BLS wage data · May 2025 Service O*NET-SOC 39-9011 Tax year 2026

Childcare Worker after tax: what $34,980 becomes in every state

Childcare workers play a vital role in early childhood development, managing daily routines and safety for young children. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national annual median wage for this profession is $34,980. It is important to remember that this figure represents the middle of the actual earnings distribution, not a starting salary. Prospective workers should consider that individual income levels fluctuate based on experience, facility type, and regional labor demand across the country.

Childcare Worker take-home at $34,980 — strongest and weakest states

Same gross wage everywhere: $34,980 a year. The four states keeping the most and the four keeping the least, ranked by take-home. Rent is the Zillow ZORI metro average for that state and is clearly labelled as a rent figure, not a tax.

State	State tax	Federal	FICA	Take-home / year	Take-home / month	Rent / month	Left after rent
Alaska no state income tax	$0	$2,018	$2,676	$30,286	$2,524	—	—
Florida no state income tax	$0	$2,018	$2,676	$30,286	$2,524	$2,076	$5,374
Nevada no state income tax	$0	$2,018	$2,676	$30,286	$2,524	$1,742	$9,382
New Hampshire no state income tax	$0	$2,018	$2,676	$30,286	$2,524	—	—
South Carolina flat 6.00%	$2,099	$2,018	$2,676	$28,187	$2,349	$1,569	$9,359
Vermont planning estimate	$2,099	$2,018	$2,676	$28,187	$2,349	—	—
District of Columbia planning estimate	$2,274	$2,018	$2,676	$28,012	$2,334	$2,433	$-1,184
Oregon planning estimate	$2,449	$2,018	$2,676	$27,837	$2,320	$1,818	$6,021

State income tax on wages is zero in Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming — those states share the same take-home on this wage and only differ in what the local rent does to it.

Best and worst states for Childcare Worker

Five states that keep the most of a $34,980 wage and five that keep the least. The full 51-state table follows.

All 51 states →

Highest take-home

State	State tax	Take-home	/ month
1. Alaska	$0	$30,286	$2,524
2. Florida	$0	$30,286	$2,524
3. Nevada	$0	$30,286	$2,524
4. New Hampshire	$0	$30,286	$2,524
5. South Dakota	$0	$30,286	$2,524

Lowest take-home

State	State tax	Take-home	/ month
1. Oregon	$2,449	$27,837	$2,320
2. District of Columbia	$2,274	$28,012	$2,334
3. Vermont	$2,099	$28,187	$2,349
4. South Carolina	$2,099	$28,187	$2,349
5. Minnesota	$2,099	$28,187	$2,349

The gap between Alaska and Oregon is $2,449 a year on an identical $34,980 wage.

Where Childcare Worker pay sits nationally

BLS percentile wages for this occupation, and what each level leaves after 2026 federal, FICA and state tax in the best and the worst state on the page (Alaska and Oregon).

Wage level (BLS national)	Gross / year	Take-home in Alaska	Take-home in Oregon	Difference
10th percentile 'BLS national'	$24,260	$21,588	$19,890	$1,698
25th percentile 'BLS national'	$29,360	$25,771	$23,716	$2,055
Median 'BLS national'	$34,980	$30,286	$27,837	$2,449
75th percentile 'BLS national'	$38,570	$33,171	$30,471	$2,700
90th percentile 'BLS national'	$46,010	$39,149	$35,928	$3,221

Percentile wages are published BLS OEWS values for Childcare Workers; the take-home columns are the same engine used by every AfterTaxLab calculator. About 518,910 people work in this occupation nationwide.

How the state line moves this wage

The same $34,980 under different state tax models

The total compensation for a childcare worker is subject to federal deductions that remain consistent regardless of the state. Every worker pays the same federal tax and FICA, which are $2,018 and $2,676 respectively. However, state tax policies introduce major differences in annual take-home pay. For instance, a childcare worker in Oregon faces a state tax of $2,449, which is the largest single state tax bill at this wage. By contrast, residents in states without an income tax retain more of their gross earnings, highlighting why state policy is a critical factor.

