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District of Columbia
$19,214
Massachusetts
$16,781
Washington
$13,404
New Jersey
$13,367
Connecticut
$13,052
Minnesota
$12,954
New York
$12,844
Vermont
$12,835
California
$12,168
Hawaii
$12,040
Colorado
$11,911
Rhode Island
$11,700
Illinois
$11,605
Nebraska
$11,440
New Hampshire
$11,114
Maryland
$11,106
Michigan
$11,086
Alaska
$10,746
Wisconsin
$10,536
Virginia
$10,451
Pennsylvania
$10,150
South Carolina
$9,932
Maine
$9,891
Indiana
$9,589
Delaware
$9,579
North Carolina
$9,350
Montana
$9,334
Iowa
$9,322
Nevada
$9,275
Texas
$9,147
New Mexico
$8,766
Tennessee
$8,759
Oregon
$8,749
Kansas
$8,742
Arizona
$8,719
North Dakota
$8,624
West Virginia
$8,320
Idaho
$8,317
Ohio
$8,303
Utah
$8,268
Wyoming
$8,236
Louisiana
$7,800
Georgia
$7,630
Oklahoma
$7,520
Alabama
$7,280
Florida
$7,186
Missouri
$7,062
Kentucky
$6,841
South Dakota
$6,677
Arkansas
$6,575
Mississippi
$5,439

Child Care Costs by State 2024

Child Care Costs by State 2024

Child care in the United States can be a shocking financial burden. The high cost of child care and the low teacher wages and concerns of care quality are often confusing to parents. Infant and toddler care are significantly more expensive than care for children of preschool age.

The average cost of providing center-based care for an infant in the U.S. is $1,230 per month. The federal definition of affordable child care costs 7% or less of annual household income. The cost of center-based infant or toddler child care does not meet this definition in any state. Child care subsidies only cover the average cost of care for an infant in Hawaii, Indiana, and South Dakota. In half of all states, the gap between the subsidy rate and the cost of care exceeds $400 per month.

Many families who make the median income in their states cannot afford to send their infant or toddler to child care. In some states, child care costs can take up to 18% of their family’s income.

State
Annual Cost Per Child
District of Columbia$19,214
Massachusetts$16,781
Washington$13,404
New Jersey$13,367
Connecticut$13,052
Minnesota$12,954
New York$12,844
Vermont$12,835
California$12,168
Hawaii$12,040

In 28 U.S. states, the annual cost of child care exceeds the cost of college tuition. In Florida, for example, center-based infant care costs about $9,238 per year and public college tuition and fees cost about $4,455 per year. In Washington, D.C., infant care is $24,243 annual, more than four times the annual cost of college tuition.

One large reason that child care is so expensive is that it is a very involved, labor-driven industry. Washington D.C. has the most expensive child care of any state at $24,243 per year or $2,020 per month. The cost of infant child care every month in the District is about as much as rent for a one-bedroom apartment. Massachusetts has the second-most expensive childcare in the U.S., costing $20,913 annually.

Child Care Costs by State 2024

Notes:
- Child care costs shown are average annual costs in USD for care of a single four-year-old child at a child care center.

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State
Annual Cost Per Child
Single Parent Median Income
% Of Single-Parent Median Income
Married Couple Median Income
% of Married Couple Median Income
District of Columbia$19,214$30,69562.6%$197,3759.7%
Massachusetts$16,781$32,62151.4%$139,72612%
Washington$13,404$32,49741.2%$107,74912.4%
New Jersey$13,367$33,54139.9%$133,60910%
Connecticut$13,052$33,51538.9%$131,9959.9%
Minnesota$12,954$33,47438.7%$114,76511.3%
New York$12,844$30,79441.7%$110,28011.6%
Vermont$12,835$30,86641.6%$99,98512.8%
California$12,168$32,30437.7%$104,34211.7%
Hawaii$12,040$38,01831.7%$106,35211.3%
Colorado$11,911$35,01934%$106,65311.2%
Rhode Island$11,700$30,48238.4%$109,11010.7%
Illinois$11,605$29,49139.4%$107,17210.8%
Nebraska$11,440$29,17039.2%$96,21711.9%
New Hampshire$11,114$34,97631.8%$119,3139.3%
Maryland$11,106$41,71026.6%$131,5078.4%
Michigan$11,086$26,51541.8%$96,98311.4%
Alaska$10,746$36,69029.3%$105,85210.2%
Wisconsin$10,536$29,95635.2%$101,95110.3%
Virginia$10,451$32,92931.7%$115,4039.1%
Pennsylvania$10,150$29,01735%$105,0329.7%
South Carolina$9,932$25,46139%$89,00311.2%
Maine$9,891$30,13832.8%$94,78210.4%
Indiana$9,589$26,88135.7%$91,35910.5%
Delaware$9,579$31,23530.7%$106,3959%
North Carolina$9,350$26,40735.4%$91,32910.2%
Montana$9,334$25,86536.1%$89,29610.5%
Iowa$9,322$29,01832.1%$97,3649.6%
Nevada$9,275$31,64129.3%$85,87310.8%
Texas$9,147$28,45732.1%$92,5629.9%
New Mexico$8,766$24,29336.1%$78,80311.1%
Tennessee$8,759$25,85933.9%$86,18210.2%
Oregon$8,749$29,12430%$96,7459%
Kansas$8,742$27,96431.3%$92,6989.4%
Arizona$8,719$30,41628.7%$88,3529.9%
North Dakota$8,624$30,57928.2%$106,0208.1%
West Virginia$8,320$20,41440.8%$81,42810.2%
Idaho$8,317$25,77132.3%$80,96210.3%
Ohio$8,303$25,48732.6%$98,5748.4%
Utah$8,268$32,71625.3%$92,4958.9%
Wyoming$8,236$31,48626.2%$94,6008.7%
Louisiana$7,800$21,76435.8%$95,4868.2%
Georgia$7,630$27,53927.7%$93,2678.2%
Oklahoma$7,520$25,17829.9%$82,5039.1%
Alabama$7,280$22,30732.6%$87,7148.3%
Florida$7,186$29,62524.3%$86,2448.3%
Missouri$7,062$27,05526.1%$92,7117.6%
Kentucky$6,841$23,10429.6%$86,0597.9%
South Dakota$6,677$28,19523.7%$92,7447.2%
Arkansas$6,575$23,97727.4%$79,4278.3%
Mississippi$5,439$21,30425.5%$81,5526.7%
United States$9,994.82$29,285.1034.1%$101,056.869.84%
showing: 51 rows

Child Care Costs by State 2024

Sources