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Data · 2026 edition
Babysitting Rates by State 2026
How much do childcare workers earn in your state? This table shows the median hourly wage for childcare workers in all 50 states and Washington, DC, using the latest figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The national median is $16.82 an hour.
National median
$16.82
per hour, May 2025
Highest
$22.76
District of Columbia
Lowest
$10.60
Mississippi
21 of the 51 (50 states plus DC) are above the national median. The top state pays $12.16 an hour more than the lowest. Want a quote for a specific job? Try the babysitting rate calculator.
Sort:
| Rank | State | Median hourly | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $22.76 | +35.3% |
| 2 | Washington | $20.04 | +19.1% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $19.66 | +16.9% |
| 4 | Colorado | $19.59 | +16.5% |
| 5 | California | $19.24 | +14.4% |
| 6 | Oregon | $18.58 | +10.5% |
| 7 | Vermont | $18.29 | +8.7% |
| 8 | New York | $18.07 | +7.4% |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $17.83 | +6.0% |
| 10 | Hawaii | $17.80 | +5.8% |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $17.76 | +5.6% |
| 12 | Connecticut | $17.63 | +4.8% |
| 13 | New Jersey | $17.49 | +4.0% |
| 14 | Maine | $17.47 | +3.9% |
| 15 | Alaska | $17.40 | +3.4% |
| 16 | Maryland | $17.32 | +3.0% |
| 17 | Illinois | $17.23 | +2.4% |
| 18 | New Mexico | $17.23 | +2.4% |
| 19 | Minnesota | $17.08 | +1.5% |
| 20 | Montana | $16.89 | +0.4% |
| 21 | Arizona | $16.88 | +0.4% |
| 22 | Virginia | $16.51 | −1.8% |
| 23 | Florida | $16.45 | −2.2% |
| 24 | Delaware | $15.97 | −5.1% |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $15.61 | −7.2% |
| 26 | Utah | $15.21 | −9.6% |
| 27 | Michigan | $14.89 | −11.5% |
| 28 | Missouri | $14.80 | −12.0% |
| 29 | Nebraska | $14.78 | −12.1% |
| 30 | North Dakota | $14.56 | −13.4% |
| 31 | Indiana | $14.51 | −13.7% |
| 32 | Idaho | $14.50 | −13.8% |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $14.49 | −13.9% |
| 34 | Nevada | $14.30 | −15.0% |
| 35 | Ohio | $14.27 | −15.2% |
| 36 | South Carolina | $14.26 | −15.2% |
| 37 | Tennessee | $14.26 | −15.2% |
| 38 | Kansas | $14.06 | −16.4% |
| 39 | North Carolina | $14.01 | −16.7% |
| 40 | Kentucky | $13.90 | −17.4% |
| 41 | Texas | $13.73 | −18.4% |
| 42 | Arkansas | $13.68 | −18.7% |
| 43 | Iowa | $13.66 | −18.8% |
| 44 | Wyoming | $13.58 | −19.3% |
| 45 | Georgia | $13.47 | −19.9% |
| 46 | South Dakota | $13.43 | −20.2% |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $13.33 | −20.7% |
| 48 | West Virginia | $13.32 | −20.8% |
| 49 | Louisiana | $11.01 | −34.5% |
| 50 | Alabama | $10.92 | −35.1% |
| 51 | Mississippi | $10.60 | −37.0% |
Source and method
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, occupation 39-9011 Childcare Workers, all industries, hourly median wage. Pulled series by series from the BLS Public Data API (series IDs like OEUN000000000000039901108) on October 19, 2026. Rank and the difference from the national median are worked out from those figures; nothing else is added. OEWS excludes the self-employed.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the average babysitting rate by state in 2026?
The newest government figures (BLS OEWS, May 2025) put the national median hourly wage for childcare workers at $16.82. By state it ranges from $10.60 in Mississippi to $22.76 in District of Columbia.
Which state pays childcare workers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median at $22.76 an hour, followed by Washington ($20.04) and Massachusetts ($19.66).
Which state pays the least?
Mississippi has the lowest median at $10.60 an hour, followed by Alabama ($10.92) and Louisiana ($11.01).
Is this the same as what babysitters charge?
Not exactly. OEWS surveys employers, so it covers employed childcare workers and leaves out self-employed sitters. It is a solid, neutral reference point, not a price list.
Why does a 2026 page use May 2025 data?
BLS releases each OEWS reference year the following spring. The May 2025 estimates were the latest available when this page was built on October 19, 2026.