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Jun 24, 2020 37 min read

Child Care Costs by State 2020

Procare By: Procare
4 children and a child care teacher study materials spread out on a table

Understanding the cost of child care in America is important for both parents and child care providers.

If you’re a parent, getting familiar with the average daycare costs near you can help you find the best value and the best deal when seeking care for your family.

If you’re a child care provider, you’ll need to be aware of the average child care cost so you can price your services competitively. Millions of parents across the country struggle to find affordable child care services for their children, creating a massive business opportunity for daycare centers that can deliver quality care at a lower cost.

National Average Cost of Child Care 2020

In a report titled “The U.S. and the High Price of Child Care,” Child Care Aware of America found that the average cost of child care in the United States ranged between $9,100 and $9,600 per year across all states and age categories. 

While this figure provides a national perspective on the cost of child care, it would be a mistake to expect child care costs in your local area to align with the national average. There are significant differences in child care costs by state and by the age of your child.

How We Break Down Daycare Costs in This Article

In this article, we’re taking an in-depth look at child care costs by state using the best and most current data available in 2020.

For each of our 50 states, you’ll find three key pieces of information:

  1. Average monthly child care cost for an infant and for a four-year-old child
  2. Child care affordability analysis for families and minimum wage workers
  3. Any additional information that parents and child care providers should be aware of with respect to child care costs

According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), child care is considered affordable if it costs no more than 10 percent of gross family income. As you will see, median family income also varies substantially by state – but there are ZERO states where child care affordability meets the threshold defined by the HHS.

Scroll through our list and find your state (they’re in alphabetical order) to see the average cost and relative affordability of daycare services where you live. 

Procare is here to help.

We know the business of child care. For more than 30 years we’ve been guiding child care professionals just like you to help stay connected and in control.

 

Alabama

Monthly Child Care Costs in Alabama
In Alabama, the average monthly cost of infant care is $500 per child, while a month of child care tuition for a four-year-old costs an average of $432.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Alabama
Families in Alabama struggle to find affordable child care. For the typical Alabama family, child care costs 11.9% of gross income. The average child care worker in Alabama would have to spend 32% of their gross earnings to put their own child into an infant care program.

More Information on Alabama Child Care
Minimum wage workers in Alabama make as little as $15,080 per year or less, contributing to Alabama’s poverty rate of 16.9%, the sixth highest in the U.S. Families in Alabama would benefit significantly from the increased availability of affordable, quality child care in their communities.

Alaska

Monthly Child Care Costs in Alaska
In Alaska, infant care for a single child comes in at an average monthly cost of $1,010. For a four-year-old, the average cost is slightly less – $841 per month on average. 

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Alaska
A typical family in Alaska would spend roughly 17% of their annual income on child care – 7% more than the standard for affordable child care in the United States. The situation is even worse for minimum wage workers in Alaska, who could find themselves spending up to 60% of their wages on child care services.

More Information on Alaska Child Care
Alaska is one of the least populated states, with just 734,000 residents. It’s also sixth on the list of states with the highest cost of living, right behind Hawaii, California, New York, Oregon and Massachusetts. Affordable child care services can help expand the workforce in Alaska and grow the Alaskan economy.

Arizona

Monthly Child Care Costs in Arizona
In Arizona, monthly infant care costs an average of $912, while Monthly Child Care for a four-year-old typically costs around $712.  

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Arizona
Minimum wage workers in Arizona saw their earnings increase from $11 to $12 per hour, effective January 1, 2020. However, affordable child care remains inaccessible for the lowest-earning workers in the Grand Canyon State. A minimum wage worker spends nearly half of their annual income on child care services for a single child, while a typical family with kids spends just under 20% of their annual earnings on child care.

More Information on Arizona Child Care
Arizona’s population grew by 2.88% in 2020, making it one of the fastest-growing states by population for that year. Growth for Arizona means new opportunities to create communities with affordable and accessible child care for families.

Arkansas

Monthly Child Care Costs in Arkansas
Residents of Arkansas pay $574 per month for infant care – or $6,890 per year on average. Child care for a four-year-old is slightly more affordable, costing an average of $457 per month. 