Living in a state with no income tax provides a distinct advantage for those in the childcare sector. Workers in states like Alaska, Florida, and Nevada do not pay state income tax, allowing them to maximize their take-home pay from the same $34,980 annual gross wage. This policy shift creates a notable spread between the best and worst states for net income, currently reaching a difference of $2,449 per year. When comparing offers, childcare professionals should prioritize states that lack individual income taxes to ensure a higher net paycheck.

All 51 states, ranked for Childcare Worker

Every state and DC, ranked by take-home on the same $34,980 gross wage. Rent is the ZORI metro average for the metros published in that state.

#	State	State tax	Take-home / year	Effective total tax	Rent / month
1	Alaska AK	$0	$30,286	13.4%	—
2	Florida FL	$0	$30,286	13.4%	$2,076
3	Nevada NV	$0	$30,286	13.4%	$1,742
4	New Hampshire NH	$0	$30,286	13.4%	—
5	South Dakota SD	$0	$30,286	13.4%	—
6	Tennessee TN	$0	$30,286	13.4%	$1,607
7	Texas TX	$0	$30,286	13.4%	$1,587
8	Washington WA	$0	$30,286	13.4%	$2,278
9	Wyoming WY	$0	$30,286	13.4%	—
10	California CA	$567	$29,719	15.0%	$2,861
11	Arizona AZ	$875	$29,411	15.9%	$1,603
12	North Dakota ND	$1,014	$29,272	16.3%	—
13	Louisiana LA	$1,049	$29,237	16.4%	$1,598
14	Ohio OH	$1,049	$29,237	16.4%	$1,499
15	Indiana IN	$1,067	$29,219	16.5%	$1,552
16	Pennsylvania PA	$1,074	$29,212	16.5%	$1,690
17	New York NY	$1,319	$28,967	17.2%	$2,200
18	Iowa IA	$1,329	$28,957	17.2%	—
19	Kentucky KY	$1,399	$28,887	17.4%	$1,348
20	Michigan MI	$1,487	$28,799	17.7%	$1,578
21	North Carolina NC	$1,487	$28,799	17.7%	$1,712
22	Arkansas AR	$1,539	$28,747	17.8%	—
23	Colorado CO	$1,539	$28,747	17.8%	$1,922
24	Delaware DE	$1,574	$28,712	17.9%	—
25	Kansas KS	$1,574	$28,712	17.9%	—
26	Virginia VA	$1,574	$28,712	17.9%	$1,810
27	Utah UT	$1,592	$28,694	18.0%	$1,641
28	Mississippi MS	$1,644	$28,642	18.1%	—
29	Oklahoma OK	$1,662	$28,624	18.2%	$1,385
30	Missouri MO	$1,679	$28,607	18.2%	$1,486
31	West Virginia WV	$1,686	$28,600	18.2%	—
32	New Mexico NM	$1,714	$28,572	18.3%	—
33	Illinois IL	$1,732	$28,554	18.4%	$2,210
34	Alabama AL	$1,749	$28,537	18.4%	$1,433
35	Connecticut CT	$1,749	$28,537	18.4%	$2,462
36	Maryland MD	$1,749	$28,537	18.4%	$1,948
37	Massachusetts MA	$1,749	$28,537	18.4%	$2,599
38	Rhode Island RI	$1,749	$28,537	18.4%	$2,167
39	Wisconsin WI	$1,749	$28,537	18.4%	$1,563
40	Georgia GA	$1,815	$28,471	18.6%	$1,853
41	Nebraska NE	$1,819	$28,467	18.6%	$1,413
42	Maine ME	$1,924	$28,362	18.9%	—
43	New Jersey NJ	$1,924	$28,362	18.9%	—
44	Idaho ID	$1,992	$28,294	19.1%	—
45	Montana MT	$2,064	$28,222	19.3%	—
46	Hawaii HI	$2,099	$28,187	19.4%	$3,020
47	Minnesota MN	$2,099	$28,187	19.4%	$1,719
48	South Carolina SC	$2,099	$28,187	19.4%	$1,569
49	Vermont VT	$2,099	$28,187	19.4%	—
50	District of Columbia DC	$2,274	$28,012	19.9%	$2,433
51	Oregon OR	$2,449	$27,837	20.4%	$1,818

