117 | Green Bay, WI | $34,590 | $29,430 | $37,130 | $37,160 |
| 118 | Salisbury, MD | $34,550 | $31,260 | $36,170 | $36,130 |
| 119 | Tucson, AZ | $34,550 | $31,410 | $36,110 | $35,660 |
| 120 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $34,490 | $29,810 | $36,820 | $36,270 |
| 121 | Bloomington, IL | $34,420 | $31,720 | $35,780 | $36,800 |
| 122 | Las Cruces, NM | $34,380 | $29,520 | $36,770 | $38,110 |
| 123 | Rockford, IL | $34,280 | $31,390 | $35,710 | $37,200 |
| 124 | Traverse City, MI | $34,260 | $29,350 | $36,690 | $36,690 |
| 125 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $34,240 | $29,080 | $36,770 | $34,160 |
| 126 | Dover, DE | $34,220 | $31,200 | $35,710 | $35,090 |
| 127 | Crestview, FL | $34,150 | $30,260 | $36,090 | $35,190 |
| 128 | Deltona, FL | $34,090 | $29,720 | $36,250 | $34,310 |
| 129 | Tampa, FL | $34,070 | $29,410 | $36,380 | $33,770 |
| 130 | Peoria, IL | $34,030 | $31,200 | $35,420 | $37,300 |
| 131 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $34,010 | $26,000 | $37,960 | $34,600 |
| 132 | Hagerstown, MD-WV | $33,950 | $29,580 | $36,090 | $36,050 |
| 133 | Nashville, TN | $33,950 | $26,500 | $37,630 | $35,240 |
| 134 | Kankakee, IL | $33,920 | $31,220 | $35,260 | $35,190 |
| 135 | Lexington, KY | $33,900 | $25,380 | $38,110 | $36,500 |
| 136 | Manchester, NH | $33,900 | $26,210 | $37,710 | $32,080 |
| 137 | Detroit, MI | $33,840 | $28,160 | $36,630 | $33,740 |
| 138 | Rochester, MN | $33,760 | $27,870 | $36,650 | $37,170 |
| 139 | Duluth, MN-WI | $33,740 | $28,060 | $36,520 | $38,010 |
| 140 | Missoula, MT | $33,680 | $28,230 | $36,360 | $34,920 |
| 141 | Akron, OH | $33,510 | $26,270 | $37,070 | $35,890 |
| 142 | Salt Lake City, UT | $33,510 | $26,290 | $37,040 | $33,220 |
| 143 | Sebastian, FL | $33,490 | $28,370 | $36,030 | $34,070 |
| 144 | Charlottesville, VA | $33,470 | $28,390 | $35,960 | $33,760 |
| 145 | Reno, NV | $33,470 | $28,410 | $35,960 | $33,130 |
| 146 | Asheville, NC | $33,450 | $26,270 | $36,980 | $34,660 |
| 147 | Cape Coral, FL | $33,450 | $29,080 | $35,610 | $32,680 |
| 148 | Milwaukee, WI | $33,450 | $26,020 | $37,110 | $34,510 |
| 149 | Ann Arbor, MI | $33,380 | $28,830 | $35,630 | $33,090 |
| 150 | Billings, MT | $33,360 | $28,290 | $35,860 | $35,670 |
| 151 | Charleston, SC | $33,340 | $27,000 | $36,480 | $33,020 |
| 152 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $33,280 | $23,920 | $37,900 | $34,190 |
| 153 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $33,280 | $24,020 | $37,840 | $35,760 |
| 154 | Grand Rapids, MI | $33,260 | $27,810 | $35,940 | $34,810 |
| 155 | Richmond, VA | $33,240 | $28,660 | $35,480 | $33,970 |
| 156 | Helena, MT | $33,220 | $27,080 | $36,230 | $34,720 |
| 157 | St. Cloud, MN | $33,200 | $27,930 | $35,780 | $37,890 |
| 158 | Cleveland, OH | $33,180 | $26,960 | $36,230 | $35,330 |
| 159 | Columbus, OH | $33,130 | $27,020 | $36,130 | $34,700 |
| 160 | Minot, ND | $33,130 | $26,790 | $36,280 | $38,070 |
| 161 | Omaha, NE-IA | $33,130 | $29,080 | $35,130 | $36,050 |
| 162 | Yuma, AZ | $32,970 | $30,990 | $33,920 | $35,560 |
| 163 | Mankato, MN | $32,930 | $28,290 | $35,210 | $36,200 |
| 164 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $32,910 | $27,850 | $35,400 | $35,560 |
