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How much does a childcare worker make?

Typical yearly pay for childcare workers in the United States.

$34,980

median pay per year, about $2,915 a month or $16.82 an hour.

That's more than 3% of the 100 jobs in our salary guide, ranking #97 of 100.

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Where it ranks

Hairstylist$35,790
Retail salesperson$35,410
Waiter or waitress$35,230
Childcare worker$34,980
Bartender$34,340
Cashier$32,880
Fast food worker$31,200

Similar jobs

How much does a childcare worker make per hour?

About $16.82 an hour, if you spread the median yearly pay over a standard 40-hour week, 52 weeks a year. Actual hourly pay varies with overtime, shift work and location.

Becoming a childcare worker

The U.S. Department of Labor's career profile covers the training, licenses and day-to-day tasks for this job.

How to become a childcare worker

About this number

This is the national median wage for the occupation “Childcare Workers” (code 39-9011.00) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 release, as published on O*NET OnLine. The median is the middle value: half of workers earn more, half earn less.