The largest single state tax bill on this wage is in Oregon at $2,449; across the 51 states the average state tax is $1,341. Local city and county taxes, credits and itemised deductions are excluded from every figure.

What this means in practice for Childcare Worker

Understanding take-home pay requires looking beyond gross salary figures. While the median wage remains constant for calculation purposes, final take-home amounts vary significantly due to state-specific tax policies. This resource provides a breakdown of how different tax environments affect the net earnings of childcare staff. Please note that this information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Professionals should always review their specific local tax obligations when evaluating new job opportunities or relocation options.

In practice, a higher gross wage does not always guarantee more financial flexibility after accounting for regional costs. When looking at the reference states, rent plays a massive role in actual quality of life. For example, in the District of Columbia, after paying for a year of housing, a worker might find their budget extremely tight, leaving $-1,184 after a year of rent. Conversely, in regions like South Carolina, a worker might be left with $9,359 after a year of rent, demonstrating the importance of local housing markets.

A common mistake workers make is ignoring how rent interacts with tax savings when comparing job offers. One might focus solely on the lack of state income tax in a location like Nevada, yet fail to calculate how the ZORI metro-average rent affects their actual monthly cash flow. It is essential to calculate the residual income after housing costs rather than just looking at the take-home pay. Always verify local rental prices and tax liabilities before deciding to relocate for a position in the childcare field.

Childcare Worker pay after tax: common questions

Is the $34,980 wage a starting salary?

No, this figure is the national annual median wage. It represents the middle point of all earnings for childcare workers, meaning half of the professionals in this field earn more and half earn less.

Are federal taxes different in every state?

No, federal tax and FICA are identical in every state. For a childcare worker at this wage, those amounts are $2,018 and $2,676 respectively.

Do states with no income tax offer better pay?

States with no state income tax, such as Alaska, allow you to keep more of your gross wages. This results in a higher annual take-home pay compared to states that collect a percentage of your salary.

How does rent affect my salary comparison?

Rent is a major factor that can negate tax savings. A high-tax state might be more affordable if the local rent is low, like the $1,569/month seen in South Carolina.

Why is the take-home pay different in Oregon versus Alaska?

The difference is entirely due to state income tax. Alaska has no state tax, while Oregon charges $2,449 at this wage level, directly reducing your annual take-home pay.

What should I check before moving for a job?

Always verify the state income tax rate and the average local rent. These two factors determine how much of your paycheck remains for living expenses after your essential obligations are met.

Sources for this page

Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), national estimates, May 2025 — series OEUN000000000000039901113 (annual median) and OEUN000000000000039901104 (annual mean), retrieved 2026-09-21 via the BLS Public Data API v2 — https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm · Occupation titles: O*NET 29.0 Database — https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html · Take-home figures: AfterTaxLab 2026 engine (/assets/js/tax-2026.js), single filer, no pre-tax contributions · Rents: Zillow Research ZORI (Metro), kamuya açık araştırma dosyası (Aug 2026).

Estimates for planning only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, single filer, no pre-tax contributions, no city or county tax. Same engine as every AfterTaxLab calculator · methodology.

Childcare Worker after tax: what $34,980 becomes in every state

Childcare Worker take-home at $34,980 — strongest and weakest states

Best and worst states for Childcare Worker

Where Childcare Worker pay sits nationally

The same $34,980 under different state tax models

All 51 states, ranked for Childcare Worker

What this means in practice for Childcare Worker

Childcare Worker pay after tax: common questions

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