| 165 | Durham, NC | $32,880 | $25,460 | $36,520 | $33,700 |
| 166 | Orlando, FL | $32,880 | $27,730 | $35,420 | $32,420 |
| 167 | Oshkosh, WI | $32,880 | $28,270 | $35,150 | $35,380 |
| 168 | Carson City, NV | $32,820 | $28,120 | $35,130 | $33,450 |
| 169 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $32,800 | $25,850 | $36,210 | $35,980 |
| 170 | Jackson, MI | $32,780 | $28,250 | $35,030 | $35,720 |
| 171 | Panama City, FL | $32,720 | $27,770 | $35,150 | $33,630 |
| 172 | Topeka, KS | $32,720 | $24,960 | $36,550 | $36,840 |
| 173 | Lansing, MI | $32,660 | $28,500 | $34,720 | $34,380 |
| 174 | Davenport, IA-IL | $32,640 | $27,980 | $34,940 | $36,640 |
| 175 | Staunton, VA | $32,610 | $27,310 | $35,240 | $35,780 |
| 176 | Muncie, IN | $32,590 | $26,560 | $35,550 | $36,970 |
| 177 | La Crosse, WI-MN | $32,570 | $27,230 | $35,190 | $35,490 |
| 178 | Lincoln, NE | $32,570 | $28,600 | $34,550 | $35,560 |
| 179 | Kalamazoo, MI | $32,550 | $28,310 | $34,630 | $34,320 |
| 180 | Harrisonburg, VA | $32,510 | $28,020 | $34,720 | $34,260 |
| 181 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $32,490 | $27,390 | $34,990 | $37,490 |
| 182 | Pensacola, FL | $32,450 | $28,910 | $34,200 | $33,210 |
| 183 | Twin Falls, ID | $32,430 | $25,290 | $35,940 | $35,210 |
| 184 | Dubuque, IA | $32,390 | $26,290 | $35,400 | $37,090 |
| 185 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $32,390 | $28,370 | $34,360 | $37,500 |
| 186 | Springfield, MO | $32,340 | $28,660 | $34,150 | $36,510 |
| 187 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $32,300 | $25,250 | $35,800 | $32,310 |
| 188 | Gainesville, FL | $32,300 | $28,310 | $34,280 | $33,390 |
| 189 | Eau Claire, WI | $32,280 | $26,850 | $34,960 | $34,790 |
| 190 | York, PA | $32,280 | $24,460 | $36,130 | $33,630 |
| 191 | Evansville, IN | $32,240 | $24,480 | $36,070 | $35,220 |
| 192 | Fargo, ND-MN | $32,240 | $27,480 | $34,590 | $35,480 |
| 193 | Ogden, UT | $32,240 | $26,000 | $35,320 | $32,130 |
| 194 | Lakeland, FL | $32,180 | $28,750 | $33,880 | $33,130 |
| 195 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $32,160 | $25,900 | $35,260 | $33,720 |
| 196 | Sierra Vista, AZ | $32,140 | $30,580 | $32,880 | $36,010 |
| 197 | Gettysburg, PA | $32,120 | $25,270 | $35,460 | $33,680 |
| 198 | Great Falls, MT | $32,070 | $27,480 | $34,340 | $33,110 |
| 199 | Indianapolis, IN | $32,070 | $26,560 | $34,780 | $33,510 |
| 200 | Appleton, WI | $32,050 | $26,250 | $34,900 | $34,680 |
| 201 | Provo, UT | $32,050 | $25,690 | $35,190 | $32,630 |
| 202 | Saginaw, MI | $32,030 | $27,710 | $34,170 | $35,240 |
| 203 | Rapid City, SD | $31,990 | $26,560 | $34,670 | $35,880 |
| 204 | Columbia, MO | $31,970 | $28,600 | $33,630 | $35,750 |
| 205 | Scranton, PA | $31,970 | $25,520 | $35,130 | $34,170 |
| 206 | Fayetteville, NC | $31,950 | $24,900 | $35,400 | $34,740 |
| 207 | Bismarck, ND | $31,890 | $27,370 | $34,090 | $35,030 |
| 208 | Winchester, VA-WV | $31,870 | $27,410 | $34,070 | $33,040 |
| 209 | Logan, UT-ID | $31,780 | $26,870 | $34,200 | $33,130 |
| 210 | Boise City, ID | $31,760 | $22,280 | $36,440 | $32,280 |
| 211 | Grand Island, NE | $31,760 | $28,540 | $33,340 | $36,650 |