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Arkansas
Arkansas is home to some of America’s hardest struggling families. The state reported a poverty rate of 16.4% in 2017 – 7th highest among all states. A single minimum wage worker spends an average of 35.8% of their pay on child care, while families with kids earning median wages spend 14.6%. This figure is lower for many other states, but is still more than the 10% affordability threshold. 

More Information on Arkansas Child Care
Arkansas has the second-lowest cost of living in the United States, yet child care services remain unaffordable for up to 82% of residents.

California

Monthly Child Care Costs in California
California is one of the most expensive states for parents who need child care services. Monthly Child Care for a single infant will cost families an average of $1,412, while the same care for a four-year-old costs an average of $956.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in California
In California, the annual cost for infant care is more than the cost of renting an apartment or paying college tuition. The median family living in the Golden State finds themselves spending up to 25% of their annual household income on child care services for a single infant.

More Information on California Child Care
California is the most populated state, the most densely populated state, and the state with the second-highest cost of living. Nearly 93% of California’s 40 million residents are unable to access affordable child care services.

Colorado

Monthly Child Care Costs in Colorado
Families in Colorado struggle to afford the cost of child care services. Infant care for a single child costs an average of $1,277 per month ($15,325 annually), while the same care for a four-year-old would cost $1,032.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Colorado
Minimum wage workers in Colorado earn just $12 per hour, or approximately $23,000 per year on full-time hours. To secure infant care for a single child, that worker would have to spend a full two thirds of their salary on child care expenses. 

More Information on Colorado Child Care
Colorado is one of the few states where the average child care cost for a four-year-old child is more than $1,000 per month. Families in Colorado can spend up to $50,000 or more on child care before their child can begin attending school.

Connecticut

Monthly Child Care Costs in Connecticut
Child care in Connecticut is characteristically unaffordable, with infant care costing $1,292 per month and child care for four-year-old children costing $1,061 per month.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Connecticut
Connecticut is implementing minimum wage increases that will see the minimum wage increase from $11 per hour today, up to $15 per hour by June 2023. Today, minimum wage workers in Connecticut earn roughly $21,000 per year on full-time employment and would spend a whopping 73.8% of that on infant care services for a single child.

More Information on Connecticut Child Care
Despite being one of the smallest states by geographic area, Connecticut has an extremely high population density. This makes it one of the best places to offer in-person services like child care.

Delaware

Monthly Child Care Costs in Delaware
Infant care in Delaware costs an average of $918 per month. Monthly child care for a four-year-old is somewhat more affordable, with a monthly price tag of $740. 

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Delaware
Only 13% of families in Delaware make enough income to spend less than 10% of their annual salary on child care services. A typical family earning two median incomes in Delaware spends 16% of nearly $70,000 in annual earnings on child care services.

More Information on Delaware Child Care
Delaware’s minimum wage is pegged at $9.25 per hour with no signs of a coming increase, and child care workers in the First State typically earn just over the minimum wage. A typical child care worker would spend 53.6% of their total salary to place their own child in an infant care program.

Florida

Monthly Child Care Costs in Florida
Monthly infant care in Florida costs an average of $770, while the same care for a four-year-old child would cost families an average of $607 per month.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Florida
The median wage in Florida in 2018 was just $34,560 – 41st among all states. A family earning two median incomes would spend 13.3% of gross income on infant care services for one child. 

More Information on Florida Child Care
In Florida, the average cost of tuition and fees at public colleges for in-state applicants is $3,898 – yet the annual cost of infant care is $4,782, nearly 23% more. That makes Florida one of the 33 states where getting a college education is less expensive than paying for infant care.

Georgia

Monthly Child Care Costs in Georgia
Infant care in the Peach State costs an average of $711 per month, while child care services for a four-year-old are more likely to cost around $609 every month.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Georgia
While the median wage in Georgia is $35,590 per year as of 2018, the minimum wage is just $5.15 per hour. This puts child care services perpetually out of reach for the lowest earners in the state, who would spend nearly 80% of their gross income on infant care for a single child.

More Information on Georgia Child Care
Georgia has over 10 million residents, making it the eighth-most populated state. Millions of Georgia residents would enjoy massive economic and social benefits from access to affordable child care.

