39 Series · SOC 39-9011
Childcare Workers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $34,980
- Median / year
- $46,010
- Top 10% earn
- -2.9%
- Growth '23–'33
- 518,910
- US workers
Childcare Workers earn a median of $34,980 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $34,980, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $24,260 (10th percentile) to $46,010 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 518,910 US workers. District of Columbia pays the most ($47,340), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Childcare Workers earn a median of $34,980, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 2% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Personal Care and Service, it ranks #26 of 32 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 2.9% by 2033.
- $34,980
- Median annual wage
- Top 98%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #26 of 32
- in Personal Care and Service
- 1.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $47,340. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Childcare Workers (SOC 39-9011) pays a national median of $34,980 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $24,260 at the 10th percentile to $46,010 at the 90th, with a mean of $35,030 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 518,910 Americans work in this occupation across 54 reporting states and 519 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -2.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 160,200 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $47,340, which is +35% above the national figure. The top metro is North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL at $47,300 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 518,910 jobs Median $34,980/yr
Median Salary
$34,980
per year
Median Hourly
$16.82/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$35,030
average
Employment
518,910
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Childcare Workers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$34,980 Bottom 2% higher than 2% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 39-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Childcare Workers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 39-series occupations with growth data, Childcare Workers sits on the slower-growing side at -2.9% growth and $34,980 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-2.9%
Declining
Annual Openings
160,200
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
1.5/100K
Injury Rate
2/100
Danger Index
8.8/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Childcare Workers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Active Listening 3.9
Monitoring 3.9
Social Perceptiveness 3.9
Speaking 3.8
Service Orientation 3.8
Critical Thinking 3.6
Persuasion 3.6
Judgment and Decision Making 3.6
Coordination 3.5
Time Management 3.5
Knowledge Areas
English Language 3.8
Customer and Personal Service 3.6
Psychology 3.4
Education and Training 3.3
Public Safety and Security 3.3
Sociology and Anthropology 2.7
Transportation 2.7
Medicine and Dentistry 2.6
Food Production 2.5
Communications and Media 2.5
Key Tasks
- ▸ Instruct children in safe behavior, such as seeking adult assistance when crossing the street and avoiding contact with unsafe objects.
- ▸ Remove hazards and develop appropriate boundaries and rules to create a safe environment for children.
- ▸ Perform first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when required.
- ▸ Instruct and assist children in the development of health and personal habits, such as eating, resting, and toilet behavior.
- ▸ Regulate children's rest periods and nap schedules.
- ▸ Teach and perform age-appropriate activities, such as lap play, reading, and arts and crafts, to encourage intellectual development of children.
- ▸ Help prepare and serve nutritionally balanced meals and snacks for children.
- ▸ Model appropriate social behaviors and encourage concern for others to cultivate development of interpersonal relationships and communication skills.
- ▸ Maintain a safe play environment.
- ▸ Organize and conduct age-appropriate recreational activities, such as games, arts and crafts, sports, walks, and play dates.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$24,260
25th Percentile
$29,360
Median
$34,980
75th Percentile
$38,570
90th Percentile
$46,010
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 54 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $47,340 | +35% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $41,680 | +19% above national |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $40,900 | +17% above national |
| 4 | Colorado | $40,750 | +16% above national |
| 5 | California | $40,020 | +14% above national |
| 6 | Oregon | $38,650 | +10% above national |
| 7 | Vermont | $38,030 | +9% above national |
| 8 | New York | $37,590 | +7% above national |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $37,080 | +6% above national |
| 10 | Hawaii | $37,030 | +6% above national |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $36,940 | +6% above national |
| 12 | Connecticut | $36,660 | +5% above national |
| 13 | New Jersey | $36,390 | +4% above national |
| 14 | Maine | $36,350 | +4% above national |
| 15 | Alaska | $36,200 | +3% above national |
| 16 | Maryland | $36,030 | +3% above national |
| 17 | New Mexico | $35,840 | +2% above national |
| 18 | Illinois | $35,830 | +2% above national |
| 19 | Minnesota | $35,520 | +2% above national |
| 20 | Montana | $35,120 | same as national |
| 21 | Arizona | $35,100 | same as national |
| 22 | Virginia | $34,330 | 2% below national |
| 23 | Florida | $34,210 | 2% below national |
| 24 | Delaware | $33,210 | 5% below national |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $32,460 | 7% below national |
| 26 | Utah | $31,630 | 10% below national |
| 27 | Michigan | $30,970 | 11% below national |
