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Childcare Workers Salary in California

What Childcare Workers earn in California, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 7 counties.

Average in CA
$40,593
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
2 of 15
published states
Workers in state
52,240
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
2
7 counties

Pay by labor market in California

Childcare Workers pay by wage area in California
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$44,540$37,123$32Alameda County, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$39,890$33,573−$4,863Los Angeles County, CA

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Childcare Workers in California counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Alameda County, CA$44,540$37,123$32
2Contra Costa County, CA$44,540$37,123$32
3Los Angeles County, CA$39,890$33,573−$4,863
4Orange County, CA$39,890$33,573−$7,359
5San Francisco County, CA$44,540$37,123−$8,524
6San Mateo County, CA$44,540$37,123−$8,524
7Marin County, CA$44,540$37,123−$8,524

Childcare Workers pay in California

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Childcare Workers in California is $40,593, based on 52,240 workers. Among the 15 states with published data, that ranks number 2. The BLS national median for the occupation is $34,980, so California averages 16.0% above it.

Inside California, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $44,540 in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area and the lowest is $39,890 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, a difference of $4,650 across 2 wage areas.

Cost of living for Childcare Workers in California

We compare 7 California counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Alameda County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin, $32. In Marin County, CA the basics cost $8,524 more than take-home pay. The median wage covers all four basics in 2 of the 7 counties.

Childcare Workers in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Childcare Workers are New Hampshire ($40,793), Massachusetts ($40,444), District of Columbia ($37,610) and New York ($37,305).

Frequently asked questions: Childcare Workers in California

How much do Childcare Workers earn in California?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $40,593, from $39,890 to $44,540 depending on the labor market.

Which California county is best for Childcare Workers?

Alameda County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($32). Contra Costa County, CA follows at $32.