Share of median preschool worker earnings required to pay for center-based child care
| State | Annual median wage | Annual infant care cost | Infant care as a share of annual median wage | Annual 4-year-old care cost | 4-year-old care as a share of annual median wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $25,700 | $5,664 | 22.0% | $5,993 | 23.3% |
| Alaska | $35,260 | $10,497 | 29.8% | $8,458 | 24.0% |
| Arizona | $22,570 | $9,359 | 41.5% | $7,489 | 33.2% |
| Arkansas | $26,440 | $6,058 | 22.9% | $5,048 | 19.1% |
| California | $31,190 | $11,873 | 38.1% | $8,270 | 26.5% |
| Colorado | $28,740 | $13,420 | 46.7% | $10,079 | 35.1% |
| Connecticut | $30,500 | $13,520 | 44.3% | $11,238 | 36.8% |
| Delaware | $23,280 | $9,249 | 39.7% | $7,360 | 31.6% |
| Washington D.C. | $34,070 | $22,411 | 65.8% | $17,669 | 51.9% |
| Florida | $23,580 | $8,553 | 36.3% | $6,787 | 28.8% |
| Georgia | $28,920 | $7,173 | 24.8% | $6,072 | 21.0% |
| Hawaii | $30,920 | $11,996 | 38.8% | $9,003 | 29.1% |
| Idaho | $22,590 | $6,620 | 29.3% | $6,514 | 28.8% |
| Illinois | $27,380 | $12,833 | 46.9% | $9,496 | 34.7% |
| Indiana | $24,030 | $8,456 | 35.2% | $6,584 | 27.4% |
| Iowa | $24,100 | $9,379 | 38.9% | $8,071 | 33.5% |
| Kansas | $26,590 | $11,014 | 41.4% | $7,776 | 29.2% |
| Kentucky | $36,960 | $6,325 | 17.1% | $6,097 | 16.5% |
| Louisiana | $34,390 | $5,774 | 16.8% | $4,985 | 14.5% |
| Maine | $27,750 | $9,557 | 34.4% | $8,495 | 30.6% |
| Maryland | $28,330 | $14,190 | 50.1% | $9,690 | 34.2% |
| Massachusetts | $32,430 | $16,898 | 52.1% | $12,580 | 38.8% |
| Michigan | $27,520 | $9,929 | 36.1% | $8,124 | 29.5% |
| Minnesota | $32,770 | $14,288 | 43.6% | $11,040 | 33.7% |
| Mississippi | $23,400 | $5,612 | 24.0% | $4,901 | 20.9% |
| Missouri | $23,640 | $8,920 | 37.7% | $6,202 | 26.2% |
| Montana | $24,640 | $9,045 | 36.7% | $7,970 | 32.3% |
| Nebraska | $28,330 | $9,292 | 32.8% | $7,964 | 28.1% |
| Nevada | $22,850 | $10,308 | 45.1% | $8,381 | 36.7% |
| New Hampshire | $26,980 | $12,152 | 45.0% | $9,826 | 36.4% |
| New Jersey | $32,400 | $11,777 | 36.3% | $9,747 | 30.1% |
| New Mexico | $26,070 | $7,682 | 29.5% | $7,013 | 26.9% |
| New York | $34,000 | $14,814 | 43.6% | $12,539 | 36.9% |
| North Carolina | $24,160 | $9,299 | 38.5% | $7,628 | 31.6% |
| North Dakota | $29,930 | $8,037 | 26.9% | $7,298 | 24.4% |
| Ohio | $23,420 | $7,935 | 33.9% | $6,624 | 28.3% |
| Oklahoma | $29,400 | $7,904 | 26.9% | $5,882 | 20.0% |
| Oregon | $26,370 | $11,312 | 42.9% | $8,797 | 33.4% |
| Pennsylvania | $24,810 | $10,691 | 43.1% | $8,911 | 35.9% |
| Rhode Island | $29,980 | $12,929 | 43.1% | $10,619 | 35.4% |
| South Carolina | $21,910 | $6,506 | 29.7% | $5,499 | 25.1% |
| South Dakota | $28,680 | $5,688 | 19.8% | $5,431 | 18.9% |
| Tennessee | $23,770 | $5,980 | 25.2% | $4,610 | 19.4% |
| Texas | $31,800 | $8,801 | 27.7% | $6,783 | 21.3% |
| Utah | $22,300 | $8,222 | 36.9% | $6,237 | 28.0% |
| Vermont | $28,670 | $10,316 | 36.0% | $10,280 | 35.9% |
| Virginia | $31,780 | $10,239 | 32.2% | $7,858 | 24.7% |
| Washington | $27,420 | $12,592 | 45.9% | $9,502 | 34.7% |
| West Virginia | $26,950 | $7,964 | 29.6% | $6,902 | 25.6% |
| Wisconsin | $23,530 | $11,581 | 49.2% | $9,498 | 40.4% |
| Wyoming | $26,200 | $9,428 | 36.0% | $8,081 | 30.8% |
Source: EPI analysis of EPI Family Budget Calculator (Gould, Cooke, and Kimball 2015) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics (OES)