| 28 | Missouri | $30,790 | 12% below national |
| 29 | Nebraska | $30,740 | 12% below national |
| 30 | North Dakota | $30,290 | 13% below national |
| 31 | Indiana | $30,180 | 14% below national |
| 32 | Idaho | $30,160 | 14% below national |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $30,140 | 14% below national |
| 34 | Nevada | $29,740 | 15% below national |
| 35 | Ohio | $29,680 | 15% below national |
| 36 | Tennessee | $29,660 | 15% below national |
| 37 | South Carolina | $29,650 | 15% below national |
| 38 | Kansas | $29,240 | 16% below national |
| 39 | North Carolina | $29,140 | 17% below national |
| 40 | Kentucky | $28,920 | 17% below national |
| 41 | Texas | $28,570 | 18% below national |
| 42 | Arkansas | $28,450 | 19% below national |
| 43 | Iowa | $28,420 | 19% below national |
| 44 | Wyoming | $28,250 | 19% below national |
| 45 | Georgia | $28,020 | 20% below national |
| 46 | Virgin Islands | $28,010 | 20% below national |
| 47 | South Dakota | $27,940 | 20% below national |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $27,730 | 21% below national |
| 49 | West Virginia | $27,710 | 21% below national |
| 50 | Louisiana | $22,900 | 35% below national |
| 51 | Alabama | $22,720 | 35% below national |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $22,600 | 35% below national |
| 53 | Mississippi | $22,050 | 37% below national |
| 54 | Guam | $22,020 | 37% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 519 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $47,300 | +35% above national |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $45,720 | +31% above national |
| 3 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $44,580 | +27% above national |
| 4 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $44,540 | +27% above national |
| 5 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $44,320 | +27% above national |
| 6 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $43,710 | +25% above national |
| 7 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $43,530 | +24% above national |
| 8 | Barnstable Town, MA | $43,480 | +24% above national |
| 9 | Boulder, CO | $43,380 | +24% above national |
| 10 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $43,030 | +23% above national |
| 11 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $42,860 | +23% above national |
| 12 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $42,300 | +21% above national |
| 13 | Modesto, CA | $41,920 | +20% above national |
| 14 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $41,590 | +19% above national |
| 15 | Napa, CA | $41,570 | +19% above national |
| 16 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $41,260 | +18% above national |
| 17 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $40,560 | +16% above national |
| 18 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $40,210 | +15% above national |
| 19 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $40,150 | +15% above national |
| 20 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $40,010 | +14% above national |
| 21 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $39,890 | +14% above national |
| 22 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $39,890 | +14% above national |
| 23 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $39,800 | +14% above national |
| 24 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $39,690 | +13% above national |
| 25 | Flagstaff, AZ | $39,640 | +13% above national |
| 26 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $39,590 | +13% above national |
| 27 | Salinas, CA | $39,520 | +13% above national |
| 28 | Worcester, MA | $39,300 | +12% above national |
| 29 | Vallejo, CA | $38,850 | +11% above national |
| 30 | Bellingham, WA | $38,820 | +11% above national |
| 31 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $38,820 | +11% above national |
| 32 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $38,690 | +11% above national |
| 33 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $38,680 | +11% above national |
| 34 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $38,560 | +10% above national |
| 35 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $38,530 | +10% above national |
| 36 | Pittsfield, MA | $38,410 | +10% above national |
| 37 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $38,390 | +10% above national |
| 38 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38,390 | +10% above national |
| 39 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $38,390 | +10% above national |
| 40 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $38,340 | +10% above national |
| 41 | El Centro, CA | $38,220 | +9% above national |
| 42 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $38,200 | +9% above national |
| 43 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $38,130 | +9% above national |
| 44 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $38,050 | +9% above national |
| 45 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $38,030 | +9% above national |
| 46 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $38,020 | +9% above national |
| 47 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $37,940 | +8% above national |
| 48 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $37,870 | +8% above national |
| 49 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $37,840 | +8% above national |
| 50 | Redding, CA | $37,820 | +8% above national |
| 51 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $37,610 | +8% above national |
| 52 | Yuba City, CA | $37,550 | +7% above national |
| 53 | Bend, OR | $37,520 | +7% above national |
| 54 | Ithaca, NY | $37,410 | +7% above national |
| 55 | Salem, OR | $37,320 | +7% above national |
| 56 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $37,250 | +6% above national |
| 57 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $37,230 | +6% above national |
