Childcare Workers Salary in the US
A childcare workers earns a national median of $34,980 a year (mean $35,030) — BLS OEWS May 2025, ranked #811 of 825.
How much does a childcare workers earn in the US?
A childcare workers in the United States earns a median of $34,980 a year (mean $35,030), per BLS OEWS May 2025. That is 31% below the US all-occupations median of $50,980. About 518,910 people work in this occupation (SOC 39-9011), ranked #811 of 825 by national median pay. Updated annually from BLS OEWS.
Median
$34,980
per year
Mean
$35,030
per year
Employment
518,910
US workers
National rank
#811
of 825 by median
What a childcare workers earns in the US
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025 national estimates, a childcare workers (SOC 39-9011) earns a median annual wage of $34,980 and a mean (average) of $35,030. The median is the midpoint — half of childcare workers earn more and half earn less — and is 31% below the US all-occupations median of $50,980. The mean is higher than the median when a minority of very high earners pull the average up.
Note: BLS top-codes any annual wage at or above $239,200/year, so occupations at that ceiling share the same figure.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average salary for a childcare workers in the US?
- The BLS OEWS May 2025 national annual median wage for childcare workers is $34,980, and the mean (average) is $35,030. The median is the midpoint — half of childcare workers earn more and half earn less.
- How does childcare workers pay compare to the US average?
- At $34,980, a childcare workers earns 31% below the US all-occupations median of $50,980 (BLS OEWS May 2025). The all-occupations US median is $50,980.
- How many childcare workers are employed in the US?
- BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates about 518,910 childcare workers employed nationally (SOC 39-9011), across all industries.
- Where does this childcare workers salary data come from?
- From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 national release — cross-industry, all-ownership estimates, SOC code 39-9011. As US federal government work it is public domain. GeraJobs publishes the figures verbatim; suppressed cells are shown as "—", never estimated.
Compare nearby occupations
- Waiters and Waitresses$35,230
- Parking Attendants$35,150
- School Bus Monitors$35,100
- Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$35,070
- Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials$35,060
- Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners$34,980
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$34,890
- Dishwashers$34,810
- Bartenders$34,340
- Gambling Dealers$34,320
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$33,980
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$33,580
Find childcare workers jobs with salary ranges
GeraJobs lists live US vacancies with employer-stated salary ranges — see which childcare workers roles pay above the BLS benchmark.
Data source
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) · May 2025 national estimates · SOC 39-9011 · Public domain (U.S. federal government work)
Published verbatim by GeraJobs. Last updated: 2026-06-27. ← All US salaries