Daycare Caregiver Salary in the United States

How much does a Daycare Caregiver make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Daycare Caregiver in the United States is $25,929 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $12.

However, a Daycare Caregiver's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $38,045
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $21,197 to $32,271
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $16,890
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $21,197 10% $16,890 90% $38,045 75% $32,271 $25,929 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Daycare Caregiver Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $32,271 $2,689 $621 $16
Average $25,929 $2,161 $499 $12
25th Percentile $21,197 $1,766 $408 $10
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Key Factors That Influence Daycare Caregiver Salaries

A Daycare Caregiver's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Daycare Caregiver Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Daycare Caregivers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $28,708.
  • California: $28,599.
  • Massachusetts: $28,218.

Top Paying Cities for Daycare Caregivers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $32,704
  • San Francisco: $32,382
  • Oakland: $31,664

What Skills Can Increase a Daycare Caregiver's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 16.67% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Collective Bargaining (Mentioned in 4.76% Job Postings): Collective bargaining is a process of negotiation between employers and a group of employees aimed at agreements to regulate working salaries, working conditions, benefits, and other aspects of workers' compensation and rights for workers. The interests of the employees are commonly presented by representatives of a trade union to which the employees belong. The collective agreements reached by these negotiations usually set out wage scales, working hours, training, health and safety, overtime, grievance mechanisms, and rights to participate in workplace or company affairs. The union may negotiate with a single employer (who is typically representing a company's shareholders) or may negotiate with a group of businesses, depending on the country, to reach an industry-wide agreement. A collective agreement functions as a labour contract between an employer and one or more unions. Collective bargaining consists of the process of negotiation between representatives of a union and employers (generally represented by management, or, in some countries such as Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands, by an employers' organization) in respect of the terms and conditions of employment of employees, such as wages, hours of work, working conditions, grievance procedures, and about the rights and responsibilities of trade unions. The parties often refer to the result of the negotiation as a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) or as a collective employment agreement (CEA).
  • Installation (Mentioned in 2.38% Job Postings): The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 16.67%
Collective Bargaining 4.76%
Installation 2.38%

Daycare Caregiver Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Daycare Caregiver's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 01, 2026
$21,197
Average $25,929/year
$32,271
$1,766
Average $2,161/month
$2,689
$408
Average $499/week
$621
$10
Average $12/hour
$16
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $32,271 $2,689 $621 $16
Average $25,929 $2,161 $499 $12
25th Percentile $21,197 $1,766 $408 $10

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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