Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Child care teacher salary
Average child care teacher salary
$12.52
Average Child Care Teacher Salary
The average salary for a child care teacher in the United States is $26,036 per year. Factors influencing this average include geographic location, years of experience, and the specific educational setting. For instance, child care teachers in metropolitan areas may earn significantly more than those in rural settings.
How Much Does a Child Care Teacher Make?
Child care teachers typically earn between $22,000 and $30,000 annually, depending on their qualifications and experience. Entry-level positions may start around $22,000, while those with advanced degrees or extensive experience can command salaries exceeding $30,000.
Where Can a Child Care Teacher Earn More?
Geographical location plays a critical role in salary potential. States like California and New York often report higher salaries for child care teachers due to the increased cost of living and demand for quality childcare services.
Average Child Care Teacher Salary by State
Understanding the average salary by state can provide valuable insights for prospective teachers. For instance, child care teachers in California earn an average of $35,000, while those in Texas earn about $25,000.
Let Zippi find your next child care teacher job
Let Zippi find your next child care teacher job
Where can a Child Care Teacher earn more?
Average child care teacher salary by state
The highest-paying states for child care teachers are Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Alaska. The lowest average child care teacher salary states are Louisiana, Wyoming, and New Mexico.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for child care teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $31,355 | $15.07 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $30,176 | $14.51 |
| 3 | Delaware | $31,128 | $14.97 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $36,112 | $17.36 |
| 5 | Maine | $30,091 | $14.47 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $27,310 | $13.13 |
| 7 | Missouri | $28,066 | $13.49 |
| 8 | Illinois | $26,953 | $12.96 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $36,242 | $17.42 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $28,157 | $13.54 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $32,171 | $15.47 |
| 12 | Washington | $32,102 | $15.43 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $27,211 | $13.08 |
| 14 | Mississippi | $26,397 | $12.69 |
| 15 | Oregon | $28,128 | $13.52 |
| 16 | Alaska | $32,416 | $15.58 |
| 17 | New York | $32,317 | $15.54 |
| 18 | California | $30,544 | $14.68 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $29,119 | $14.00 |
| 20 | Montana | $24,666 | $11.86 |
| 21 | Nevada | $24,350 | $11.71 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $25,216 | $12.12 |
| 23 | Michigan | $23,954 | $11.52 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $26,386 | $12.69 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $30,291 | $14.56 |
| 26 | Virginia | $26,903 | $12.93 |
| 27 | Colorado | $25,464 | $12.24 |
| 28 | Iowa | $23,868 | $11.47 |
| 29 | Arizona | $23,719 | $11.40 |
| 30 | Hawaii | $28,871 | $13.88 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $23,965 | $11.52 |
| 32 | Indiana | $24,726 | $11.89 |
| 33 | Utah | $24,458 | $11.76 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $22,840 | $10.98 |
| 35 | New Jersey | $25,953 | $12.48 |
| 36 | Maryland | $23,191 | $11.15 |
| 37 | Florida | $24,632 | $11.84 |
| 38 | Ohio | $22,417 | $10.78 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $21,692 | $10.43 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $22,968 | $11.04 |
| 41 | Idaho | $22,979 | $11.05 |
| 42 | Georgia | $22,820 | $10.97 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $22,379 | $10.76 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $21,405 | $10.29 |
| 45 | Alabama | $22,777 | $10.95 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $22,826 | $10.97 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $22,022 | $10.59 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $20,780 | $9.99 |
| 49 | Texas | $22,790 | $10.96 |
| 50 | Kansas | $20,742 | $9.97 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $20,890 | $10.04 |
Highest paying cities for child care teachers
The highest-paying cities for child care teachers are Boston, MA, Seattle, WA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $32,290 | $15.52 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $32,239 | $15.50 |
| 4 | Wilmington, DE | $31,481 | $15.14 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $30,105 | $14.47 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $29,266 | $14.07 |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $28,117 | $13.52 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $27,864 | $13.40 |
| 9 | Minneapolis, MN | $27,291 | $13.12 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $27,055 | $13.01 |
| 11 | Madison, WI | $26,925 | $12.94 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $25,532 | $12.28 |
| 13 | Goldsboro, NC | $25,388 | $12.21 |
| 14 | Fort Myers, FL | $24,614 | $11.83 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $24,031 | $11.55 |
| 16 | Davenport, IA | $23,842 | $11.46 |
| 17 | Peoria, AZ | $23,777 | $11.43 |
| 18 | Baltimore, MD | $23,342 | $11.22 |
| 19 | Omaha, NE | $23,012 | $11.06 |
| 20 | Austin, TX | $22,839 | $10.98 |
Child Care Teachers are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Child care teacher salary details
A child care teacher's salary ranges from $14,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $45,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a child care teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| Average | $26,036 | $2,170 | $13 |
| 25th Percentile | $19,000 | $1,583 | $9 |
| 10th Percentile | $14,000 | $1,167 | $7 |
Highest paying child care teacher jobs
The highest paying types of child care teachers are head teacher, teacher internship, and teacher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Internship | $48,398 | $4,033 | $23.27 | 105,496 |
| Teacher Aide | $29,480 | $2,457 | $14.17 | 106,207 |
| Teacher | $47,989 | $3,999 | $23.07 | 71,918 |
| Infant Teacher | $29,076 | $2,423 | $13.98 | 63,079 |
| Preschool Teacher | $33,582 | $2,798 | $16.14 | 55,298 |
| Head Teacher | $51,715 | $4,310 | $24.86 | 73,756 |
Top companies hiring child care teachers now:
Which companies pay child care teachers the most?
