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Day care aide salary
Average day care aide salary
$14.84
Average Day Care Aide Salary
The average day care aide salary in the U.S. as of October 2025 is $30,874 annually, translating to about $15 per hour. This figure can vary based on several factors, including geographic location and years of experience. Understanding these factors can provide valuable insights for job seekers in this field.
Where Can Day Care Aides Earn More?
Day care aides typically earn higher salaries in metropolitan areas due to increased demand. For example, cities such as San Francisco and New York City offer competitive pay rates compared to rural areas. Additionally, experienced aides may find that specialized roles, such as those in early childhood education programs, can lead to higher earnings.
Average Salary by State
Salaries for day care aides also differ significantly from state to state. States like California and New York rank among the highest in terms of pay, while others may offer lower compensation. To maximize earning potential, it’s crucial for aspiring day care aides to consider relocation or seeking positions in higher-paying states.
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Where can a Day Care Aide earn more?
Day care aide salaries by experience level
Average day care aide salary by state
The average day care aide salary in New Jersey, Maine, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average day care aide salary states are Alabama, Florida, and Iowa.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for day care aides
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $39,862 | $19.16 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $38,577 | $18.55 |
| 3 | Kentucky | $36,118 | $17.36 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $34,677 | $16.67 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $34,220 | $16.45 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $37,112 | $17.84 |
| 7 | Washington | $39,115 | $18.81 |
| 8 | Delaware | $35,873 | $17.25 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $34,093 | $16.39 |
| 10 | Vermont | $36,541 | $17.57 |
| 11 | Ohio | $33,211 | $15.97 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $40,055 | $19.26 |
| 13 | Illinois | $32,409 | $15.58 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $36,786 | $17.69 |
| 15 | Michigan | $30,344 | $14.59 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $37,835 | $18.19 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $29,851 | $14.35 |
| 18 | Nevada | $32,792 | $15.77 |
| 19 | New York | $35,301 | $16.97 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $36,129 | $17.37 |
| 21 | Missouri | $29,113 | $14.00 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $28,055 | $13.49 |
| 23 | Oregon | $31,127 | $14.96 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $28,643 | $13.77 |
| 25 | Arizona | $28,192 | $13.55 |
| 26 | Montana | $27,265 | $13.11 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $29,136 | $14.01 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $34,571 | $16.62 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $28,320 | $13.62 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $27,258 | $13.10 |
| 31 | California | $33,049 | $15.89 |
| 32 | Colorado | $30,977 | $14.89 |
| 33 | Georgia | $27,157 | $13.06 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $25,037 | $12.04 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $26,648 | $12.81 |
| 36 | Indiana | $26,155 | $12.57 |
| 37 | Maryland | $28,049 | $13.49 |
| 38 | Iowa | $24,480 | $11.77 |
| 39 | Virginia | $27,928 | $13.43 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $25,496 | $12.26 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $26,773 | $12.87 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $26,730 | $12.85 |
| 43 | Alaska | $21,958 | $10.56 |
| 44 | Alabama | $24,653 | $11.85 |
| 45 | Kansas | $23,515 | $11.31 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $25,497 | $12.26 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $22,581 | $10.86 |
| 48 | Utah | $25,984 | $12.49 |
| 49 | Idaho | $24,840 | $11.94 |
| 50 | Texas | $26,004 | $12.50 |
| 51 | Florida | $24,580 | $11.82 |
Highest paying cities for day care aides
The highest-paying cities for day care aides are Hackensack, NJ, Franklin Town, MA, and Albany, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hackensack, NJ | $40,248 | $19.35 |
| 2 | Franklin Town, MA | $37,911 | $18.23 |
| 3 | Albany, NY | $35,626 | $17.13 |
| 4 | Fargo, ND | $35,115 | $16.88 |
| 5 | Strongsville, OH | $34,186 | $16.44 |
| 6 | Burlingame, CA | $34,159 | $16.42 |
| 7 | Saint Paul, MN | $34,126 | $16.41 |
| 8 | Madison, WI | $33,878 | $16.29 |
| 9 | Arlington Heights, IL | $32,792 | $15.77 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $31,019 | $14.91 |
| 11 | Livonia, MI | $30,344 | $14.59 |
| 12 | Saint Louis, MO | $29,357 | $14.11 |
| 13 | Omaha, NE | $28,782 | $13.84 |
| 14 | Sioux Falls, SD | $28,563 | $13.73 |
| 15 | Pocatello, ID | $24,450 | $11.75 |
| 16 | Miami, FL | $24,364 | $11.71 |
| 17 | Council Bluffs, IA | $23,671 | $11.38 |
Day care aide salary details
A day care aide's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a day care aide's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $30,874 | $2,573 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
Highest paying day care aide jobs
The highest paying types of day care aides are child care counselor, direct care counselor, and child care provider.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toddler Teacher | $30,703 | $2,559 | $14.76 | 67,810 |
| Vocational Childcare Teacher | $30,178 | $2,515 | $14.51 | 59,686 |
| Child Care Counselor | $36,843 | $3,070 | $17.71 | 100,538 |
| Child Care Teacher | $26,036 | $2,170 | $12.52 | 139,010 |
| Day Camp Counselor | $29,384 | $2,449 | $14.13 | 32,895 |
| In-Home Childcare Provider | $32,161 | $2,680 | $15.46 | 104,415 |
Top companies hiring day care aides now:
Which companies pay day care aides the most?
