What are the main factors that influence a Day Care Worker's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Day Care Worker's salary?

A Day Care Worker's salary grows with experience: a Child Care Center Teacher (0-0 years)earns $41,948, a Day Care Worker (0-1 years)earns $32,061, a Child Caregiver II (1-3 years)earns $36,173,

What are the highest paying states for a Day Care Worker?

Day Care Worker salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Day Care Worker roles are District of Columbia $36,181, California $36,044, Massachusetts $35,563. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Day Care Worker roles make?

Salaries for Day Care Worker level roles vary by specialization: Day Care Director: $143,247; Day Care Center Director: $80,000; Day Care Supervisor: $49,489; Day Care Coordinator: $47,746; Day Care Teacher: $43,201.

How do different companies affect a Day Care Worker's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Day Care Worker roles. Large, established industry leaders like Kpmg Us LLP ($114,295) and Warner Bros Discovery ($114,096) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $88,138.

Day Care Worker Salary in the United States

How much does a Day Care Worker make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Day Care Worker in the United States is $32,678 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $16.

However, a Day Care Worker's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $38,333
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $30,339 to $35,638
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $28,209

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

Recruit with AI

AI-Powered Talent

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Day Care Worker Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$35,638	$2,970	$685	$17
Average	$32,678	$2,723	$628	$16
25th Percentile	$30,339	$2,528	$583	$15

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Day Care Worker Job Openings in the United States

Registered Nurse

MetroHealth - Cleveland, OH

Day-Shift LPN - Primary Care (Sign-On Bonus)

OhioHealth - Columbus, OH

Day-Shift Registered Nurse — Patient Care Leader

Premier Health Partners - Centerville, OH

Day-Shift Resident Care Aide: Compassion in Action

Exceptional Living Centers - Hamilton, OH

Search More Day Care Worker Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Day Care Worker Salaries

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

How Do Day Care Worker 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 Day Care Workers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $36,181.
California: $36,044.
Massachusetts: $35,563.

District of Columbia $36,181 California $36,044 Massachusetts $35,563 Washington $35,433 New Jersey $35,420 Alaska $35,374 Connecticut $34,923 New York $34,740

Hawaii $34,155 Rhode Island $33,881 Maryland $33,694 Minnesota $33,439 Colorado $33,341 Illinois $33,309 Oregon $33,185 Delaware $33,093

New Hampshire $33,035 Virginia $32,907 Pennsylvania $32,531 Nevada $32,341 North Dakota $32,279 Michigan $32,181 Wisconsin $32,145 Vermont $32,073

Texas $31,874 Maine $31,861 Arizona $31,841 Ohio $31,819 Georgia $31,518 Indiana $31,368 Wyoming $31,338 Utah $31,292

Iowa $31,273 Kansas $31,116 Louisiana $31,070 North Carolina $31,054 Missouri $31,047 Florida $30,920 Montana $30,851 Nebraska $30,786

Kentucky $30,750 South Carolina $30,619 Tennessee $30,538 Idaho $30,505 New Mexico $30,266 Oklahoma $30,214 Alabama $30,021 South Dakota $29,698

Arkansas $29,521 West Virginia $29,427 Mississippi $29,142

Top Paying Cities for Day Care Workers

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: $41,217
San Francisco: $40,812
Oakland: $39,906