Hawaii

Monthly Child Care Costs in Hawaii
Child care costs are expensive in Hawaii. Infant care costs an average of $13,761 per year, or $1,144 per month. Child care for a four-year-old costs an average of $745 per month.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Hawaii
Working families in Hawaii struggle to find affordable child care. A median family spends approximately 16% of their gross income on child care expenses. 

More Information on Hawaii Child Care
Hawaii has the highest cost of living in the United States with the most expensive groceries, housing, utilities and transportation. Hawaii is 12th on the list of states with the most expensive infant care costs.

Idaho

Monthly Child Care Costs in Idaho
Infant care in Idaho costs an average of $623 per month, while placing a four-year-old child into center-based care is likely to cost a family around $538 per month.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Idaho
Median household income in Idaho is approximately $4,600 per month. Placing a single child in infant care would cost the median family 13.5% of their gross income, while placing two children (one infant and one four-year-old) would cost the family $1,161 monthly, just over 25% of the total income and more than the family can expect to pay for rent.

More Information on Idaho Child Care
Idaho’s minimum wage of $7.25 per hour makes it difficult for low wage earners to access affordable child care services.

Illinois

Monthly Child Care Costs in Illinois
Monthly infant care in Illinois will cost families an average of $1,150 per month, while placing a four-year-old child in center-based child care is likely to cost around $864 per month. 

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Illinois
In Chicago, fewer than 10% of families make enough money to spend less than 10% of their gross income on child care expenses. For families near the median household income level of $5,730 per month, placing an infant in child care costs more than 20% of gross income. The outlook is even worse for minimum wage earners in Illinois, who make just $1,430 per month and would have to spend more than 80% of that to place an infant in center-based care.

More Information on Illinois Child Care
Illinois ranks in 11th place – just outside the top 10 – for the most expensive infant care rates in the United States.

Indiana

Monthly Child Care Costs in Indiana
If you’re searching for child care services in Indiana, here’s what you should expect to pay. The average monthly cost for center-based infant care is approximately $1,051. To place a four-year-old child in center-based care costs an average of $796 monthly. 

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Indiana
Indiana is in a child care affordability crisis. Infant care costs more per year than both college and housing, and even the median family that earns $4,770 per month would have to spend 22% of their gross household income to place a single child in infant care.

More Information on Indiana Child Care
Minimum wage workers in Indiana struggle to access affordable child care. The state’s minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, combined with high child care costs, means that low-wage earners would spend nearly 85% of their total income on center-based infant care for one child. 

Iowa

Monthly Child Care Costs in Iowa
In the State of Iowa, the average cost of placing an infant in center-based child care has been measured at $865 per month. For a four-year-old child, the figure is closer to $719 per month. 

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Iowa
Iowa is yet another state where families routinely spend more per year on child care services than the cost of college tuition or housing expenses. The median family would spend 15% or more of their household income on center-based infant care for a single child.

More Information on Iowa Child Care
Iowa’s low population density makes it difficult for parents to find affordable center-based care for their kids. Increased access to child care would create new opportunities for kids in Iowa and allow their parents to enter the workforce.

Kansas

Monthly Child Care Costs in Kansas
Parents looking to place an infant in center-based child care should expect to pay an average of $935 per month in Kansas. For a four-year-old child, the cost of care averages out to $733 per month. 

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Kansas
Despite having the eighth-lowest cost of living in the United States, Kansas residents still struggle to find affordable, high-quality child care options. Median household income in the Sunflower State is $5,159 per month, so the median family would spend 18% of their monthly gross pay on infant care for one child.

More Information on Kansas Child Care
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment oversees child care services across the state. Their website includes licensing information and resources for child care providers and parents.

Kentucky

Monthly Child Care Costs in Kentucky
Kentucky has some of the lowest child care costs in the United States. Infant care for a single child in a center-based program costs an average of just $595 per month, while care for a four-year-old is likely to cost around $535.  

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Kentucky
Child care services in Kentucky are affordable compared to other areas of the United States, but still inaccessible for many families. With a median household income of around $4,500 per month, a family would spend just under 12% of its gross income on center-based infant care for one child. 

More Information on Kentucky Child Care
Kentucky’s low housing and grocery costs make it a great place to start an affordable child care center. There’s plenty of opportunity to provide services to the community and help more parents join the workforce.

