Here’s The Income It Takes To Afford Childcare

What Income Is Needed to Afford Childcare in 2026?

Childcare has long been recognized as a critical issue that impacts both families and the workforce. The need for accessible and affordable childcare remains a barrier for many families striving to engage fully in the labor market.

As of 2026, the average monthly cost of childcare for a single infant in a childcare center in the United States stands at approximately $1,230, totaling nearly $15,000 annually. This significant expense often outpaces the earnings of many workers, necessitating substantial financial sacrifices or outright precluding their ability to cover these costs without assistance.

Our analysis reveals that no state’s median household income enables families to afford childcare without exceeding recommended financial limits. In fact, the average daycare costs across all states, when compared to median incomes, indicate that families are spending over 10% of their income on childcare—the threshold advised by the U.S. Government for affordability. Below, we outline the states with the highest and lowest incomes required to afford daycare.

10 States With the Highest Daycare Costs

It comes as no surprise that many states with the highest daycare costs also rank among the priciest in terms of overall living expenses. All ten of these states require an income exceeding $150,000 to ensure that families spend less than 10% of their earnings on childcare.

10 States With the Lowest Daycare Costs

While these ten states feature lower daycare costs, they typically also offer lower average earnings. For instance, even in Mississippi, where annual daycare costs are the lowest at $5,178, a household income of $59,340 is still required for affordability.

How We Determined This

Our analysis began by gathering the average cost of childcare for an infant in a childcare center, referencing data from Child Care Aware of America. We conducted independent research to establish costs for South Dakota, which was initially excluded from our dataset.

Following the guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that daycare expenses should not exceed 10% of a household’s budget, we used this benchmark to determine affordability. We calculated the maximum necessary salary for each state, ensuring that average childcare costs remained below the 10% threshold. A flat rate of 14.6% was applied to account for taxes, social security, and Medicare contributions to estimate take-home pay.

The results indicate that in many states, families must earn significantly above the median household income to keep childcare costs manageable, evidencing the financial strain many workers experience.

It’s important to note that these figures reflect the average cost of childcare for one infant in a childcare center. Choosing a home daycare or budget-friendly options can lower costs, while premium locations or multiple children can escalate expenses.

Career Considerations

The unaffordability of childcare drives many parents, particularly women and low-to-middle-income earners, to exit the workforce rather than incur the high costs of care. However, even a brief interruption in employment can have lasting repercussions on future earnings. For single parents, the challenge is even more pronounced, as they often lack the option of sharing financial burdens with a partner.

Ultimately, childcare remains a complex, financial challenge for many working families, forcing them to make difficult decisions that can affect their short-term and long-term financial health.

How Much Childcare Costs in Each State—and Income Needed to Afford It

State	Income Needed	Annual Cost-1 Kid	Annual Cost-2 Children
Alabama	$65,494	$5,715	$11,430
Alaska	$134,082	$11,700	$23,400
Arizona	$119,322	$10,412	$20,824
Arkansas	$70,914	$6,188	$12,376
California	$156,670	$13,671	$27,342
Colorado	$173,481	$15,138	$30,276
Connecticut	$171,029	$14,924	$29,848
Delaware	$122,244	$10,667	$21,334
Florida	$101,925	$8,894	$17,788
Georgia	$89,033	$7,769	$15,538
Hawaii	$157,048	$13,704	$27,408
Idaho	$80,587	$7,032	$14,064
Illinois	$153,713	$13,413	$26,826
Indiana	$136,936	$11,949	$23,898
Iowa	$114,222	$9,967	$19,934
Kansas	$136,500	$11,911	$23,822
Kentucky	$69,963	$6,105	$12,210
Louisiana	$65,127	$5,683	$11,366
Maine	$103,129	$8,999	$17,998
Maryland	$168,760	$14,726	$29,452
Massachusetts	$230,633	$20,125	$40,250
Michigan	$117,820	$10,281	$20,562
Minnesota	$175,796	$15,340	$30,680
Mississippi	$59,340	$5,178	$10,356
Missouri	$107,862	$9,412	$18,824
Montana	$104,240	$9,096	$18,192
Nebraska	$104,939	$9,157	$18,314
Nevada	$118,233	$10,317	$20,634
New Hampshire	$140,041	$12,220	$24,440
New Jersey	$141,760	$12,370	$24,740
New Mexico	$90,603	$7,906	$15,812
New York	$172,221	$15,028	$30,056
North Carolina	$106,051	$9,254	$18,508
North Dakota	$97,857	$8,539	$17,078
Ohio	$112,595	$9,825	$19,650
Oklahoma	$94,396	$8,237	$16,474
Oregon	$140,374	$12,249	$24,498
Pennsylvania	$138,998	$12,129	$24,258
Rhode Island	$149,484	$13,044	$26,088
South Carolina	$76,473	$6,673	$13,346
South Dakota	$74,616	$6,511	$13,022
Tennessee	$97,685	$8,524	$17,048
Texas	$101,765	$8,880	$17,760
Utah	$140,374	$12,249	$24,498
Vermont	$131,939	$11,513	$23,026
Virginia	$146,596	$12,792	$25,584
Washington	$157,483	$13,742	$27,484
West Virginia	$95,347	$8,320	$16,640
Wisconsin	$138,471	$12,083	$24,166
Wyoming	$116,204	$10,140	$20,280

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Author

Kathy Morris

Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.

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