San Jose, CA $41,217

San Francisco, CA $40,812

Oakland, CA $39,906

New York, NY $37,871

Queens Village, NY $37,625

Paramus, NJ $37,364

Passaic, NJ $37,331

Bergenfield, NJ $37,299

Stamford, CT $37,250

Huntington, NY $37,217

Newark, NJ $37,005

Bridgeport, CT $36,939

New Brunswick, NJ $36,831

Vallejo, CA $36,763

Middlesex, NJ $36,743

Somerset, NJ $36,714

Petaluma, CA $36,639

Santa Cruz, CA $36,511

Boston, MA $36,446

Monterey, CA $36,282

Fairbanks, AK $36,260

Los Angeles, CA $36,197

Washington, DC $36,181

Seattle, WA $36,122

Santa Rosa, CA $36,116

Juneau, AK $36,021

Orange, CA $35,913

Anchorage, AK $35,854

Anaheim, CA $35,831

Santa Ana, CA $35,782

Nassau, NY $35,763

Long Beach, CA $35,750

Danbury, CT $35,740

Santa Maria, CA $35,629

Everett, WA $35,622

Bremerton, WA $35,462

Trenton, NJ $35,400

Sacramento, CA $35,387

San Diego, CA $35,371

Brockton, MA $35,358

Tacoma, WA $35,345

Santa Barbara, CA $35,299

Lowell, MA $35,168

New Suffolk, NY $35,155

Nashua, NH $35,116

Lompoc, CA $35,063

Ventura, CA $35,031

Stockton, CA $35,021

New Haven, CT $34,956

Atlantic City, NJ $34,871

Hartford, CT $34,799

Modesto, CA $34,782

Poughkeepsie, NY $34,711

New Britain, CT $34,694

Olympia, WA $34,648

Kennewick, WA $34,648

New London, CT $34,642

Norwich, CT $34,632

Lawrence, MA $34,616

Bakersfield, CA $34,524

Riverside, CA $34,479

New Bedford, MA $34,479

Richland, WA $34,446

Portsmouth, NH $34,420

Vineland, NJ $34,413

San Bernardino, CA $34,387

Boulder, CO $34,296

Worcester, MA $34,269

Portland, OR $34,240

Saint Paul, MN $34,201

Minneapolis, MN $34,201

Philadelphia, PA $34,155

Honolulu, HI $33,982

Springfield, MA $33,867

Providence, RI $33,864

Chicago, IL $33,769

Bellingham, WA $33,730

Baltimore, MD $33,694

Chico, CA $33,613

Wilmington, DE $33,557

Pittsfield, MA $33,524

Manchester, NH $33,462

Spokane, WA $33,318

Denver, CO $33,315

Albany, NY $33,162

Troy, NY $33,149

Schenectady, NY $33,080

Burlington, VT $33,008

Portland, ME $32,894

Salem, OR $32,868

Yakima, WA $32,861

Ann Arbor, MI $32,851

Rochester, MN $32,760

Fresno, CA $32,743

Reno, NV $32,743

Milwaukee, WI $32,714

Detroit, MI $32,681

Allentown, PA $32,671

Carson City, NV $32,668

Houston, TX $32,619

Colorado Springs, CO $32,616

Syracuse, NY $32,600

Eugene, OR $32,537

Bismarck, ND $32,498

Gary, IN $32,498

Galveston, TX $32,498

Springfield, OR $32,472

Medford, OR $32,394

Fort Collins, CO $32,381

Austin, TX $32,354

Mesa, AZ $32,286

Phoenix, AZ $32,279

Dallas, TX $32,270

Reading, PA $32,250

Saint Cloud, MN $32,237

Concord, NH $32,207

Madison, WI $32,194

Utica, NY $32,106

Raleigh, NC $32,080

Las Vegas, NV $32,077

Rochester, NY $32,054

Des Moines, IA $32,051

Atlanta, GA $31,998

Battle Creek, MI $31,988

Salt Lake City, UT $31,979

Lancaster, PA $31,930

Champaign, IL $31,923

Harrisburg, PA $31,884

Durham, NC $31,855

Kansas City, MO $31,851

Kansas City, KS $31,845

Fort Worth, TX $31,841

Boca Raton, FL $31,828

Cleveland, OH $31,825

Columbus, OH $31,819

Pittsburgh, PA $31,815

Richmond, VA $31,802

Indianapolis, IN $31,796

Cincinnati, OH $31,753

Petersburg, VA $31,704

Billings, MT $31,632

Lansing, MI $31,632

Huntsville, AL $31,632

Lebanon, PA $31,629

Dayton, OH $31,626

Pueblo, CO $31,626

Appleton, WI $31,616

Buffalo, NY $31,603

Racine, WI $31,587

Charlotte, NC $31,583

Saint Louis, MO $31,573

Springfield, IL $31,560

Elkhart, IN $31,554

York, PA $31,554

Gastonia, NC $31,551

Benton Harbor, MI $31,551

Beaumont, TX $31,531

Lorain, OH $31,524

Toledo, OH $31,511

Binghamton, NY $31,495

Rock Hill, SC $31,492

Rockford, IL $31,475

Fargo, ND $31,459

Elyria, OH $31,459

Flagstaff, AZ $31,436

Fort Lauderdale, FL $31,417

Miami, FL $31,397

Duluth, MN $31,345

Bangor, ME $31,302

Cedar Rapids, IA $31,266

Louisville, KY $31,250

Grand Rapids, MI $31,243

Hialeah, FL $31,240

Casper, WY $31,194

Scranton, PA $31,155

New Orleans, LA $31,145

Virginia Beach, VA $31,142

Akron, OH $31,126

Peoria, IL $31,083

Sarasota, FL $31,077

Green Bay, WI $31,054

Baton Rouge, LA $31,038

Charleston, SC $31,031

Nashville, TN $31,021

Jamestown, NY $31,015

Davenport, IA $31,015

Tucson, AZ $30,998

Cheyenne, WY $30,989

Saint Petersburg, FL $30,979

Tampa, FL $30,972

Omaha, NE $30,966

Port Arthur, TX $30,953

Evansville, IN $30,953

Bradenton, FL $30,940

Santa Fe, NM $30,881

Orlando, FL $30,848

Clearwater, FL $30,812

Canton, OH $30,743

La Crosse, WI $30,743

Grand Forks, ND $30,734

Albuquerque, NM $30,724

Tulsa, OK $30,724

Newport News, VA $30,721

High Point, NC $30,711

Ogden, UT $30,698

Corpus Christi, TX $30,672

Laramie, WY $30,652

Norfolk, VA $30,652

Rock Island, IL $30,632

Saginaw, MI $30,626

Jacksonville, FL $30,623

Salisbury, NC $30,616

