Introduction
In the past few years, child-care costs have risen to a nearly unaffordable level for most Americans, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Officially, affordable child care should cost 7% or less of a family’s annual household income. In reality, however, no state in the U.S. is currently able to provide such a rate for childcare costs, with some states having these costs exceed the gap between the subsidy rate afforded by the state by $400 a month.
President Joe Biden, in his Build Back Better plan, reiterated that America is committed to making child-rearing cost affordable, allocating the largest investment budget for child care in history. However, the high-level efforts to assuage working parents’ concerns about raising kids haven’t rendered a noticeable outcome as a majority of parents in 2022 are yet paying more child-care costs than they did in the previous years, and many still cannot afford to send their infant or toddler to child care.
States across the country have also taken steps to lower the cost through various measures such as granting more child care tax credits to financially struggling parents. But many families are still faced with expenses for daycare far above what they can afford, and need for one of the parents to stay at home and take care of the kids to lower childcare costs. Unsurprisingly, this predominantly affects women, as mothers are still usually the ones staying at home full-time in such situations, as a Pew Research Center study has shown.
Learn for yourself how states compare to one another in terms of child-care costs by surveying the data in the charts.
| # | State | Child Care Costs | Infant care costs as a share of median family income | Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 41.8% | 24.9% | 62.7% |
| 2 | New York | 39.8% | 22.1% | 62.7% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 39.1% | 22.7% | 78.9% |
| 4 | Indiana | 38.7% | 22% | 83.6% |
| 5 | Oregon | 38.5% | 22.2% | 54.6% |
| 6 | Colorado | 37.9% | 21% | 61.4% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 37.4% | 21.2% | 77.3% |
| 8 | Nebraska | 36.6% | 19.2% | 67.2% |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 36.4% | 20.5% | 62.7% |
| 10 | Nevada | 35.9% | 20% | 60.9% |
| 11 | Washington | 35.5% | 20.2% | 51.8% |
| 12 | Arizona | 35.2% | 19.8% | 43.9% |
| 13 | Illinois | 35.2% | 20.1% | 66.4% |
| 14 | Vermont | 35.1% | 18.3% | 56.2% |
| 15 | Michigan | 34.6% | 19% | 54.1% |
| 16 | New Mexico | 34.4% | 18.3% | 46% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 33.6% | 18.5% | 83.3% |
| 18 | Connecticut | 33.3% | 18.3% | 73.8% |
| 19 | North Carolina | 33% | 17.8% | 62.9% |
| 20 | Kansas | 32.3% | 18.1% | 74.4% |
| 21 | Virginia | 32.2% | 18.2% | 93.3% |
| 22 | West Virginia | 32% | 17.1% | 48% |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | 31.9% | 17.5% | 78.5% |
| 24 | Alaska | 31% | 16.9% | 57.2% |
| 25 | Tennessee | 31% | 16.7% | 57.9% |
| 26 | Montana | 30.9% | 16.5% | 52.9% |
| 27 | Florida | 30.7% | 17.2% | 51.9% |
| 28 | Ohio | 30.7% | 16.9% | 53.6% |
| 29 | Maryland | 29.4% | 17.6% | 67% |
| 30 | Missouri | 29.2% | 17.2% | 51.1% |
| 31 | Delaware | 28.9% | 16% | 60.6% |
| 32 | Georgia | 28.7% | 15.5% | 56.6% |
| 33 | Oklahoma | 28.7% | 16.2% | 56.9% |
| 34 | Maine | 28.3% | 15.1% | 37.9% |
| 35 | Iowa | 28% | 15.3% | 68.8% |
| 36 | New Hampshire | 27.7% | 15.3% | 84.8% |
| 37 | Louisiana | 27.6% | 14.6% | 51.2% |
| 38 | Texas | 27.6% | 15.7% | 61.8% |
| 39 | Wyoming | 27.4% | 14.9% | 70.6% |
| 40 | New Jersey | 26.8% | 14.6% | 56.8% |
| 41 | Hawaii | 26.4% | 16% | 65.4% |
| 42 | Arkansas | 26.2% | 14.6% | 33.1% |
| 43 | South Carolina | 25% | 13.5% | 46.5% |
| 44 | Idaho | 24.8% | 13.3% | 49.6% |
| 45 | Utah | 24.7% | 14% | 65.9% |
| 46 | North Dakota | 24% | 12.6% | 60.3% |
| 47 | Kentucky | 23.8% | 11.9% | 42.5% |
| 48 | Alabama | 22.2% | 11.9% | 39.8% |
| 49 | Mississippi | 21.9% | 11.7% | 36.1% |
| 50 | South Dakota | 20.2% | 10.2% | 33.7% |
Child Care Costs by State
Alabama
Child Care Costs
22.2%
Ranked in the US
#48
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
11.9%
Ranked in the US
#3
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
39.8%
Ranked in the US
#5
Alaska
Child Care Costs
31%
Ranked in the US
#24
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
16.9%
Ranked in the US
#23
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
57.2%
Ranked in the US
#24
Arizona
Child Care Costs
35.2%
Ranked in the US
#12
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
19.8%
Ranked in the US
#39
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
43.9%
Ranked in the US
#7
Arkansas
Child Care Costs
26.2%
Ranked in the US
#42
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
14.6%
Ranked in the US
#9
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
33.1%
Ranked in the US
#1
California
Child Care Costs
41.8%
Ranked in the US