Louisiana

Monthly Child Care Costs in Louisiana
Child care centers in Louisiana (and all states) vary in cost depending on their location, staff experience and the services they offer. Infant care costs an average of $644/month, while care for a four-year-old is likely to cost around $576 per month.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Louisiana
Median household income in Louisiana is around $53,042. The median family would spend 14.6% of their income to place a single child in center-based infant care. 

More Information on Louisiana Child Care
Louisiana has some of the lowest child care costs by state, yet a full-time minimum wage worker earning $7.25 per hour would still need to work for 89 hours to cover monthly child care costs for a single child.

Maine

Monthly Child Care Costs in Maine
Center-based child care for a four-year-old child in Maine costs an average of $691 every month, while care for an infant is slightly more costly at $787 per month.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Maine
The median household income in Maine is around $55,600 annually, or $4,633 per month. At that income level, a family would spend nearly 17% of its household income on infant care for a single child.

More Information on Maine Child Care
The Pine Tree State is one of the least populated states in the U.S., with just over 1.3 million residents. Half of the state’s population lives in the Portland metropolitan area, making this the best area to start a center-based or in-home daycare.

Maryland

Monthly Child Care Costs in Maryland
Child care services in Maryland are tremendously costly for families. Infant care in a Maryland child care center costs an average of $1,278 for families, while care for school-aged kids usually costs around $855 per month.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Maryland
Maryland has some of the most expensive child care costs in the United States and a large discrepancy between the cost of infant care and the cost of care for school-aged kids. The median family here would spend at least 17.6% of their household income on child care for one child.

More Information on Maryland Child Care
Child care workers in Maryland, on average, earn just more than minimum wage. The typical child care provider would have to spend 64.5% of their gross pay to place their own child in a center-based child care facility.

Massachusetts

Monthly Child Care Costs in Massachusetts
Child care services in Massachusetts are prohibitively expensive to most families. Infant care costs $1,743 per month and center-based care for school-aged kids can cost as much as $1,258 per month.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Massachusetts
There are no states with more expensive child care than Massachusetts. Only the District of Columbia has less affordable child care than the Bay State. The median family here would spend nearly 23% of their household income on child care for one infant. Many parents rely on before and after school programs to supplement their need for affordable child care.

More Information on Massachusetts Child Care
Families can use the Massachusetts government website to find a licensed family, group or school-age child care program through the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).

Michigan

Monthly Child Care Costs in Michigan
Michigan is near the median for child care costs by state. Infant care in a child care facility costs an average of $905 every month, while the same care for a four-year-old would cost $741 per month.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Michigan
The loss of manufacturing jobs has made child care services less affordable for many Michigan families. With a household income of around $4,750 per month, the median family in Michigan would spend 19% of their gross pay on infant care services for a single child.

More Information on Michigan Child Care
The Michigan Department of Education manages child care licensing with strict requirements and provides valuable information and resources for parents and child care providers.

Minnesota

Monthly Child Care Costs in Minnesota
Minnesota has one of the highest child care costs by state. Infant care services cost an average of $1,341 per month, while care for school-aged kids typically costs just over $1,000 monthly. 

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Minnesota
Minnesota is on the higher end of household income, with a median household income of $5,860 according to the latest data. Still, the high cost of care means that the median family would still spend up to 23% of their income on child care for one child.

More Information on Minnesota Child Care
If you’re a parent in Minnesota who needs help finding open child care, the Minnesota government provides resources that can help you discover licensed child care providers in the state.

Mississippi

Monthly Child Care Costs in Mississippi
Mississippi has some of the lowest child care costs by state. Infant care costs just $453 per month, and child care for a four-year-old comes in under $400 monthly at most child care centers.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Mississippi
In 2018, Mississippi had the second-lowest median household income in the United States, ranking just behind West Virginia. The median household earned just $3,675 per month and would have spent 12.3% of their income on infant care for one child. Mississippi does have the lowest housing costs and the fourth-lowest grocery costs in the U.S., making it a potentially attractive market for starting an affordable child care center.

More Information on Mississippi Child Care
The Mississippi Department of Human Services provides parents who meet income eligibility requirements help with child care payments. Visit their website for more information and a link to the application page.