| 58 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $37,230 | +6% above national |
| 59 | Visalia, CA | $37,190 | +6% above national |
| 60 | Colorado Springs, CO | $37,160 | +6% above national |
| 61 | Grants Pass, OR | $37,150 | +6% above national |
| 62 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $37,150 | +6% above national |
| 63 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $36,940 | +6% above national |
| 64 | Springfield, MA | $36,910 | +6% above national |
| 65 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $36,890 | +5% above national |
| 66 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $36,760 | +5% above national |
| 67 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $36,750 | +5% above national |
| 68 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $36,710 | +5% above national |
| 69 | Greeley, CO | $36,690 | +5% above national |
| 70 | Chico, CA | $36,660 | +5% above national |
| 71 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $36,620 | +5% above national |
| 72 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $36,610 | +5% above national |
| 73 | Merced, CA | $36,590 | +5% above national |
| 74 | New Haven, CT | $36,550 | +4% above national |
| 75 | Yakima, WA | $36,550 | +4% above national |
| 76 | Fresno, CA | $36,480 | +4% above national |
| 77 | Bozeman, MT | $36,460 | +4% above national |
| 78 | Santa Fe, NM | $36,440 | +4% above national |
| 79 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $36,440 | +4% above national |
| 80 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $36,420 | +4% above national |
| 81 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $36,410 | +4% above national |
| 82 | Kingston, NY | $36,360 | +4% above national |
| 83 | Albuquerque, NM | $36,340 | +4% above national |
| 84 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $36,310 | +4% above national |
| 85 | Anchorage, AK | $36,280 | +4% above national |
| 86 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $36,250 | +4% above national |
| 87 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $36,230 | +4% above national |
| 88 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $36,230 | +4% above national |
| 89 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $36,210 | +4% above national |
| 90 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $36,190 | +3% above national |
| 91 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $36,190 | +3% above national |
| 92 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $36,170 | +3% above national |
| 93 | Walla Walla, WA | $36,040 | +3% above national |
| 94 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $35,950 | +3% above national |
| 95 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $35,920 | +3% above national |
| 96 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $35,920 | +3% above national |
| 97 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $35,910 | +3% above national |
| 98 | Binghamton, NY | $35,890 | +3% above national |
| 99 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $35,850 | +2% above national |
| 100 | Corvallis, OR | $35,800 | +2% above national |
| 101 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $35,760 | +2% above national |
| 102 | Billings, MT | $35,740 | +2% above national |
| 103 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $35,740 | +2% above national |
| 104 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $35,670 | +2% above national |
| 105 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $35,660 | +2% above national |
| 106 | Albany, OR | $35,640 | +2% above national |
| 107 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $35,640 | +2% above national |
| 108 | Medford, OR | $35,620 | +2% above national |
| 109 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $35,550 | +2% above national |
| 110 | Missoula, MT | $35,510 | +2% above national |
| 111 | Helena, MT | $35,500 | +1% above national |
| 112 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $35,500 | +1% above national |
| 113 | Glens Falls, NY | $35,460 | +1% above national |
| 114 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $35,410 | +1% above national |
| 115 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $35,400 | +1% above national |
| 116 | Grand Junction, CO | $35,390 | +1% above national |
| 117 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $35,310 | +1% above national |
| 118 | Pueblo, CO | $35,230 | +1% above national |
| 119 | Jacksonville, FL | $35,210 | +1% above national |
| 120 | Utica-Rome, NY | $35,190 | +1% above national |
| 121 | Springfield, IL | $35,170 | +1% above national |
| 122 | Ocala, FL | $35,150 | same as national |
| 123 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $35,100 | same as national |
| 124 | Rochester, NY | $35,090 | same as national |
| 125 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $35,090 | same as national |
| 126 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $35,010 | same as national |
| 127 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $34,990 | same as national |
| 128 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $34,930 | same as national |
| 129 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $34,860 | same as national |
| 130 | Bangor, ME | $34,820 | same as national |
| 131 | Farmington, NM | $34,820 | same as national |
| 132 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $34,750 | 1% below national |
| 133 | Decatur, IL | $34,740 | 1% below national |
| 134 | Punta Gorda, FL | $34,730 | 1% below national |
| 135 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $34,690 | 1% below national |
| 136 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $34,670 | 1% below national |
| 137 | Green Bay, WI | $34,650 | 1% below national |
| 138 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $34,620 | 1% below national |