| 212 | Janesville, WI | $31,720 | $25,520 | $34,780 | $33,850 |
| 213 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $31,720 | $27,660 | $33,720 | $32,390 |
| 214 | Midland, MI | $31,660 | $27,350 | $33,780 | $34,440 |
| 215 | Des Moines, IA | $31,640 | $25,310 | $34,740 | $34,500 |
| 216 | Youngstown, OH | $31,640 | $25,330 | $34,740 | $36,200 |
| 217 | Sebring, FL | $31,620 | $27,040 | $33,880 | $34,190 |
| 218 | Tallahassee, FL | $31,570 | $27,770 | $33,470 | $33,610 |
| 219 | Lancaster, PA | $31,430 | $24,460 | $34,880 | $31,990 |
| 220 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $31,350 | $28,600 | $32,700 | $36,420 |
| 221 | Lafayette, IN | $31,320 | $26,600 | $33,650 | $33,520 |
| 222 | Las Vegas, NV | $31,320 | $27,460 | $33,220 | $31,250 |
| 223 | Reading, PA | $31,260 | $24,860 | $34,400 | $32,210 |
| 224 | Hilton Head Island, SC | $31,220 | $25,210 | $34,170 | $31,850 |
| 225 | Springfield, OH | $31,160 | $24,840 | $34,280 | $34,440 |
| 226 | Lynchburg, VA | $31,140 | $27,060 | $33,160 | $34,850 |
| 227 | Muskegon, MI | $31,140 | $26,980 | $33,200 | $33,660 |
| 228 | Battle Creek, MI | $31,120 | $27,080 | $33,110 | $34,370 |
| 229 | Kenosha, WI | $31,120 | $22,980 | $35,130 | $30,780 |
| 230 | Greensboro, NC | $31,050 | $23,550 | $34,740 | $33,440 |
| 231 | Winston, NC | $31,050 | $22,820 | $35,090 | $33,730 |
| 232 | Harrisburg, PA | $31,030 | $25,310 | $33,840 | $31,450 |
| 233 | Dallas, TX | $31,010 | $24,730 | $34,110 | $30,080 |
| 234 | Sandusky, OH | $31,010 | $25,150 | $33,900 | $34,730 |
| 235 | Burlington, NC | $30,930 | $24,040 | $34,320 | $33,190 |
| 236 | Fort Wayne, IN | $30,910 | $25,000 | $33,800 | $33,390 |
| 237 | Blacksburg, VA | $30,890 | $27,560 | $32,510 | $33,320 |
| 238 | Hickory, NC | $30,870 | $24,540 | $33,990 | $34,890 |
| 239 | Jefferson City, MO | $30,850 | $28,600 | $31,950 | $35,070 |
| 240 | Elkhart, IN | $30,800 | $26,330 | $32,990 | $34,100 |
| 241 | Joplin, MO-KS | $30,780 | $27,500 | $32,410 | $35,910 |
| 242 | Tulsa, OK | $30,780 | $22,190 | $35,010 | $34,500 |
| 243 | St. George, UT | $30,720 | $23,920 | $34,090 | $31,570 |
| 244 | Wilmington, NC | $30,660 | $23,900 | $33,990 | $31,800 |
| 245 | Niles, MI | $30,600 | $27,660 | $32,030 | $33,130 |
| 246 | Toledo, OH | $30,600 | $24,670 | $33,510 | $33,460 |
| 247 | Bay City, MI | $30,510 | $26,230 | $32,610 | $33,190 |
| 248 | Wausau, WI | $30,490 | $25,000 | $33,200 | $32,910 |
| 249 | Midland, TX | $30,470 | $23,770 | $33,760 | $31,810 |
| 250 | Monroe, MI | $30,470 | $26,710 | $32,340 | $32,590 |
| 251 | Raleigh, NC | $30,450 | $23,460 | $33,880 | $31,020 |
| 252 | Roanoke, VA | $30,450 | $27,390 | $31,970 | $32,530 |
| 253 | Savannah, GA | $30,410 | $22,940 | $34,090 | $31,940 |
| 254 | Fayetteville, AR | $30,390 | $27,480 | $31,820 | $33,270 |
| 255 | Austin, TX | $30,350 | $24,000 | $33,470 | $30,950 |
| 256 | Dayton, OH | $30,310 | $24,130 | $33,340 | $32,700 |
| 257 | South Bend, IN-MI | $30,310 | $26,060 | $32,390 | $32,640 |
| 258 | Spartanburg, SC | $30,280 | $24,940 | $32,910 | $33,260 |
| 259 | Hot Springs, AR | $30,260 | $25,330 | $32,680 | $35,300 |
| 260 | Columbia, SC | $30,140 | $23,690 | $33,320 | $32,180 |
| 261 | Iowa City, IA | $30,140 | $24,150 | $33,070 | $32,940 |