Missouri

Monthly Child Care Costs in Missouri
Child care in Missouri costs an average of $837 per month for infants and $584 per month for four-year-old children.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Missouri
The median Missouri household in 2018 earned just over $4,500 per month and would have had to spend around 18.5% of their total income on center-based infant care for a single child.

More Information on Missouri Child Care
The Missouri government supports families with child care subsidies to assist with tuition payments. Check out their website for eligibility information and how to apply.

Montana

Monthly Child Care Costs in Montana
Infant care services in Montana cost an average of $793 per month, while center-based care for a four-year-old costs $697 per month on average.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Montana
In 2018, the median household income in Montana was $55,328, or $4,610 per month. This family would spend more than 17% of their income to place a single child in center-based infant care. A child care provider in Montana makes an average of $21,140 annually and would spend an average of 45% of their net income to place a child in infant care. 

More Information on Montana Child Care
Child care providers in Montana are regulated by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. The department is providing support for child care centers whose businesses were negatively impacted by COVID-19.

Nebraska

Monthly Child Care Costs in Nebraska
Parents in Nebraska pay an average of $1,048 per month for infant care and $952 per month for a four-year-old child.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Nebraska
In Nebraska, child care services cost more than both rent and college tuition. The median household in 2018 made just under $5,000 per month and would have spent more than 20% of their total income on child care services for a single child.

More Information on Nebraska Child Care
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services helps connect parents with accessible child care facilities in their communities. Child care providers can find information about licensing, child care grants and subsidy programs for Nebraska residents.

Nevada

Monthly Child Care Costs in Nevada
Families in Nevada pay an average of $951 per month for infant care and an average of $754 per month to place a four-year-old child in a center-based program.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Nevada
Infant care in Nevada is nearly double the cost of in-state tuition. The median household in the Silver State made just under $4,900 in 2018, a figure that would see them spending nearly 20% of their gross income on infant care for a single child.

More Information on Nevada Child Care
The Nevada Early Care & Education Office oversees child care licensing in the state. Parents can visit their website to discover early education guides, child care assistance applications and other resources.

New Hampshire

Monthly Child Care Costs in New Hampshire
When you’re ranking child care costs by state with the most expensive options at the top, New Hampshire is about a third of the way down. Infant care in New Hampshire costs an average of $1,066 per month, while the average cost of child care for a four-year-old is $862 per month.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s costly child care is especially hard on minimum wage earners. In New Hampshire, workers earn the Federal minimum wage of $7.25 and would have to spend just under 85% of their pay to place an infant in center-based child care. The median New Hampshire family in 2018 had a household income of $6,249/month but would still spend around 17% of their pay to place a child in infant care. 

More Information on New Hampshire Child Care
New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Human Services oversees center-based and home-based child care services, providing child care management requirements and licensing guidelines for providers.

New Jersey

Monthly Child Care Costs in New Jersey
A month of infant care at a child care center in New Jersey costs families an average of $1,082. For a four-year-old child, the average price is closer to $900.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in New Jersey
The median household income in the Garden State in 2018 was over $6,800 per month. This family would still have to allocate nearly 16% of its total annual income to child care tuition for an infant in center-based care.

More Information on New Jersey Child Care
New Jersey is one of the smallest and most densely populated states, with the seventh-highest housing costs in America. Parents can visit the Child Care New Jersey website to learn more about child care subsidies, how to choose a child care center, and how to find child care locally.

New Mexico

Monthly Child Care Costs in New Mexico
New Mexico is on the lower end of child care costs by state. Infant care costs an average of $718 per month, while care for a four-year-old child costs an average of $634 every month.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in New Mexico
The median household income in New Mexico was just over $3,900 in 2018. That household would have to spend more than 18% of its monthly cash flow on child care services for a single infant.

More Information on New Mexico Child Care
Families in New Mexico may be eligible for child care assistance programs offered by the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department.

New York

Monthly Child Care Costs in New York
New York has some of the most expensive child care costs by state. A month of infant care in NY will cost families an average of $1,283, while monthly care for a four-year-old child costs an average of $1,030.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in New York
New York already has one of the highest costs of living by state – ranking behind only California and Hawaii. The median household in New York in 2018 earned just under $5,600 per month and would have spent 23% of their total income on infant care.