| 139 | Mankato, MN | $34,590 | 1% below national |
| 140 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $34,570 | 1% below national |
| 141 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $34,540 | 1% below national |
| 142 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $34,520 | 1% below national |
| 143 | Rochester, MN | $34,510 | 1% below national |
| 144 | Madison, WI | $34,450 | 2% below national |
| 145 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $34,450 | 2% below national |
| 146 | Syracuse, NY | $34,380 | 2% below national |
| 147 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $34,330 | 2% below national |
| 148 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $34,300 | 2% below national |
| 149 | Las Cruces, NM | $34,270 | 2% below national |
| 150 | Lexington Park, MD | $34,250 | 2% below national |
| 151 | Elmira, NY | $34,170 | 2% below national |
| 152 | Charlottesville, VA | $34,130 | 2% below national |
| 153 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $34,080 | 3% below national |
| 154 | St. Cloud, MN | $34,030 | 3% below national |
| 155 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $33,930 | 3% below national |
| 156 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $33,910 | 3% below national |
| 157 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $33,790 | 3% below national |
| 158 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $33,790 | 3% below national |
| 159 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $33,630 | 4% below national |
| 160 | Richmond, VA | $33,570 | 4% below national |
| 161 | Rockford, IL | $33,560 | 4% below national |
| 162 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $33,530 | 4% below national |
| 163 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $33,510 | 4% below national |
| 164 | Salisbury, MD | $33,510 | 4% below national |
| 165 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $33,460 | 4% below national |
| 166 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $33,460 | 4% below national |
| 167 | Vineland, NJ | $33,390 | 5% below national |
| 168 | Peoria, IL | $33,340 | 5% below national |
| 169 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $33,330 | 5% below national |
| 170 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $33,320 | 5% below national |
| 171 | Lawton, OK | $33,300 | 5% below national |
| 172 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $33,280 | 5% below national |
| 173 | Bloomington, IL | $33,140 | 5% below national |
| 174 | Traverse City, MI | $33,100 | 5% below national |
| 175 | Sheboygan, WI | $33,030 | 6% below national |
| 176 | Tucson, AZ | $32,830 | 6% below national |
| 177 | Kankakee, IL | $32,820 | 6% below national |
| 178 | Topeka, KS | $32,790 | 6% below national |
| 179 | Ann Arbor, MI | $32,700 | 7% below national |
| 180 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $32,620 | 7% below national |
| 181 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $32,570 | 7% below national |
| 182 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $32,500 | 7% below national |
| 183 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $32,460 | 7% below national |
| 184 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $32,440 | 7% below national |
| 185 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $32,310 | 8% below national |
| 186 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $32,300 | 8% below national |
| 187 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $32,250 | 8% below national |
| 188 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $32,220 | 8% below national |
| 189 | Asheville, NC | $32,150 | 8% below national |
| 190 | Fayetteville, NC | $32,150 | 8% below national |
| 191 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $32,150 | 8% below national |
| 192 | Yuma, AZ | $32,150 | 8% below national |
| 193 | Winchester, VA-WV | $32,090 | 8% below national |
| 194 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $32,060 | 8% below national |
| 195 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $32,000 | 9% below national |
| 196 | Flint, MI | $31,930 | 9% below national |
| 197 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $31,870 | 9% below national |
| 198 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $31,770 | 9% below national |
| 199 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,760 | 9% below national |
| 200 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $31,750 | 9% below national |
| 201 | Dubuque, IA | $31,730 | 9% below national |
| 202 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $31,690 | 9% below national |
| 203 | Sebring, FL | $31,630 | 10% below national |
| 204 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31,620 | 10% below national |
| 205 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $31,610 | 10% below national |
| 206 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $31,410 | 10% below national |
| 207 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $31,390 | 10% below national |
| 208 | Omaha, NE-IA | $31,330 | 10% below national |
| 209 | Great Falls, MT | $31,320 | 10% below national |
| 210 | Ogden, UT | $31,310 | 10% below national |
| 211 | Dover, DE | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 212 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 213 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 214 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 215 | Appleton, WI | $31,140 | 11% below national |
| 216 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $31,110 | 11% below national |
| 217 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $31,080 | 11% below national |
| 218 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $31,060 | 11% below national |
| 219 | Burlington, NC | $31,030 | 11% below national |
| 220 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $30,970 | 11% below national |