| 262 | Houston, TX | $30,120 | $22,880 | $33,680 | $30,540 |
| 263 | Lawrence, KS | $30,120 | $24,900 | $32,680 | $33,380 |
| 264 | Pittsburgh, PA | $30,040 | $22,550 | $33,720 | $31,730 |
| 265 | Kokomo, IN | $29,970 | $23,980 | $32,930 | $33,430 |
| 266 | Johnson City, TN | $29,950 | $23,340 | $33,200 | $34,060 |
| 267 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $29,930 | $26,790 | $31,470 | $33,020 |
| 268 | Goldsboro, NC | $29,910 | $23,440 | $33,090 | $33,810 |
| 269 | Little Rock, AR | $29,890 | $26,040 | $31,780 | $33,450 |
| 270 | Pocatello, ID | $29,870 | $23,900 | $32,800 | $33,600 |
| 271 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $29,830 | $23,820 | $32,780 | $31,860 |
| 272 | Mansfield, OH | $29,810 | $24,230 | $32,550 | $33,540 |
| 273 | Atlanta, GA | $29,720 | $24,360 | $32,360 | $29,700 |
| 274 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $29,700 | $26,120 | $31,470 | $34,350 |
| 275 | Bloomington, IN | $29,640 | $25,190 | $31,820 | $31,170 |
| 276 | Lebanon, PA | $29,640 | $23,230 | $32,800 | $31,800 |
| 277 | Michigan City, IN | $29,640 | $25,560 | $31,660 | $32,330 |
| 278 | Knoxville, TN | $29,580 | $23,460 | $32,570 | $31,950 |
| 279 | Jacksonville, NC | $29,540 | $23,750 | $32,360 | $32,080 |
| 280 | Owensboro, KY | $29,430 | $25,060 | $31,600 | $33,210 |
| 281 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $29,390 | $22,690 | $32,700 | $31,880 |
| 282 | Rocky Mount, NC | $29,390 | $22,900 | $32,590 | $33,390 |
| 283 | Morgantown, WV | $29,290 | $25,150 | $31,350 | $31,390 |
| 284 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $29,240 | $23,730 | $31,950 | $31,970 |
| 285 | Lima, OH | $29,240 | $23,150 | $32,260 | $32,610 |
| 286 | Erie, PA | $29,180 | $23,050 | $32,220 | $32,080 |
| 287 | Jonesboro, AR | $29,100 | $26,230 | $30,510 | $33,890 |
| 288 | San Antonio, TX | $29,100 | $22,630 | $32,300 | $30,720 |
| 289 | Williamsport, PA | $28,950 | $22,800 | $31,990 | $31,350 |
| 290 | College Station, TX | $28,910 | $21,590 | $32,510 | $31,790 |
| 291 | Ames, IA | $28,870 | $24,460 | $31,050 | $32,500 |
| 292 | Pinehurst, NC | $28,810 | $22,530 | $31,910 | $32,610 |
| 293 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $28,770 | $25,020 | $30,620 | $32,570 |
| 294 | Fond du Lac, WI | $28,620 | $21,940 | $31,910 | $31,230 |
| 295 | Greenville, NC | $28,620 | $21,780 | $31,990 | $32,370 |
| 296 | Greenville, SC | $28,600 | $21,960 | $31,870 | $30,670 |
| 297 | Brunswick, GA | $28,580 | $22,150 | $31,760 | $32,590 |
| 298 | Manhattan, KS | $28,480 | $22,190 | $31,570 | $31,590 |
| 299 | Gainesville, GA | $28,430 | $22,570 | $31,320 | $29,380 |
| 300 | Elizabethtown, KY | $28,350 | $22,050 | $31,470 | $31,300 |
| 301 | Wichita, KS | $28,290 | $22,860 | $30,950 | $31,810 |
| 302 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $28,200 | $21,820 | $31,350 | $31,700 |
| 303 | Chambersburg, PA | $28,180 | $23,770 | $30,350 | $29,780 |
| 304 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $28,180 | $23,820 | $30,330 | $32,600 |
| 305 | Corpus Christi, TX | $28,140 | $21,720 | $31,300 | $30,370 |
| 306 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $28,120 | $23,000 | $30,620 | $32,740 |
