The high cost of child care in every state

With rising prices for housing and goods, a larger number of single-parent households and increased female participation in the workforce, the number of young families with stay-at-home parents is far below that of previous generations. Unlike in decades past, today, 73 percent of families with children under 18 must rely on some form of child care. In these families, either both parents are in the labor force, or in the case of single-parent families, the one parent is in the labor force.

The importance of quality child care cannot be overstated. Researchers at Harvard have found that the human brain undergoes its most rapid development within the first few years of a child’s life. Over time, the brain loses much of its ability to adapt to new challenges and create new neural connections associated with learning, which means that early childhood care and education can have lasting impacts.

Consistent with these findings, other studies have shown that individuals who receive high-quality child care experience higher levels of academic achievement, increased income potential, and overall improved socioeconomic and health outcomes in adulthood.

Despite the benefits, the unfortunate reality is that families across the country lack access to affordable child care options. According to Child Care Aware, the average annual cost of center-based infant care in the U.S. is $11,959. This amount accounts for more than 12 percent of the median married-couple family income—well above the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) recommendation that child care should cost no more than 7 percent of household income.

A map of the U.S. showing the scattered costs of annual childcare, from 5 to 25 thousand dollars

According to Haven Life’s analysis of Child Care Aware, U.S. Census and U.S. Department of Labor data, single parents (especially single moms) and minimum wage earners are hit even harder. The average annual cost of center-based infant care accounts for 28.1 percent of the median income for single-fathers, 42.9 percent for single moms, and 79 percent for minimum wage earners. Furthermore, as a generation, millennials in most states struggle to pay for child care, and the high cost of raising children is a reason many report not having kids.

Four color-coded maps of the U.S. showing the percentage of income childcare costs for a two-parent family, a minimum wage earner, a single father, and a single mother

Despite a strong need for reform, some states offer better opportunities for affordable child care than others. To help parents better plan for their future, Haven Life compiled data on child care cost by state and how it compares to various income thresholds.

Based on the 7 percent HHS recommendation, child care is only considered affordable for the typical married-couple family in two states (Mississippi and Alabama), in no states for single parents, and also in no states for minimum wage earners. Southern states such as Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina and Louisiana tend to have the lowest child care costs, while coastal states such as Massachusetts, New York, and California have the highest. Below is the full list of child care costs by state.

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Alabama

Annual cost of child care: $5,858
As a share of married-couple family income: 6.9 percent of $84,734
As a share of single-father income: 15.8 percent of $37,067
As a share of single-mother income: 27.6 percent of $21,201
As a share of minimum wage income: 38.7 percent of $15,131

Alaska

Annual cost of child care: $11,832
As a share of married-couple family income: 11.8 percent of $100,499
As a share of single-father income: 22.1 percent of $53,554
As a share of single-mother income: 33.6 percent of $35,232
As a share of minimum wage income: 57.3 percent of $20,640

Arizona

Annual cost of child care: $10,687
As a share of married-couple family income: 12.5 percent of $85,782
As a share of single-father income: 26.1 percent of $40,952
As a share of single-mother income: 36.4 percent of $29,359
As a share of minimum wage income: 46.6 percent of $22,957

Arkansas

Annual cost of child care: $6,726
As a share of married-couple family income: 8.9 percent of $75,914
As a share of single-father income: 18.7 percent of $36,002
As a share of single-mother income: 27.1 percent of $24,804
As a share of minimum wage income: 34.8 percent of $19,305

California

Annual cost of child care: $16,542
As a share of married-couple family income: 16.4 percent of $101,026
As a share of single-father income: 34.7 percent of $47,637
As a share of single-mother income: 52.4 percent of $31,567
As a share of minimum wage income: 72.1 percent of $22,957

Colorado

Annual cost of child care: $14,960
As a share of married-couple family income: 14.7 percent of $101,844
As a share of single-father income: 27.1 percent of $55,273
As a share of single-mother income: 42.8 percent of $34,937
As a share of minimum wage income: 64.6 percent of $23,166

Connecticut

Annual cost of child care: $15,132
As a share of married-couple family income: 12.4 percent of $122,525
As a share of single-father income: 29.4 percent of $51,455
As a share of single-mother income: 46.1 percent of $32,837
As a share of minimum wage income: 71.8 percent of $21,079

Delaware

Annual cost of child care: $10,759
As a share of married-couple family income: 10.9 percent of $98,600
As a share of single-father income: 24.6 percent of $43,812
As a share of single-mother income: 34.6 percent of $31,075
As a share of minimum wage income: 58.9 percent of $18,261

Florida

Annual cost of child care: $9,018
As a share of married-couple family income: 11.0 percent of $82,041
As a share of single-father income: 22.3 percent of $40,370
As a share of single-mother income: 32.4 percent of $27,874
As a share of minimum wage income: 51.1 percent of $17,656

Georgia

Annual cost of child care: $8,327
As a share of married-couple family income: 9.2 percent of $90,104
As a share of single-father income: 20.3 percent of $41,006
As a share of single-mother income: 30.3 percent of $27,467
As a share of minimum wage income: 55.0 percent of $15,131

