Childcare Workers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Childcare Workers in the United States earn a median salary of $34,980 per year — about $17 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 992K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of -3%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core responsibilities of this role—physical care, safety monitoring, hygiene, and emotional support—require a physical presence and human empathy that AI cannot replicate. While AI may assist with peripheral tasks like lesson planning, record-keeping, or parent communication, the fundamental nature of the work is hands-on and occurs in the physical world.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FLBEST VALUE | $47,300 | Above avg (104.2) | $45,384 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $39,640 | Below avg (91.9) | $43,155 |
| Boulder, CO | $43,380 | Average (100.6) | $43,115 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $42,300 | Average (99.3) | $42,593 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $44,320 | Above avg (105.8) | $41,903 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $38,410 | Below avg (93.5) | $41,074 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $43,480 | Above avg (106.5) | $40,831 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $45,720 | Above avg (113.1) | $40,439 |
| Decatur, IL | $34,740 | Below avg (86.7) | $40,087 |
| Farmington, NM | $34,820 | Below avg (87.0) | $40,014 |
| Modesto, CA | $41,920 | Above avg (105.1) | $39,876 |
| Billings, MT | $35,740 | Below avg (90.3) | $39,557 |
| Mankato, MN | $34,590 | Below avg (87.6) | $39,465 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $40,560 | Average (102.8) | $39,449 |
| Binghamton, NY | $35,890 | Below avg (92.1) | $38,973 |