| 307 | Waterloo, IA | $28,120 | $23,050 | $30,640 | $32,300 |
| 308 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $28,020 | $21,610 | $31,160 | $30,810 |
| 309 | Weirton, WV-OH | $27,980 | $22,710 | $30,580 | $31,430 |
| 310 | Canton, OH | $27,960 | $22,900 | $30,450 | $31,270 |
| 311 | Sumter, SC | $27,870 | $23,000 | $30,260 | $31,660 |
| 312 | Odessa, TX | $27,850 | $22,820 | $30,330 | $29,660 |
| 313 | Casper, WY | $27,810 | $22,030 | $30,640 | $29,640 |
| 314 | Terre Haute, IN | $27,810 | $23,050 | $30,140 | $31,680 |
| 315 | Augusta, GA-SC | $27,640 | $22,090 | $30,390 | $30,080 |
| 316 | Oklahoma City, OK | $27,600 | $22,320 | $30,200 | $30,530 |
| 317 | Morristown, TN | $27,560 | $23,420 | $29,600 | $31,910 |
| 318 | New Orleans, LA | $27,560 | $21,360 | $30,620 | $29,760 |
| 319 | Charleston, WV | $27,540 | $23,150 | $29,700 | $31,040 |
| 320 | Hinesville, GA | $27,520 | $22,110 | $30,180 | $29,300 |
| 321 | Cleveland, TN | $27,480 | $22,190 | $30,080 | $31,200 |
| 322 | Cheyenne, WY | $27,440 | $21,510 | $30,370 | $28,440 |
| 323 | Bowling Green, KY | $27,330 | $21,130 | $30,370 | $30,310 |
| 324 | Paducah, KY-IL | $27,310 | $22,800 | $29,520 | $31,720 |
| 325 | Altoona, PA | $27,190 | $21,170 | $30,140 | $30,380 |
| 326 | Parkersburg, WV | $27,080 | $22,530 | $29,330 | $31,100 |
| 327 | Waco, TX | $27,080 | $21,630 | $29,760 | $29,260 |
| 328 | Florence, SC | $27,000 | $21,220 | $29,870 | $31,120 |
| 329 | Abilene, TX | $26,920 | $21,090 | $29,790 | $29,790 |
| 330 | Johnstown, PA | $26,920 | $22,130 | $29,270 | $31,330 |
| 331 | Athens, GA | $26,810 | $21,320 | $29,490 | $28,720 |
| 332 | Idaho Falls, ID | $26,710 | $16,430 | $31,780 | $28,290 |
| 333 | San Angelo, TX | $26,710 | $20,280 | $29,890 | $28,890 |
| 334 | Amarillo, TX | $26,690 | $21,260 | $29,370 | $29,070 |
| 335 | Tyler, TX | $26,670 | $21,610 | $29,140 | $28,940 |
| 336 | Dalton, GA | $26,620 | $21,070 | $29,370 | $29,630 |
| 337 | Macon, GA | $26,620 | $21,440 | $29,180 | $30,070 |
| 338 | Lubbock, TX | $26,560 | $20,780 | $29,410 | $29,090 |
| 339 | Killeen, TX | $26,400 | $21,340 | $28,870 | $28,970 |
| 340 | Huntsville, AL | $26,310 | $20,950 | $28,950 | $28,270 |
| 341 | Warner Robins, GA | $26,310 | $21,650 | $28,600 | $28,050 |
| 342 | Jackson, TN | $26,170 | $20,340 | $29,040 | $30,600 |
| 343 | Baton Rouge, LA | $26,150 | $20,680 | $28,850 | $28,810 |
| 344 | Valdosta, GA | $26,020 | $20,720 | $28,640 | $29,480 |
| 345 | Columbus, GA-AL | $25,880 | $20,430 | $28,580 | $28,980 |
| 346 | Albany, GA | $25,830 | $20,630 | $28,390 | $29,460 |
| 347 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $25,790 | $21,470 | $27,910 | $29,170 |
| 348 | Montgomery, AL | $25,790 | $20,610 | $28,330 | $28,760 |
| 349 | Beaumont, TX | $25,670 | $20,720 | $28,080 | $28,510 |
| 350 | Longview, TX | $25,650 | $21,380 | $27,730 | $28,660 |
| 351 | Victoria, TX | $25,650 | $21,400 | $27,730 | $28,550 |
| 352 | Birmingham, AL | $25,560 | $21,050 | $27,790 | $27,890 |
| 353 | Aguadilla, PR | $25,460 | $21,880 | $27,230 | N/A |
| 354 | Wichita Falls, TX | $25,460 | $21,260 | $27,520 | $28,440 |
| 355 | Enid, OK | $25,420 | $19,640 | $28,270 | $30,170 |