More Information on New York Child Care
The NY Division of Child Care Services manages child care subsidies for the State of New York. New York State has also invested heavily in Early Head Start (EHS) programs and continues to offer partnership opportunities and award grants to child care providers that agree to meet the EHS performance standards.

North Carolina

Monthly Child Care Costs in North Carolina
North Carolina’s typical child care costs are near the national average. Infant care will cost families an average of $790 per month for tuition at a child care center, while centers charge an average of $676 per month to care for a four-year-old child.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in North Carolina
North Carolina’s median household income in 2018 was just under $4,500 per month. The median family would have spent around 17.5% of their income on child care services for a single infant. Minimum wage workers in North Carolina earn the Federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which contributed to the state’s 14.7% poverty rate in 2017. Child care services in North Carolina are difficult to afford for low-wage workers.

More Information on North Carolina Child Care
Subsidized child care is one of North Carolina’s longest-running social programs, having been first offered in 1964. Visit the North Carolina DHHS for eligibility requirements and application information.

North Dakota

Monthly Child Care Costs in North Dakota
Child care costs in North Dakota are near the national average. Infant care costs $758 per month, or just over $9,000 annually. Child care for a four-year-old is somewhat more affordable at $685 per month, or roughly $8,200 per year.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in North Dakota
The median household income in North Dakota was around $5,300 per month. A family earning that much would spend over 14% of its income on infant care. A family that decides to have a second child could end up spending nearly 30% of their net income on child care.

More Information on North Dakota Child Care
The North Dakota Child Care Assistance Program is available to help income-eligible families pay for child care. Child Care Aware of North Dakota also provides great resources for both providers and parents in the Peace Garden State.

Ohio

Monthly Child Care Costs in Ohio 
Ohio’s monthly child care costs are near the national average. Child care centers charge an average of $808 per month for infant care and $658 per month for care for a four-year-old child.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Ohio 
The median household income in Ohio was just under $4,700 per month in 2018. The median family would have spent 17% of their income on infant care for a single child – 7% more than the affordability threshold established by the U.S. DHHS.

More Information on Ohio Child Care
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services manages licensing and certifications for child care providers, supports quality early education and helps connect families with Child Care Payment Assistance.

Oklahoma

Monthly Child Care Costs in Oklahoma
Child care centers in Oklahoma charge an average of $715 per month for infant care and $550 per month for a four-year old child.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Oklahoma
The median household in Oklahoma in 2018 made just over $4,300 per month in gross income. This household would have needed to spend nearly 17% of that income on infant care for a single child.

More Information on Oklahoma Child Care
Parents can visit the Oklahoma Department of Human Services website for information about selecting quality child care and resources to help you discover affordable child care providers in your area.

Oregon

Monthly Child Care Costs in Oregon
Families in Oregon pay an average of $1,135 for center-based infant care and an average of $838 per month to place a four-year-old in a child care center.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Oregon
Median household income in Oregon was just under $5,300 per month in 2018. This household would have to spend nearly 21% of its total cash flow on infant care services for a single child. Thousands of Oregon families would benefit from better access to affordable child care. 

More Information on Oregon Child Care
Expensive housing, child care, transportation and groceries make Oregon the state with the fourth-highest cost of living. Parents can visit Oregon Early Learning for help finding high-quality and affordable child care services.

Pennsylvania

Monthly Child Care Costs in Pennsylvania
Parents in Pennsylvania can expect to spend $987 per month on infant care or $814 per month on center-based child care for a four-year-old child.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Pennsylvania
The median household income in Pennsylvania was $5,075 per month in 2018. This household would have had to allocate 19.5% of its cash flow to infant care services for a single child. A minimum wage worker in Pennsylvania earns the Federal minimum wage and would have to spend 78.5% of their gross pay to cover child care costs.

More Information on Pennsylvania Child Care
Pennsylvania operates a child care subsidy program known as Child Care Works. You can visit the Department of Human Services website for application info and additional guidelines.

Rhode Island

Monthly Child Care Costs in Rhode Island
Rhode Island is on the expensive end of the spectrum of child care costs by state. An average child care center charges $1,141 per month for infant care and $891 per month to care for a four-year-old child.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has some of the nation’s highest utility, transportation and child care costs by state. With a median household income of $5,360 per month in 2018, a typical family in Rhode Island might end up spending as much as 21% or more of their net income on infant care services for a single child.

