Almanac Book of Facts
Child Care Costs by State
Child Care Costs By State 2026
Child Care Costs by State
| Rank | State | Annual Child Care Cost for Infant 2025 | Annual Child Care Cost for 4 year old 2025 | Annual Median Income for Family 2025 | Share of Annual Family Income 2025 | Share of Minium Wage Workers 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $28,356 | $22,714 | $240,194 | 11.80% | 77.90% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $26,709 | $17,939 | $147,606 | 18.10% | 85.60% |
| 3 | Minnesota | $22,569 | $17,882 | $120,097 | 18.80% | 97.50% |
| 4 | California | $21,945 | $13,020 | $119,071 | 18.40% | 63.90% |
| 5 | Colorado | $21,840 | $15,992 | $122,150 | 17.90% | 70.90% |
| 6 | Hawaii | $21,167 | $15,224 | $105,726 | 20% | 72.70% |
| 7 | Alaska | $20,943 | $16,768 | $107,779 | 19.40% | 84.50% |
| 8 | Washington | $20,677 | $14,413 | $118,044 | 17.50% | 59.70% |
| 9 | Connecticut | $20,254 | $16,493 | $124,716 | 16.20% | 59.60% |
| 10 | Oregon | $19,064 | $13,717 | $104,700 | 18.20% | 62.40% |
| 11 | Maryland | $18,946 | $13,355 | $121,329 | 15.60% | 60.70% |
| 12 | Vermont | $18,836 | $18,366 | $110,859 | 17% | 64.60% |
| 13 | New Jersey | $18,155 | $17,534 | $139,703 | 13% | 56.30% |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $17,364 | $14,437 | $129,335 | 13.40% | 115% |
| 15 | New York | $17,361 | $14,988 | $111,885 | 15.50% | 53.80% |
| 16 | Ohio | $17,071 | $13,426 | $96,488 | 17.70% | 76.70% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $16,956 | $14,974 | $105,726 | 16% | 112% |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $16,758 | $14,193 | $106,753 | 15.70% | 53.70% |
| 19 | Delaware | $16,220 | $12,168 | $103,160 | 15.70% | 52% |
| 20 | Illinois | $16,107 | $10,947 | $112,912 | 14.30% | 51.60% |
| 21 | Nevada | $15,950 | $13,268 | $87,250 | 18.30% | 63.90% |
| 22 | Arizona | $15,625 | $12,152 | $94,435 | 16.50% | 51.10% |
| 23 | Indiana | $14,471 | $9,925 | $90,329 | 16% | 96% |
| 24 | Virginia | $14,277 | $10,807 | $108,806 | 13.10% | 55.30% |
| 25 | New Mexico | $14,244 | $9,993 | $67,747 | 21% | 57.10% |
| 26 | Nebraska | $14,106 | $11,863 | $98,439 | 14.30% | 50.20% |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $13,354 | $11,798 | $100,594 | 13.30% | 88.60% |
| 28 | Maine | $13,310 | $11,227 | $97,515 | 13.60% | 43.70% |
| 29 | Missouri | $13,173 | $10,332 | $90,329 | 14.60% | 46.10% |
| 30 | Utah | $13,094 | $9,725 | $102,647 | 12.80% | 86.80% |
| 31 | Florida | $13,021 | $1,085 | $92,382 | 14.10% | 48.20% |
| 32 | Montana | $12,778 | $11,418 | $92,382 | 13.80% | 58.20% |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $12,468 | $10,790 | $80,886 | 15.40% | 82.70% |
| 34 | North Dakota | $12,373 | $10,474 | $113,528 | 10.90% | 82% |
| 35 | Tennessee | $12,249 | $8,469 | $82,836 | 14.80% | 81.20% |
| 36 | Georgia | $11,863 | $10,359 | $91,356 | 13% | 78.70% |
| 37 | North Carolina | $11,720 | $7,744 | $91,356 | 12.80% | 77.70% |
| 38 | South Carolina | $11,512 | $10,481 | $84,171 | 13.70% | 76.30% |
| 39 | Texas | $10,706 | $9,664 | $92,382 | 11.60% | 71% |
| 40 | Michigan | $10,023 | $9,007 | $91,725 | 10.90% | 45.60% |
| 41 | West Virginia | $9,692 | $9,540 | $71,853 | 13.50% | 53.30% |
| 42 | Idaho | $9,630 | $8,117 | $85,197 | 11.30% | 63.90% |
| 43 | Iowa | $9,605 | $8,276 | $94,435 | 10.20% | 63.70% |
| 44 | Wyoming | $9,327 | $9,006 | $84,171 | 11.10% | 61.80% |
| 45 | Kansas | $9,105 | $7,963 | $90,329 | 10.10% | 60.40% |
| 46 | Arkansas | $8,873 | $7,670 | $76,985 | 11.50% | 38.80% |
| 46 | Louisiana | $8,873 | $8,153 | $84,171 | 10.50% | 58.80% |
| 48 | Kentucky | $8,756 | $7,778 | $76,985 | 11.40% | 58.10% |
| 49 | South Dakota | $8,680 | $7,893 | $92,382 | 9.40% | 36.30% |
| 50 | Alabama | $7,871 | $7,268 | $80,065 | 9.80% | 52.20% |
| 51 | Mississippi | $6,868 | $6,251 | $68,774 | 10% | 45.50% |
Child care costs in the United States – Economic Policy Institute
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