Average Child Care / Day Care Worker Hourly Pay - Payscale

United StatesJobChild Care / Day Care WorkerAverage Child Care / Day Care Worker Hourly PayPayJob DetailsSkillsJob ListingsEmployersHow should I pay?Price a JobWhat am I worth?Find market worth$12.99/ hourAvg. Base Hourly Rate (USD)10%$9.63MEDIAN$12.9990%$18.33

The average hourly pay for a Child Care / Day Care Worker is $12.99 in 2026

Hourly Rate$10 - $18Bonus$96 - $4kTotal Pay$20k - $39kBased on 717 salary profiles (last updated Dec 17 2025)Is Average Child Care / Day Care Worker Hourly Pay your job title? Find out what you should be paidUse our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?Location:United States (change)Years in Field/Career:How it works:1Enter city & years of experience2Add pay factors like skills & education3Find your market worth with a report tailored to youEXPLORE BY:CityPhoenix, AZHouston, TXNew York, NYOmaha, NESeattle, WADallas, TXChicago, ILIndianapolis, INBirmingham, ALColumbus, OHSee All CitiesDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »ExperienceEntry LevelEarly CareerMid CareerExperiencedLate CareerDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »SkillActivities for ChildrenCleaningChildhood EducationOral / Verbal CommunicationCurriculum PlanningFood PreparationTeam LeadershipCardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)LeadershipCustomer ServiceSee All SkillsDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »EmployerYMCAKinderCare Learning Centers, Inc.Bright Horizons Family Solutions, IncLa Petite Academy, Inc.Self-EmployedThe Goddard School for Early Childhood DevelopmentPrimrose SchoolsChild Care, Inc.,Childcare Network, Inc.Childtime Learning CenterSee All EmployersDon't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »JobCashierOperations ManagerRetail Store ManagerCustomer Service Representative (CSR)NannyAdministrative AssistantSales AssociateOffice ManagerCertified Nurse Assistant (CNA)Preschool Teacher, (but not Special Education)Don't see what you are looking for?Get A Free Custom Salary Report »

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What is the Pay by Experience Level for Child Care / Day Care Workers?

Entry Level▼10%Early Career▼5%Mid Career▲6%Late Career▲16%Experienced▲15%

An entry-level Child Care / Day Care Worker with less than 1 year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of $11.68 based on 74 salaries. An early career Child Care / Day Care Worker with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $12.37 based on …Read more

What Do Child Care / Day Care Workers Do?

A child care or day care worker is primarily responsible for watching children as they play and ensuring their safety. For each child under their care, they must make note of what activities the child engaged in on that particular day, what they ate and any other applicable information, such as when the child’s diaper was changed or what time the child received medication.

Often, a child care or day care worker helps the children under their care with life skills. They instruct the little ones …Read more

Find your market worth – how it works:Enter your job title:

How do Child Care / Day Care Workers Rate Their Jobs?

3.5 out of 5(30)Highly Satisfied37ReviewsBased on 30 responses, the job of Child Care / Day Care Worker has received a job satisfaction rating of 3.54 out of 5. On average, Child Care / Day Care Workers are highly satisfied with their job. See all reviews

Common Health Benefits for a Child Care / Day Care Worker

Medical21%Dental16%Vision14%None77%

Gender Breakdown for Child Care / Day Care Workers

Female96.6%Male1.3%Prefer to self-define1.3%This data is based on 149 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.

FAQs About Child Care / Day Care Workers

What is the highest pay for Child Care / Day Care Workers?

Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Child Care / Day Care Worker is $18.33 / hour

What is the lowest pay for Child Care / Day Care Workers?

Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Child Care / Day Care Worker is $9.63 / hour

How can Child Care / Day Care Workers increase their salary?

Increasing your pay as a Child Care / Day Care Worker is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Child Care / Day Care Worker that oversees more junior Child Care / Day Care Workers, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.

WHAT AM I WORTH?What your skills are worth in the job market is constantly changing.Job Title:Location:United States (change)