Hawaii

Annual cost of child care: $13,404
As a share of married-couple family income: 12.9 percent of $103,541
As a share of single-father income: 23.6 percent of $56,772
As a share of single-mother income: 37.3 percent of $35,901
As a share of minimum wage income: 63.6 percent of $21,079

Idaho

Annual cost of child care: $7,296
As a share of married-couple family income: 9.7 percent of $75,263
As a share of single-father income: 20.2 percent of $36,034
As a share of single-mother income: 28.1 percent of $25,962
As a share of minimum wage income: 48.2 percent of $15,131

Illinois

Annual cost of child care: $13,474
As a share of married-couple family income: 13.3 percent of $100,936
As a share of single-father income: 32.2 percent of $41,843
As a share of single-mother income: 47.6 percent of $28,327
As a share of minimum wage income: 78.3 percent of $17,218

Indiana

Annual cost of child care: $12,312
As a share of married-couple family income: 13.8 percent of $89,198
As a share of single-father income: 28.8 percent of $42,814
As a share of single-mother income: 48.0 percent of $25,639
As a share of minimum wage income: 81.4 percent of $15,131

Iowa

Annual cost of child care: $10,131
As a share of married-couple family income: 10.7 percent of $94,591
As a share of single-father income: 23.4 percent of $43,368
As a share of single-mother income: 35.0 percent of $28,924
As a share of minimum wage income: 67.0 percent of $15,131

Kansas

Annual cost of child care: $10,955
As a share of married-couple family income: 12.4 percent of $88,524
As a share of single-father income: 24.2 percent of $45,309
As a share of single-mother income: 40.7 percent of $26,926
As a share of minimum wage income: 72.4 percent of $15,131

Kentucky

Annual cost of child care: $6,258
As a share of married-couple family income: 7.5 percent of $83,847
As a share of single-father income: 16.7 percent of $37,434
As a share of single-mother income: 27.2 percent of $22,994
As a share of minimum wage income: 41.4 percent of $15,131

Louisiana

Annual cost of child care: $7,540
As a share of married-couple family income: 8.2 percent of $91,725
As a share of single-father income: 18.6 percent of $40,511
As a share of single-mother income: 36.0 percent of $20,951
As a share of minimum wage income: 49.8 percent of $15,131

Maine

Annual cost of child care: $9,224
As a share of married-couple family income: 10.0 percent of $92,172
As a share of single-father income: 22.8 percent of $40,392
As a share of single-mother income: 30.9 percent of $29,838
As a share of minimum wage income: 40.2 percent of $22,957

Maryland

Annual cost of child care: $14,970
As a share of married-couple family income: 11.9 percent of $125,988
As a share of single-father income: 28.6 percent of $52,355
As a share of single-mother income: 38.5 percent of $38,867
As a share of minimum wage income: 71.0 percent of $21,079

Massachusetts

Annual cost of child care: $20,415
As a share of married-couple family income: 15.1 percent of $134,915
As a share of single-father income: 38.1 percent of $53,555
As a share of single-mother income: 64.9 percent of $31,463
As a share of minimum wage income: 81.5 percent of $25,044

Michigan

Annual cost of child care: $10,603
As a share of married-couple family income: 11.4 percent of $92,792
As a share of single-father income: 27.9 percent of $37,979
As a share of single-mother income: 40.3 percent of $26,283
As a share of minimum wage income: 54.9 percent of $19,305

Minnesota

Annual cost of child care: $15,704
As a share of married-couple family income: 14.1 percent of $111,045
As a share of single-father income: 31.0 percent of $50,615
As a share of single-mother income: 44.7 percent of $35,128
As a share of minimum wage income: 76.3 percent of $20,578

Mississippi

Annual cost of child care: $5,307
As a share of married-couple family income: 6.8 percent of $77,740
As a share of single-father income: 14.9 percent of $35,518
As a share of single-mother income: 25.5 percent of $20,818
As a share of minimum wage income: 35.1 percent of $15,131

Missouri

Annual cost of child care: $9,802
As a share of married-couple family income: 11.0 percent of $89,229
As a share of single-father income: 25.3 percent of $38,671
As a share of single-mother income: 36.8 percent of $26,672
As a share of minimum wage income: 54.6 percent of $17,948

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Annual cost of child care: $12,272
As a share of married-couple family income: 13.4 percent of $91,646
As a share of single-father income: 28.1 percent of $43,701
As a share of single-mother income: 45.6 percent of $26,926
As a share of minimum wage income: 65.3 percent of $18,783

Nevada

Annual cost of child care: $11,137
As a share of married-couple family income: 13.1 percent of $85,235
As a share of single-father income: 23.3 percent of $47,772
As a share of single-mother income: 35.3 percent of $31,570
As a share of minimum wage income: 64.7 percent of $17,218