#1
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
24.9%
Ranked in the US
#50
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
62.7%
Ranked in the US
#31
Colorado
Child Care Costs
37.9%
Ranked in the US
#6
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
21%
Ranked in the US
#44
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
61.4%
Ranked in the US
#29
Connecticut
Child Care Costs
33.3%
Ranked in the US
#18
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
18.3%
Ranked in the US
#33
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
73.8%
Ranked in the US
#42
Delaware
Child Care Costs
28.9%
Ranked in the US
#31
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
16%
Ranked in the US
#18
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
60.6%
Ranked in the US
#27
Florida
Child Care Costs
30.7%
Ranked in the US
#27
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
17.2%
Ranked in the US
#26
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
51.9%
Ranked in the US
#15
Georgia
Child Care Costs
28.7%
Ranked in the US
#32
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
15.5%
Ranked in the US
#16
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
56.6%
Ranked in the US
#21
Hawaii
Child Care Costs
26.4%
Ranked in the US
#41
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
16%
Ranked in the US
#19
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
65.4%
Ranked in the US
#35
Idaho
Child Care Costs
24.8%
Ranked in the US
#44
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
13.3%
Ranked in the US
#6
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
49.6%
Ranked in the US
#11
Illinois
Child Care Costs
35.2%
Ranked in the US
#13
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
20.1%
Ranked in the US
#41
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
66.4%
Ranked in the US
#37
Indiana
Child Care Costs
38.7%
Ranked in the US
#4
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
22%
Ranked in the US
#46
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
83.6%
Ranked in the US
#48
Iowa
Child Care Costs
28%
Ranked in the US
#35
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
15.3%
Ranked in the US
#14
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
68.8%
Ranked in the US
#40
Kansas
Child Care Costs
32.3%
Ranked in the US
#20
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
18.1%
Ranked in the US
#31
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
74.4%
Ranked in the US
#43
Kentucky
Child Care Costs
23.8%
Ranked in the US
#47
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
11.9%
Ranked in the US
#4
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
42.5%
Ranked in the US
#6
Louisiana
Child Care Costs
27.6%
Ranked in the US
#37
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
14.6%
Ranked in the US
#10
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
51.2%
Ranked in the US
#13
Maine
Child Care Costs
28.3%
Ranked in the US
#34
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
15.1%
Ranked in the US
#13
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
37.9%
Ranked in the US
#4
Maryland
Child Care Costs
29.4%
Ranked in the US
#29
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
17.6%
Ranked in the US
#29
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
67%
Ranked in the US
#38
Massachusetts
Child Care Costs
39.1%
Ranked in the US
#3
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
22.7%
Ranked in the US
#49
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
78.9%
Ranked in the US
#46
Michigan
Child Care Costs
34.6%
Ranked in the US
#15
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
19%
Ranked in the US
#37
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
54.1%
Ranked in the US
#18
Minnesota
Child Care Costs
37.4%
Ranked in the US
#7
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
21.2%
Ranked in the US
#45
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
77.3%
Ranked in the US
#44
Mississippi
Child Care Costs
21.9%
Ranked in the US
#49
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
11.7%
Ranked in the US
#2
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
36.1%
Ranked in the US
#3
Missouri
Child Care Costs
29.2%
Ranked in the US
#30
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
17.2%
Ranked in the US
#27
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
51.1%
Ranked in the US
#12
Montana
Child Care Costs
30.9%
Ranked in the US
#26
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
16.5%
Ranked in the US
#21
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
52.9%
Ranked in the US
#16
Nebraska
Child Care Costs
36.6%
Ranked in the US
#8
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
19.2%
Ranked in the US
#38
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
67.2%
Ranked in the US
#39
Nevada
Child Care Costs
35.9%
Ranked in the US
#10