| 221 | Duluth, MN-WI | $30,960 | 11% below national |
| 222 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $30,960 | 11% below national |
| 223 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $30,950 | 12% below national |
| 224 | Battle Creek, MI | $30,940 | 12% below national |
| 225 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $30,910 | 12% below national |
| 226 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $30,910 | 12% below national |
| 227 | Gainesville, FL | $30,870 | 12% below national |
| 228 | Jackson, MI | $30,860 | 12% below national |
| 229 | St. George, UT | $30,840 | 12% below national |
| 230 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $30,810 | 12% below national |
| 231 | Muncie, IN | $30,800 | 12% below national |
| 232 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $30,780 | 12% below national |
| 233 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $30,770 | 12% below national |
| 234 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $30,740 | 12% below national |
| 235 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $30,730 | 12% below national |
| 236 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $30,720 | 12% below national |
| 237 | Carson City, NV | $30,710 | 12% below national |
| 238 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $30,710 | 12% below national |
| 239 | Bismarck, ND | $30,650 | 12% below national |
| 240 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $30,650 | 12% below national |
| 241 | Boise City, ID | $30,630 | 12% below national |
| 242 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $30,630 | 12% below national |
| 243 | Lancaster, PA | $30,620 | 12% below national |
| 244 | Springfield, OH | $30,610 | 12% below national |
| 245 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $30,590 | 13% below national |
| 246 | Reno, NV | $30,520 | 13% below national |
| 247 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $30,520 | 13% below national |
| 248 | Cleveland, OH | $30,460 | 13% below national |
| 249 | Eau Claire, WI | $30,450 | 13% below national |
| 250 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $30,420 | 13% below national |
| 251 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $30,420 | 13% below national |
| 252 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $30,410 | 13% below national |
| 253 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $30,390 | 13% below national |
| 254 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $30,380 | 13% below national |
| 255 | York-Hanover, PA | $30,310 | 13% below national |
| 256 | Kenosha, WI | $30,290 | 13% below national |
| 257 | Columbus, OH | $30,280 | 13% below national |
| 258 | Logan, UT-ID | $30,280 | 13% below national |
| 259 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $30,210 | 14% below national |
| 260 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $30,210 | 14% below national |
| 261 | Wausau, WI | $30,210 | 14% below national |
| 262 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $30,150 | 14% below national |
| 263 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $30,150 | 14% below national |
| 264 | Akron, OH | $30,140 | 14% below national |
| 265 | Winston-Salem, NC | $30,060 | 14% below national |
| 266 | Fort Wayne, IN | $30,050 | 14% below national |
| 267 | Twin Falls, ID | $30,050 | 14% below national |
| 268 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $30,050 | 14% below national |
| 269 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $30,040 | 14% below national |
| 270 | Minot, ND | $30,040 | 14% below national |
| 271 | Fargo, ND-MN | $30,030 | 14% below national |
| 272 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $30,030 | 14% below national |
| 273 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $30,020 | 14% below national |
| 274 | Midland, TX | $30,010 | 14% below national |
| 275 | Grand Island, NE | $30,000 | 14% below national |
| 276 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $29,950 | 14% below national |
| 277 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $29,940 | 14% below national |
| 278 | Kokomo, IN | $29,930 | 14% below national |
| 279 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $29,900 | 15% below national |
| 280 | Evansville, IN | $29,880 | 15% below national |
| 281 | Midland, MI | $29,880 | 15% below national |
| 282 | Lincoln, NE | $29,860 | 15% below national |
| 283 | Pittsburgh, PA | $29,840 | 15% below national |
| 284 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $29,840 | 15% below national |
| 285 | Tallahassee, FL | $29,840 | 15% below national |
| 286 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $29,830 | 15% below national |
| 287 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $29,810 | 15% below national |
| 288 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $29,790 | 15% below national |
| 289 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $29,790 | 15% below national |
| 290 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $29,760 | 15% below national |
| 291 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $29,750 | 15% below national |
| 292 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $29,730 | 15% below national |
| 293 | Harrisonburg, VA | $29,710 | 15% below national |
| 294 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $29,670 | 15% below national |
| 295 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $29,670 | 15% below national |
| 296 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $29,670 | 15% below national |
| 297 | Gettysburg, PA | $29,640 | 15% below national |
| 298 | Savannah, GA | $29,630 | 15% below national |
| 299 | Springfield, MO | $29,610 | 15% below national |
| 300 | Goldsboro, NC | $29,590 | 15% below national |
| 301 | Knoxville, TN | $29,590 | 15% below national |