Child care teacher salaries at Google and Columbia International University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average child care teacher salary at companies like University of California, Berkeley and Georgetown University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $86,912 | $41.78 | |
| 2 | Columbia International University | $49,741 | $23.91 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley | $48,341 | $23.24 |
| 4 | Georgetown University | $44,135 | $21.22 |
| 5 | Menlo School | $40,842 | $19.64 |
| 6 | CARE | $35,262 | $16.95 |
| 7 | University of Washington | $35,175 | $16.91 |
| 8 | Blessing Hospital Emergency Room | $35,154 | $16.90 |
| 9 | University Of Minnesota Physicians | $35,071 | $16.86 |
| 10 | Maryland School for the Blind | $34,639 | $16.65 |
| 11 | Saint Luke's Health System | $33,965 | $16.33 |
| 12 | Scripps Health | $33,503 | $16.11 |
| 13 | University of Southern California | $33,492 | $16.10 |
| 14 | Skidmore College | $33,344 | $16.03 |
| 15 | Novant Health | $33,326 | $16.02 |
| 16 | BayCare Health System | $33,249 | $15.99 |
| 17 | Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc. | $33,189 | $15.96 |
| 18 | Children's Hospital Colorado | $32,342 | $15.55 |
| 19 | Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District | $32,001 | $15.39 |
| 20 | Jewish Senior Life | $31,925 | $15.35 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Child care teacher salary trends
The average child care teacher salary has risen by $4,779 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average child care teacher earned $21,257 annually, but today, they earn $26,036 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for child care teachers over the last decade.
Compare child care teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average child care teacher salary over time
Compare child care teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Child care teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $26,000 | $12.52 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $25,100 | $12.09 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $24,300 | $11.69 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $23,700 | $11.38 | +3.2% |
| 2021 | $22,900 | $11.01 | +2.0% |
Recently added child care teacher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University | Child Care Center Teacher | Washington, DC | 06/30/2025 | $47,586 |
| Bright Horizons Family Solutions | Child Care Substitute Teacher | Philadelphia, PA | 06/28/2025 | $28,905 |
| Bright Horizons Family Solutions | Early Child Care Teachers | Saint Paul, MN | 06/28/2025 | $41,218 |
| Bright Horizons Family Solutions | Child Care Substitute Teacher | Camden, NJ | 06/28/2025 | $31,931 |
| Bright Horizons Family Solutions | Child Care Assistant Teachers | Wilmington, DE | 06/28/2025 | $31,409 |
| University of California System | UCI Child Care Services-Floating Teacher | Irvine, CA | 06/28/2025 | $50,088 |
| Stevens Point Area YMCA | Child Care Assistant Teacher | Stevens Point, WI | 06/28/2025 | $25,044 |
| Grand Traverse Bay Young Men's | Child Care-Assistant Teacher | Traverse City, MI | 06/28/2025 | $31,305 |
| Bright Horizons Children's Centers | Child Care Teacher, Bentonville AR, Little Squiggles | Bentonville, AR | 06/27/2025 | $30,157 |
| Bright Horizons Children's Centers | Child Care Teacher, Rochester MN | Rochester, NY | 06/27/2025 | $41,218 |
Child care teacher salary FAQs
Search for child care teacher jobs