More Information on Rhode Island Child Care
Rhode Island provides subsidized child care for children up to the age of 13, and in some cases, up to the age of 18. Visit the Department of Human Services website for more information on applying for child care assistance.

South Carolina

Monthly Child Care Costs in South Carolina
South Carolina has some of the lowest child care costs by state. The average child care center charges $584 per month for infant care and $500 per month for four-year-old children. 

Monthly Child Care Affordability in South Carolina
South Carolina is one of the few states where infant care costs substantially less than either rent or college tuition. The median household in South Carolina earned $4,350 per month in 2018 and would have had to spend just over 13% of that on center-based infant care for a single child. 

More Information on South Carolina Child Care
Parents in South Carolina can benefit from the SC Voucher Program, which makes payments to child care providers so their parents can participate in the workforce. Visit SC Child Care for more information and how to apply.

South Dakota

Monthly Child Care Costs in South Dakota
South Dakota has some of the lowest child care costs by state. Parents can expect to pay an average of $543 per month for infant care and just over $500 per month to place a four-year-old child in center-based care.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in South Dakota
The median household income in South Dakota was just under $4,700 per month in 2018. This household would have had to spend 11.3% of its monthly cash flow to pay for single infant child care. 

More Information on South Dakota Child Care
The South Dakota Department of Social Services provides plenty of useful resources for parents and child care providers, including child care assistance payments and how to reopen in this new environment.

Tennessee

Monthly Child Care Costs in Tennessee
An average child care center in Tennessee charges $728 per month for infant care and $622 per month to provide routine care for a four-year-old child.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Tennessee
Tennessee families struggle to find affordable child care. The median household in 2018 earned just under $4,400 per month and would have had to spend 16.5% of their income to place a single child in center-based infant care. A family of two minimum wage earners would have to spend nearly 30% of their income every month on a child care program for one child.

More Information on Tennessee Child Care
The high cost of child care in Tennessee means that more parents end up leaving their careers to stay home and raise kids. Affordable child care in the community would allow parents more flexibility to return to the workforce while providing education and social opportunities for kids.

Texas

Monthly Child Care Costs in Texas
Child care centers in Texas charge an average rate of $777 per month for infant care. For routine care of a four-year-old child, child care centers charge an average of $589 across the state.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Texas
The median household in Texas earned around $5,050 per month in 2018 and would have had to spend over 15% of their gross income on center-based care for one child. Families earning less than the median may find themselves spending up to 30% or more of their income on child care costs. 

More Information on Texas Child Care
Texas Health and Human Services manages child care licensing and helps connect parents with affordable local child care centers.

Utah

Monthly Child Care Costs in Utah
Parents in Utah should expect to pay an average of $829 per month for center-based infant care and an average of $647 per month for routine child care for a four-year-old.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Utah
Utah has one of the lowest poverty rates and highest median household incomes in America, yet affordable child care remains out of reach for many families. Even the median household that made $5,950 per month in 2018 would have had to spend nearly 14% of their total income to place an infant in center-based care for the month.  

More Information on Utah Child Care
A minimum wage worker in Utah must work for 114 hours to cover the average cost of infant care for just one month. If you need help paying for child care in Utah, visit the Utah Department of Workforce Services.

Vermont

Monthly Child Care Costs in Vermont
Vermont has some of the highest child care costs by state. Families in Vermont pay an average of $1,068 per month for infant care and $976 per month to place a four-year-old child in a center-based care program.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Vermont
The median household in Vermont earned around $5,065 in 2018. This household would have had to spend over 20% of its monthly cash flow on child care for a single infant. 

More Information on Vermont Child Care
Parents can visit the Vermont Official State Website to voice concerns about child care, get help finding child care services, and learn about child tax benefits.

Virginia

Monthly Child Care Costs in Virginia
Virginia’s average child care costs are prohibitively expensive for thousands of families. Infant care costs an average of $1,172 per month and center-based care for a four-year-old typically costs $906 per month.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Virginia
Virginia’s low minimum wage and high child care costs are a significant challenge for low wage earners with children. A full-time worker earning minimum wage in Virginia would have to spend nearly 95% of their income to afford infant care services.