| 302 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $29,590 | 15% below national |
| 303 | Sandusky, OH | $29,570 | 15% below national |
| 304 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $29,570 | 15% below national |
| 305 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $29,560 | 15% below national |
| 306 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $29,530 | 16% below national |
| 307 | Reading, PA | $29,530 | 16% below national |
| 308 | Bloomington, IN | $29,510 | 16% below national |
| 309 | Lynchburg, VA | $29,500 | 16% below national |
| 310 | Saginaw, MI | $29,490 | 16% below national |
| 311 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $29,440 | 16% below national |
| 312 | Spartanburg, SC | $29,430 | 16% below national |
| 313 | Hot Springs, AR | $29,360 | 16% below national |
| 314 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $29,330 | 16% below national |
| 315 | Jacksonville, NC | $29,310 | 16% below national |
| 316 | Fond du Lac, WI | $29,270 | 16% below national |
| 317 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $29,260 | 16% below national |
| 318 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $29,240 | 16% below national |
| 319 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $29,240 | 16% below national |
| 320 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $29,210 | 16% below national |
| 321 | Monroe, MI | $29,210 | 16% below national |
| 322 | Tulsa, OK | $29,190 | 17% below national |
| 323 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $29,190 | 17% below national |
| 324 | Iowa City, IA | $29,170 | 17% below national |
| 325 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $29,160 | 17% below national |
| 326 | Owensboro, KY | $29,150 | 17% below national |
| 327 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $29,140 | 17% below national |
| 328 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $29,130 | 17% below national |
| 329 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $29,130 | 17% below national |
| 330 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $29,110 | 17% below national |
| 331 | Roanoke, VA | $29,100 | 17% below national |
| 332 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $29,090 | 17% below national |
| 333 | Lawrence, KS | $29,090 | 17% below national |
| 334 | Columbia, MO | $29,070 | 17% below national |
| 335 | Wilmington, NC | $29,040 | 17% below national |
| 336 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $29,040 | 17% below national |
| 337 | Johnson City, TN | $29,030 | 17% below national |
| 338 | Toledo, OH | $29,000 | 17% below national |
| 339 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $28,970 | 17% below national |
| 340 | Elizabethtown, KY | $28,940 | 17% below national |
| 341 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $28,940 | 17% below national |
| 342 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $28,860 | 17% below national |
| 343 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $28,860 | 17% below national |
| 344 | Columbia, SC | $28,850 | 18% below national |
| 345 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $28,850 | 18% below national |
| 346 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $28,840 | 18% below national |
| 347 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $28,820 | 18% below national |
| 348 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $28,820 | 18% below national |
| 349 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $28,800 | 18% below national |
| 350 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,800 | 18% below national |
| 351 | Lima, OH | $28,790 | 18% below national |
| 352 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $28,770 | 18% below national |
| 353 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $28,760 | 18% below national |
| 354 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $28,730 | 18% below national |
| 355 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $28,680 | 18% below national |
| 356 | Bay City, MI | $28,660 | 18% below national |
| 357 | Jefferson City, MO | $28,600 | 18% below national |
| 358 | Joplin, MO-KS | $28,600 | 18% below national |
| 359 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,600 | 18% below national |
| 360 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $28,600 | 18% below national |
| 361 | Manhattan, KS | $28,590 | 18% below national |
| 362 | Jonesboro, AR | $28,550 | 18% below national |
| 363 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $28,540 | 18% below national |
| 364 | Lebanon, PA | $28,520 | 18% below national |
| 365 | Cleveland, TN | $28,510 | 18% below national |
| 366 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $28,470 | 19% below national |
| 367 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $28,460 | 19% below national |
| 368 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $28,450 | 19% below national |
| 369 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $28,440 | 19% below national |
| 370 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $28,420 | 19% below national |
| 371 | Niles, MI | $28,400 | 19% below national |
| 372 | Morgantown, WV | $28,370 | 19% below national |
| 373 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $28,360 | 19% below national |
| 374 | Rapid City, SD | $28,330 | 19% below national |
| 375 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $28,290 | 19% below national |
| 376 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $28,270 | 19% below national |
| 377 | Hinesville, GA | $28,250 | 19% below national |
| 378 | Wichita, KS | $28,210 | 19% below national |
| 379 | Terre Haute, IN | $28,200 | 19% below national |
| 380 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $28,190 | 19% below national |
| 381 | Pocatello, ID | $28,190 | 19% below national |
| 382 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $28,170 | 19% below national |