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
20%
Ranked in the US
#40
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
60.9%
Ranked in the US
#28
New Hampshire
Child Care Costs
27.7%
Ranked in the US
#36
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
15.3%
Ranked in the US
#15
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
84.8%
Ranked in the US
#49
New Jersey
Child Care Costs
26.8%
Ranked in the US
#40
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
14.6%
Ranked in the US
#11
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
56.8%
Ranked in the US
#22
New Mexico
Child Care Costs
34.4%
Ranked in the US
#16
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
18.3%
Ranked in the US
#34
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
46%
Ranked in the US
#8
New York
Child Care Costs
39.8%
Ranked in the US
#2
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
22.1%
Ranked in the US
#47
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
62.7%
Ranked in the US
#32
North Carolina
Child Care Costs
33%
Ranked in the US
#19
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
17.8%
Ranked in the US
#30
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
62.9%
Ranked in the US
#34
North Dakota
Child Care Costs
24%
Ranked in the US
#46
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
12.6%
Ranked in the US
#5
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
60.3%
Ranked in the US
#26
Ohio
Child Care Costs
30.7%
Ranked in the US
#28
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
16.9%
Ranked in the US
#24
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
53.6%
Ranked in the US
#17
Oklahoma
Child Care Costs
28.7%
Ranked in the US
#33
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
16.2%
Ranked in the US
#20
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
56.9%
Ranked in the US
#23
Oregon
Child Care Costs
38.5%
Ranked in the US
#5
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
22.2%
Ranked in the US
#48
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
54.6%
Ranked in the US
#19
Pennsylvania
Child Care Costs
31.9%
Ranked in the US
#23
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
17.5%
Ranked in the US
#28
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
78.5%
Ranked in the US
#45
Rhode Island
Child Care Costs
36.4%
Ranked in the US
#9
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
20.5%
Ranked in the US
#43
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
62.7%
Ranked in the US
#33
South Carolina
Child Care Costs
25%
Ranked in the US
#43
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
13.5%
Ranked in the US
#7
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
46.5%
Ranked in the US
#9
South Dakota
Child Care Costs
20.2%
Ranked in the US
#50
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
10.2%
Ranked in the US
#1
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
33.7%
Ranked in the US
#2
Tennessee
Child Care Costs
31%
Ranked in the US
#25
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
16.7%
Ranked in the US
#22
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
57.9%
Ranked in the US
#25
Texas
Child Care Costs
27.6%
Ranked in the US
#38
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
15.7%
Ranked in the US
#17
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
61.8%
Ranked in the US
#30
Utah
Child Care Costs
24.7%
Ranked in the US
#45
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
14%
Ranked in the US
#8
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
65.9%
Ranked in the US
#36
Vermont
Child Care Costs
35.1%
Ranked in the US
#14
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
18.3%
Ranked in the US
#35
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
56.2%
Ranked in the US
#20
Virginia
Child Care Costs
32.2%
Ranked in the US
#21
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
18.2%
Ranked in the US
#32
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
93.3%
Ranked in the US
#50
Washington
Child Care Costs
35.5%
Ranked in the US
#11
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
20.2%
Ranked in the US
#42
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
51.8%
Ranked in the US
#14
West Virginia
Child Care Costs
32%
Ranked in the US
#22
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
17.1%
Ranked in the US
#25
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
48%
Ranked in the US
#10
Wisconsin
Child Care Costs
33.6%
Ranked in the US
#17
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
18.5%
Ranked in the US
#36
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
83.3%
Ranked in the US
#47
Wyoming
Child Care Costs
27.4%
Ranked in the US
#39
Infant care costs as a share of median family income
14.9%
Ranked in the US
#12
Infant care costs as a share of minimum wage earnings
70.6%
Ranked in the US
#41
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