| 356 | Sherman, TX | $25,400 | $21,260 | $27,440 | $27,090 |
| 357 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $25,380 | $20,900 | $27,580 | $30,210 |
| 358 | Slidell, LA | $25,250 | $20,180 | $27,730 | $27,230 |
| 359 | Hammond, LA | $25,060 | $19,700 | $27,710 | $29,670 |
| 360 | Lake Charles, LA | $24,900 | $19,820 | $27,390 | $29,000 |
| 361 | Eagle Pass, TX | $24,730 | $20,320 | $26,890 | $29,510 |
| 362 | Alexandria, LA | $24,670 | $19,410 | $27,270 | $28,790 |
| 363 | Houma, LA | $24,650 | $19,930 | $26,980 | $28,960 |
| 364 | Jackson, MS | $24,560 | $19,030 | $27,290 | $27,580 |
| 365 | Shreveport, LA | $24,520 | $20,400 | $26,540 | $28,930 |
| 366 | Daphne, AL | $24,480 | $20,590 | $26,420 | $25,850 |
| 367 | Rome, GA | $24,420 | $21,200 | $26,020 | $27,080 |
| 368 | Mobile, AL | $24,380 | $20,070 | $26,500 | $27,670 |
| 369 | El Paso, TX | $24,360 | $20,180 | $26,420 | $27,090 |
| 370 | Gulfport, MS | $24,250 | $20,160 | $26,270 | $26,940 |
| 371 | Brownsville, TX | $24,190 | $19,470 | $26,540 | $28,140 |
| 372 | Auburn, AL | $24,090 | $18,470 | $26,870 | $27,400 |
| 373 | Laredo, TX | $24,070 | $19,740 | $26,190 | $27,680 |
| 374 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $24,000 | $19,550 | $26,190 | $27,360 |
| 375 | Lafayette, LA | $23,960 | $19,260 | $26,290 | $27,470 |
| 376 | San Juan, PR | $23,820 | $22,090 | $24,670 | N/A |
| 377 | Dothan, AL | $23,800 | $19,550 | $25,880 | $28,390 |
| 378 | Decatur, AL | $23,770 | $20,920 | $25,190 | $27,260 |
| 379 | McAllen, TX | $23,690 | $19,410 | $25,810 | $27,580 |
| 380 | Ponce, PR | $23,520 | $21,840 | $24,340 | N/A |
| 381 | Anniston, AL | $23,030 | $18,010 | $25,480 | $26,790 |
| 382 | Arecibo, PR | $22,860 | $21,840 | $23,360 | N/A |
| 383 | Mayaguez, PR | $22,670 | $21,840 | $23,070 | N/A |
| 384 | Hattiesburg, MS | $22,510 | $18,100 | $24,670 | $25,690 |
| 385 | Gadsden, AL | $22,050 | $18,930 | $23,570 | $25,740 |
More
More on childcare workers
Method
About these numbers
- Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
- Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
- OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
- At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.
Questions
Childcare Worker salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays childcare workers the most?
North Port, FL, where the average (mean) wage is $52,690 a year, followed by San Jose, CA ($48,460), San Francisco, CA ($46,110), Seattle, WA ($44,390). The national mean is $35,030 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do childcare workers earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in North Port, FL ($51,450 at national prices, $52,690 nominal), El Centro, CA ($45,190 at national prices, $43,010 nominal), Ocala, FL ($45,160 at national prices, $43,010 nominal).
How much do childcare workers make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $40,020; Los Angeles, CA: $41,930; Chicago, IL-IN: $37,210; Dallas, TX: $31,010; Houston, TX: $30,120 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do childcare workers earn the least?
Of the 385 metro areas with their own estimate, Gadsden, AL has the lowest mean wage, $22,050. At local prices that is worth $25,740.