Child Care Cost

Table Note:

*Missing all data for Colorado, Indiana, New Mexico 

**Incomplete data for Hawaii, Missouri (most counties), Nevada, Wisconsin 

Cost data is from the Women’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor while the median income data is from census.gov via Data Commons widget. 

Hourly rates for the top child care

Child care costs vary greatly by geographic location. The same franchise of daycare center in West Virginia will not have the same tuition rates as California due to different ownership and local expenses. Because franchise owners often set their own prices, it is beneficial to avoid advertising their pricing publicly and families often need to tour the day care center to receive any pricing. Generally, private preschools with their specialized services for one age group tend to be more expensive than childcare centers on the whole. This lack of pricing information can make it difficult for families to budget this major household expense.

The hourly rate that a family pays can also depend on the number of children attending, government subsidies or employer reimbursements. Even similar families at the same day care could be paying different amounts due to a variety of factors. To figure out the true cost of childcare, a family will need to do personalized research, reach out to multiple day care centers, and weigh their options. Is a day care center or hiring a local caregiver the most affordable?

How many hours of child care is the average?

According to 2019 data, 35 hours of center-based child care is typical. Parents using home-based childcare or family/friends to help use less hours of child care on the whole. As children get older, the number of hours they spend in childcare tends to decrease especially once they are eligible for preschool or kindergarten. 

What’s included in child care?

When inquiring about the cost of childcare, it is important to understand what services are included. Daycare centers need to be licensed operations with staff that have training in early childhood education. They also tend to form classes based on a child’s age. More trained staff and more sub-divided classrooms tends to heighten the cost of childcare but increase the quality of care. Conversely, lower student-to-caregiver ratios are typically beneficial in early childhood education; children will be better able to receive assistance on a individual basis. 

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Center-based child care emphasizes their early childhood curriculum which is designed to prepare children for future learning in school. For example, The Goddard School, a well-known leader in private preschools emphasizes STEAM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) through hands-on experiences. 

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Some childcare centers follow the teaching of Maria Monterssori who advocated for child-led learning facilitated by adults. Faith-based daycares often incorporate developmentally-appropriate religious instruction, while some daycare centers prioritize foreign language immersion. Other places have additional outdoor facilities or utilize nearby parks to provide hours of outdoor play in nature. All of these additional services tend to add to the cost of center-based childcare. A families’ priorities will dictate which services would be most beneficial for their child and which child care options realistically fit in their budget. 

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Some childcare centers will provide a meal or a snack if a child spends the day. Others will ask parents to pack milk and/or food for their child. If a child will be staying longer hours for 4+ days a week, it becomes more important to consider meal plans as part of the daycare services. Families should compare these mealtime costs to their family grocery bill to understand which option would be cheaper.

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Daycare tends to run based on standard office hours. For parents who work longer shifts (like healthcare or the trades), they will need to understand how additional costs for after-hours care are handled by a particular daycare center. If the costs differ greatly, the caregiving hours available could be a major determining factor of which top childcare provider is the best fit for a particular family. 

How can I save money on child care?

Many daycare centers require a tour in order to receive pricing information, rather than responding to email or phone calls. To find the most affordable daycare, you may need to tour multiple daycare centers in your area including locations that are less convenient. Some families use social media to crowdsource approximate pricing to help with budgeting and to explore their options.

Comparing reviews for local childcare centers or nannies/weekly babysitters on a platform like care.com can help families find more affordable options. Some families also combine part-time childcare with a babysitter or family member to reduce the number of hours that a child needs center-based daycare (which tends to be the most expensive option in many areas.) Claiming child tax credit or utilizing employer discounts on childcare can help with the overall costs of childcare as well. 

Is child care worth the cost?

The overall value of childcare costs is often a long-term consideration. If both parents are able to continue their careers due to childcare, then childcare lessens the opportunity cost of having a child. This opportunity cost often affects mothers more significantly if they leave the workforce to care for their child for a few years and then are not able to return to their same career path successfully. The cost of childcare also tends to decrease as children age, since they need less hands-on care.

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Early childhood education is also an important way to prepare children for their future schooling. This preparation is especially important for low-income families or families with disabled children. The cost of childcare comes with many long-term considerations for families.