More Information on Virginia Child Care
Need help finding affordable child care in Virginia? Parents can visit the Virginia Department of Social Services for child care guidance and payment assistance.

Washington

Monthly Child Care Costs in Washington
Working families in Washington struggle to cover the cost of child care every month. Infant care for a single child costs an average of $1,213, while most center-based care facilities would charge around $920 per month for a four-year-old child.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Washington
Washington State has the highest minimum wage in the country – $13.50 in the state and $16.09 in Seattle/Tacoma. Yet even in Seattle, a minimum wage worker would find themselves working 76 hours to cover the cost of infant care for a single month. 

More Information on Washington Child Care
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families offers resources for child care providers and parents, including child care subsidies through the Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) program.

West Virginia

Monthly Child Care Costs in West Virginia
Working families in West Virginia can expect to pay an average of $728 per month for infant care services and $637 per month to place a four-year-old in a child care facility.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in West Virginia
West Virginia is yet another state where infant care for a single child costs more than both the average housing rental rate and the cost of in-state college tuition. The median household in the Mountain State earned less than $3,700 per month and would have spent nearly 20% of their monthly income on child care costs for one child.

More Information on West Virginia Child Care
West Virginia’s Bureau for Children and Families provides guidance and resources for both parents and child care providers. Parents can visit the Child Care Resources and Referral page for help finding affordable child care service.

Wisconsin

Monthly Child Care Costs in Wisconsin
A typical child care facility in Wisconsin charges $850 per month for a four-year-old child and an average of $1,047 per month for infant care.

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Wisconsin
The median household in Wisconsin earned around $5,060 per month in 2018 and would have needed to spend more than 20% of their total income to place one child in a center-based infant care program. Minimum wage workers in Wisconsin would have to work for 144 hours just to cover the cost of one month of infant care.

More Information on Wisconsin Child Care
Through the Wisconsin Shares program, low-income families in Wisconsin can benefit from high-quality, subsidized child care programs. Parents can visit the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families for more information and how to apply.

Wyoming

Monthly Child Care Costs in Wyoming
The average child care center in Wyoming charges around $750 per month for routine child care and $887 per month for infant care. Infant care in the state is more expensive than rent and more than double the cost of in-state college tuition. 

Monthly Child Care Affordability in Wyoming
The median household income in Wyoming earned just over $5,100 per month in 2018 and would have spent nearly 15% of their total income on child care services. Wyoming’s minimum wage of $5.15 per hour is even lower than the federal minimum. A minimum wage worker here earns just $891 per month and would have to spend all of it to cover child care costs for a single child. 

More Information on Wyoming Child Care
The Wyoming Department of Family Services administers child care licenses in the state and helps connect parents with child care assistance programs to help cover the cost of quality child care.

Child Care Providers Can Provide More Affordable Child Care

The need has never been greater for high quality, affordable daycare in the United States. When families can access child care services for a lower percentage of their household income, parents have more flexibility to participate in the workforce and may even choose to have more children.

Child care providers can leverage Procare Solutions to cut costs and increase profit margins while delivering even more value to parents. Here’s how:

Manage Child Care Payments with Tuition Express

Our Tuition Express software provides a seamless daycare billing experience by processing tuition payments. Child care centers can use Tuition Express to accept and process payments from credit cards, debit cards, EFT and other sources. Parents benefit from diverse payment options and a convenient mobile payment portal for secure online payments. 

Streamline Financial Management with Procare Select

Procare Select takes the stress and paperwork out of managing every aspect of your child care center, helping you save time and reduce costs while improving the accuracy and completeness of your data. Child care centers with Procare Select can streamline classroom management, track check-ins, simplify fee calculations, monitor payment accounts by family, manage billing and payroll, and automate financial reporting. As a result, child care centers spend less time on administration and can pass those cost savings on to parents.

Manage Daily Activities with Procare Connect 

Procare Connect takes the manual work out of child care management activities so child care providers can focus on providing the best educational and enriching experiences for kids. Providers can use Procare Connect to track attendance, organize meals and food programs, plan learning experiences, engage with parents and manage assessments in accordance with state guidelines.

Efficient child care management with Procare helps child care centers spend less time on paperwork and more time caring for kids and building a strong future in their communities.

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Procare provides comprehensive child care management software with the power to help you take control at every point of your business.

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