Day care aide salaries at Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES and Strongsville City Schools are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average day care aide salary at companies like Hackensack Meridian Health and Lifesteps are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | $37,065 | $17.82 |
| 2 | Strongsville City Schools | $37,046 | $17.81 |
| 3 | Hackensack Meridian Health | $35,664 | $17.15 |
| 4 | Lifesteps | $35,193 | $16.92 |
| 5 | St. Clare Catholic School | $35,169 | $16.91 |
| 6 | Mount Sinai Health System | $34,594 | $16.63 |
| 7 | Sharp HealthCare | $33,080 | $15.90 |
| 8 | St. Luke's Health System | $32,639 | $15.69 |
| 9 | Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program | $32,555 | $15.65 |
| 10 | Methodist Health System | $32,485 | $15.62 |
| 11 | Tenet Healthcare | $32,304 | $15.53 |
| 12 | Munson Healthcare | $32,213 | $15.49 |
| 13 | St. Peter's Health | $32,163 | $15.46 |
| 14 | Buena Vista University | $32,109 | $15.44 |
| 15 | UCP of Long Island | $32,097 | $15.43 |
| 16 | Huntsville Hospital | $32,068 | $15.42 |
| 17 | Providence Health & Services | $32,023 | $15.40 |
| 18 | Benedictine Health System | $31,997 | $15.38 |
| 19 | Trinity Health | $31,986 | $15.38 |
| 20 | Pro Health Care Services | $31,926 | $15.35 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Day Care Aide salary by industry
The average day care aide salary varies across industries:
- The average day care aide salary in the finance industry is $37,374, the highest of any industry.
- The average day care aide salary in the finance industry is $31,098.
- Day care aides in the education industry earn an average salary of $29,350, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for day care aides
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $37,374 | $17.97 |
| 2 | Health Care | $31,098 | $14.95 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $30,142 | $14.49 |
| 4 | Education | $29,350 | $14.11 |
High paying day care aide jobs
Day care aide salary trends
The average day care aide salary has risen by $7,313 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average day care aide earned $23,561 annually, but today, they earn $30,874 a year. That works out to a 20% change in pay for day care aides over the last decade.
Compare day care aide salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average day care aide salary over time
Compare day care aide salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Day care aide salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $30,900 | $14.84 | +4.8% |
| 2024 | $29,400 | $14.13 | +4.1% |
| 2023 | $28,200 | $13.55 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $27,000 | $12.99 | +5.0% |
| 2021 | $25,700 | $12.34 | +4.0% |
Recently added day care aide salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtua | Radiology Aide Days/Marlton | Marlton, NJ | 06/30/2025 | $36,836 |
| Olathe Public Schools | ELL Aide-Olathe East, Daily, 170 Days | Olathe, KS | 06/29/2025 | $31,305 |
| The Boulevard Senior Living St. Peters | Memory Care Aide | Saint Peters, MO | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| Diocese of San Diego | Extended Day Care Aide | El Cajon, CA | 06/28/2025 | $45,914 |
| Fair Lawn Public School District | After Care Aide | Downe, NJ | 06/24/2025 | $33,225 |
| Fredericksburg | Richmond-Companion Aide Day Shift | Richmond, VA | 06/22/2025 | $31,827 |
| Prohealth Care | Mobility Aide-4NW FTE-Days/Pms) | Waukesha, WI | 06/20/2025 | $31,305 |
| Crista Ministries | Program Aide-King's Summer Day Camp | Shoreline, WA | 06/19/2025 | $36,001 |
| Prohealth Care | Mobility Aide-4NW FTE-Days/Pms) | Rowe, MA | 06/19/2025 | $31,305 |
| Senior Housing Managers Group | Day Shift Med Aide--Arbor House | Grants Pass, OR | 06/17/2025 | $35,479 |
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