Memphis, TN $30,609

Moline, IL $30,593

Fort Myers, FL $30,583

Waterloo, IA $30,541

Spartanburg, SC $30,508

Lincoln, NE $30,492

Fort Wayne, IN $30,485

Birmingham, AL $30,449

Cedar Falls, IA $30,443

Provo, UT $30,440

Springfield, OH $30,436

San Antonio, TX $30,430

Greensboro, NC $30,417

South Bend, IN $30,413

Winston Salem, NC $30,410

Boise, ID $30,400

Savannah, GA $30,377

Muskegon, MI $30,319

Lima, OH $30,279

Lake Charles, LA $30,266

Anderson, IN $30,260

Lexington, KY $30,250

Augusta, GA $30,240

Greenville, SC $30,240

Wichita, KS $30,211

Tuscaloosa, AL $30,211

Columbia, SC $30,181

Bloomington, IN $30,100

Roanoke, VA $30,080

Asheville, NC $30,038

Knoxville, TN $29,982

Shreveport, LA $29,979

Wilmington, NC $29,936

Frankfort, KY $29,874

Oklahoma City, OK $29,851

Chillicothe, OH $29,838

Longview, TX $29,835

Topeka, KS $29,825

Mobile, AL $29,776

Terre Haute, IN $29,763

Erie, PA $29,760

Altoona, PA $29,744

Melbourne, FL $29,734

Amarillo, TX $29,721

Killeen, TX $29,711

Fayetteville, AR $29,685

Sioux Falls, SD $29,662

Chattanooga, TN $29,642

Idaho Falls, ID $29,639

Gainesville, FL $29,570

Portsmouth, OH $29,554

Little Rock, AR $29,547

Lynchburg, VA $29,547

Lafayette, LA $29,534

Youngstown, OH $29,534

Temple, TX $29,521

Daytona Beach, FL $29,515

Clarksville, TN $29,512

Pensacola, FL $29,508

Hopkinsville, KY $29,410

Charleston, WV $29,407

Florence, SC $29,391

Sioux City, IA $29,371

Macon, GA $29,276

Tallahassee, FL $29,273

Fayetteville, NC $29,266

Waco, TX $29,260

Wichita Falls, TX $29,260

Pine Bluff, AR $29,247

Vincennes, IN $29,185

Lubbock, TX $29,172

Great Falls, MT $29,152

Alamogordo, NM $29,149

Abilene, TX $29,123

Rapid City, SD $29,080

Monroe, LA $29,080

Albany, GA $29,061

Huntington, WV $29,057

Jackson, MS $29,054

Greenville, MS $29,051

Parkersburg, WV $29,018

Montgomery, AL $29,012

Johnstown, PA $29,005

Springfield, MO $28,979

Biloxi, MS $28,963

Sumter, SC $28,894

Columbus, GA $28,891

Twin Falls, ID $28,871

Pascagoula, MS $28,829

Kingsport, TN $28,744

Gulfport, MS $28,734

Alexandria, LA $28,626

Fort Smith, AR $28,544

El Paso, TX $28,456

Helena, MT $28,414

Las Cruces, NM $28,309

Harlingen, TX $28,217

Pocatello, ID $28,188

Florence, AL $28,178

Brownsville, TX $28,172

Dothan, AL $28,119

Mcallen, TX $28,103

Columbus, MS $27,861

Altus, OK $27,711

Lawton, OK $27,649

Pierre, SD $27,531

What Skills Can Increase a Day Care Worker's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Commitment (Mentioned in 3.73% 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.
Child Development (Mentioned in 9.81% Job Postings): Child development refers to the sequence of physical, language, thought and emotional changes that occur in a child from birth to the beginning of adulthood.
Early Childhood Education (Mentioned in 4.68% Job Postings): Early childhood education, also known as nursery education, is a branch of education theory that relates to the teaching of children from birth up to the age of eight.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Commitment	3.73%
Child Development	9.81%
Early Childhood Education	4.68%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Day Care Worker's salary.

Motivating: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Motivating	$37,580	15%
Coordination	$35,619	9%
Problem Solving	$35,292	8%
Accountability	$35,292	8%
Customer Service	$34,965	7%
Leadership	$34,639	6%

Get Latest Data

Day Care Worker Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Day Care Worker'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.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

$30,339

Average $32,678/year

$35,638

$2,528

Average $2,723/month

$2,970

$583

Average $628/week

$685

$15

Average $16/hour

$17

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$35,638	$2,970	$685	$17
Average	$32,678	$2,723	$628	$16
25th Percentile	$30,339	$2,528	$583	$15

Salaries of jobs related to Day Care Worker

Salary Trends for Day Care Worker

Salaries for a Day Care Worker can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $35,791 in 2023 to around $34,822 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Day Care Worker salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Day Care Worker Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$35,791

2024

$35,200

2025

$34,822

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$35,791
2024	$35,200
2025	$34,822
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Day Care Worker

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Business Services

the United States

Find Your Next Day Care Worker Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Day Care Worker job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about