| 383 | Rocky Mount, NC | $28,130 | 20% below national |
| 384 | Greenville, NC | $28,110 | 20% below national |
| 385 | Cheyenne, WY | $28,070 | 20% below national |
| 386 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $28,060 | 20% below national |
| 387 | Erie, PA | $28,030 | 20% below national |
| 388 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $28,030 | 20% below national |
| 389 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $27,970 | 20% below national |
| 390 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $27,950 | 20% below national |
| 391 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $27,940 | 20% below national |
| 392 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $27,940 | 20% below national |
| 393 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $27,930 | 20% below national |
| 394 | Idaho Falls, ID | $27,920 | 20% below national |
| 395 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $27,890 | 20% below national |
| 396 | Casper, WY | $27,860 | 20% below national |
| 397 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $27,860 | 20% below national |
| 398 | Ames, IA | $27,850 | 20% below national |
| 399 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $27,820 | 20% below national |
| 400 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $27,810 | 20% below national |
| 401 | Gainesville, GA | $27,800 | 21% below national |
| 402 | Morristown, TN | $27,800 | 21% below national |
| 403 | Florence, SC | $27,780 | 21% below national |
| 404 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $27,770 | 21% below national |
| 405 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $27,740 | 21% below national |
| 406 | Sumter, SC | $27,660 | 21% below national |
| 407 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $27,660 | 21% below national |
| 408 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $27,630 | 21% below national |
| 409 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $27,620 | 21% below national |
| 410 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $27,580 | 21% below national |
| 411 | Jackson, TN | $27,540 | 21% below national |
| 412 | Altoona, PA | $27,520 | 21% below national |
| 413 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $27,520 | 21% below national |
| 414 | Williamsport, PA | $27,460 | 21% below national |
| 415 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $27,460 | 21% below national |
| 416 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $27,440 | 22% below national |
| 417 | Charleston, WV | $27,370 | 22% below national |
| 418 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $27,340 | 22% below national |
| 419 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $27,250 | 22% below national |
| 420 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $27,250 | 22% below national |
| 421 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $27,250 | 22% below national |
| 422 | Amarillo, TX | $27,230 | 22% below national |
| 423 | Corpus Christi, TX | $27,210 | 22% below national |
| 424 | Odessa, TX | $27,210 | 22% below national |
| 425 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $27,200 | 22% below national |
| 426 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $27,200 | 22% below national |
| 427 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $27,200 | 22% below national |
| 428 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $27,170 | 22% below national |
| 429 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $27,130 | 22% below national |
| 430 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $27,050 | 23% below national |
| 431 | Chambersburg, PA | $27,030 | 23% below national |
| 432 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $27,030 | 23% below national |
| 433 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $27,010 | 23% below national |
| 434 | Abilene, TX | $26,810 | 23% below national |
| 435 | Paducah, KY-IL | $26,800 | 23% below national |
| 436 | San Angelo, TX | $26,780 | 23% below national |
| 437 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $26,780 | 23% below national |
| 438 | Mansfield, OH | $26,770 | 23% below national |
| 439 | Waco, TX | $26,760 | 23% below national |
| 440 | Lubbock, TX | $26,650 | 24% below national |
| 441 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $26,610 | 24% below national |
| 442 | Johnstown, PA | $26,570 | 24% below national |
| 443 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $26,510 | 24% below national |
| 444 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $26,400 | 25% below national |
| 445 | Enid, OK | $26,300 | 25% below national |
| 446 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $26,200 | 25% below national |
| 447 | Columbus, GA-AL | $26,150 | 25% below national |
| 448 | Tyler, TX | $26,050 | 26% below national |
| 449 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $25,960 | 26% below national |
| 450 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $25,870 | 26% below national |
| 451 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $25,690 | 27% below national |
| 452 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $25,560 | 27% below national |
| 453 | Baton Rouge, LA | $25,550 | 27% below national |
| 454 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $25,360 | 28% below national |
| 455 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $25,190 | 28% below national |
| 456 | Oklahoma City, OK | $25,090 | 28% below national |
| 457 | Bowling Green, KY | $24,960 | 29% below national |
| 458 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $24,960 | 29% below national |
| 459 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $24,680 | 29% below national |
| 460 | Wichita Falls, TX | $24,120 | 31% below national |
| 461 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $23,910 | 32% below national |
| 462 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $23,680 | 32% below national |
| 463 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $23,640 | 32% below national |
| 464 | Warner Robins, GA | $23,590 | 33% below national |
| 465 | El Paso, TX | $23,410 | 33% below national |
| 466 | Longview, TX | $23,410 | 33% below national |
| 467 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $23,340 | 33% below national |
| 468 | Victoria, TX | $23,280 | 33% below national |
| 469 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $23,230 | 34% below national |
| 470 | Huntsville, AL | $23,110 | 34% below national |
| 471 | Albany, GA | $23,080 | 34% below national |
| 472 | Birmingham, AL | $23,070 | 34% below national |
| 473 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $22,940 | 34% below national |
| 474 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $22,880 | 35% below national |
| 475 | Montgomery, AL | $22,720 | 35% below national |
| 476 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $22,640 | 35% below national |
| 477 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $22,630 | 35% below national |
| 478 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $22,610 | 35% below national |
| 479 | Rome, GA | $22,600 | 35% below national |
| 480 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $22,590 | 35% below national |
| 481 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $22,550 | 36% below national |
| 482 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $22,540 | 36% below national |
| 483 | Valdosta, GA | $22,510 | 36% below national |
| 484 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $22,500 | 36% below national |
| 485 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $22,490 | 36% below national |
| 486 | Eagle Pass, TX | $22,480 | 36% below national |
| 487 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $22,440 | 36% below national |
| 488 | Alexandria, LA | $22,350 | 36% below national |
| 489 | Laredo, TX | $22,350 | 36% below national |
| 490 | Mobile, AL | $22,350 | 36% below national |
| 491 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $22,340 | 36% below national |
| 492 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $22,310 | 36% below national |
| 493 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $22,290 | 36% below national |
| 494 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $22,290 | 36% below national |
| 495 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $22,280 | 36% below national |
| 496 | Dalton, GA | $22,260 | 36% below national |
| 497 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $22,250 | 36% below national |
| 498 | Aguadilla, PR | $22,240 | 36% below national |
| 499 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $22,240 | 36% below national |
| 500 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $22,190 | 37% below national |
| 501 | Decatur, AL | $22,170 | 37% below national |
| 502 | Hammond, LA | $22,150 | 37% below national |
| 503 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $22,100 | 37% below national |
| 504 | Arecibo, PR | $22,060 | 37% below national |
| 505 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $22,040 | 37% below national |
| 506 | Dothan, AL | $21,910 | 37% below national |
| 507 | Mayaguez, PR | $21,850 | 38% below national |
| 508 | Lafayette, LA | $21,840 | 38% below national |
| 509 | Ponce, PR | $21,840 | 38% below national |
| 510 | Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area | $21,840 | 38% below national |
| 511 | Lake Charles, LA | $21,820 | 38% below national |
| 512 | Jackson, MS | $21,770 | 38% below national |
| 513 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $21,740 | 38% below national |
| 514 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $21,660 | 38% below national |
| 515 | Hattiesburg, MS | $21,590 | 38% below national |
| 516 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $21,440 | 39% below national |
| 517 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $21,190 | 39% below national |
| 518 | Gadsden, AL | $21,050 | 40% below national |
| 519 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $20,730 | 41% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 39 (personal care and service) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Childcare Workers make? ▼
The median annual salary for Childcare Workers is $34,980 ($16.82/hour). The salary range spans from $24,260 at the 10th percentile to $46,010 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Childcare Workers the most? ▼
District of Columbia pays the highest median salary for Childcare Workers at $47,340/year, which is +35% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Childcare Workers? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Childcare Workers is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Childcare Workers? ▼
Childcare Workers has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 1.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 2 per 100 workers.
Is Childcare Workers a good career? ▼
Employment for Childcare Workers is projected to decline 2.9% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 160,200 openings are projected each year.
How does Childcare Workers pay vary by state? ▼
Childcare Workers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $47,340/year, while Louisiana pays the least at $22,900/year. BLS data covers 54 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Childcare Workers? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Childcare Workers is North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL at $47,300/year. BLS reports wage data for 519 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Childcare Workers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $38,570/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $47,340/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.