New Hampshire

Annual cost of child care: $12,487
As a share of married-couple family income: 10.5 percent of $118,603
As a share of single-father income: 22.8 percent of $54,778
As a share of single-mother income: 39.5 percent of $31,584
As a share of minimum wage income: 82.5 percent of $15,131

New Jersey

Annual cost of child care: $12,679
As a share of married-couple family income: 9.9 percent of $127,504
As a share of single-father income: 25.0 percent of $50,752
As a share of single-mother income: 38.8 percent of $32,707
As a share of minimum wage income: 68.6 percent of $18,470

New Mexico

Annual cost of child care: $8,412
As a share of married-couple family income: 10.5 percent of $80,057
As a share of single-father income: 25.9 percent of $32,460
As a share of single-mother income: 34.5 percent of $24,361
As a share of minimum wage income: 53.7 percent of $15,653

New York

Annual cost of child care: $15,028
As a share of married-couple family income: 14.3 percent of $105,088
As a share of single-father income: 35.4 percent of $42,440
As a share of single-mother income: 51.7 percent of $29,059
As a share of minimum wage income: 64.9 percent of $23,166

North Carolina

Annual cost of child care: $9,254
As a share of married-couple family income: 10.4 percent of $88,784
As a share of single-father income: 25.0 percent of $36,978
As a share of single-mother income: 34.7 percent of $26,692
As a share of minimum wage income: 61.2 percent of $15,131

North Dakota

Annual cost of child care: $8,875
As a share of married-couple family income: 8.8 percent of $101,039
As a share of single-father income: 18.7 percent of $47,496
As a share of single-mother income: 32.3 percent of $27,470
As a share of minimum wage income: 58.7 percent of $15,131

Ohio

Annual cost of child care: $9,466
As a share of married-couple family income: 10.0 percent of $95,134
As a share of single-father income: 23.0 percent of $41,090
As a share of single-mother income: 37.9 percent of $24,968
As a share of minimum wage income: 53.0 percent of $17,844

Oklahoma

Annual cost of child care: $8,372
As a share of married-couple family income: 10.7 percent of $78,578
As a share of single-father income: 24.7 percent of $33,957
As a share of single-mother income: 33.4 percent of $25,050
As a share of minimum wage income: 55.3 percent of $15,131

Oregon

Annual cost of child care: $13,292
As a share of married-couple family income: 14.6 percent of $90,941
As a share of single-father income: 33.5 percent of $39,713
As a share of single-mother income: 46.4 percent of $28,664
As a share of minimum wage income: 59.2 percent of $22,435

Pennsylvania

Annual cost of child care: $11,560
As a share of married-couple family income: 11.4 percent of $101,115
As a share of single-father income: 25.4 percent of $45,543
As a share of single-mother income: 41.6 percent of $27,788
As a share of minimum wage income: 76.4 percent of $15,131

Rhode Island

Annual cost of child care: $13,370
As a share of married-couple family income: 13.0 percent of $103,063
As a share of single-father income: 30.1 percent of $44,357
As a share of single-mother income: 48.3 percent of $27,699
As a share of minimum wage income: 61.0 percent of $21,914

South Carolina

Annual cost of child care: $6,840
As a share of married-couple family income: 7.9 percent of $86,299
As a share of single-father income: 19.0 percent of $35,937
As a share of single-mother income: 27.9 percent of $24,544
As a share of minimum wage income: 45.2 percent of $15,131

Tennessee

Annual cost of child care: $8,524
As a share of married-couple family income: 10.3 percent of $82,906
As a share of single-father income: 23.2 percent of $36,683
As a share of single-mother income: 34.4 percent of $24,751
As a share of minimum wage income: 56.3 percent of $15,131

Texas

Annual cost of child care: $9,102
As a share of married-couple family income: 10.3 percent of $88,529
As a share of single-father income: 21.9 percent of $41,504
As a share of single-mother income: 33.3 percent of $27,344
As a share of minimum wage income: 60.2 percent of $15,131

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Annual cost of child care: $9,708
As a share of married-couple family income: 10.9 percent of $89,392
As a share of single-father income: 17.3 percent of $56,138
As a share of single-mother income: 30.6 percent of $31,689
As a share of minimum wage income: 64.2 percent of $15,131

Vermont

Annual cost of child care: $12,507
As a share of married-couple family income: 14.0 percent of $89,058
As a share of single-father income: 31.6 percent of $39,607
As a share of single-mother income: 43.9 percent of $28,477
As a share of minimum wage income: 55.6 percent of $22,498

Virginia

Annual cost of child care: $13,728
As a share of married-couple family income: 12.4 percent of $110,720
As a share of single-father income: 28.0 percent of $49,079
As a share of single-mother income: 43.5 percent of $31,570
As a share of minimum wage income: 90.7 percent of $15,131

Washington

Annual cost of child care: $14,208
As a share of married-couple family income: 13.7 percent of $103,520
As a share of single-father income: 27.9 percent of $51,010
As a share of single-mother income: 45.8 percent of $30,991
As a share of minimum wage income: 56.7 percent of $25,044

West Virginia

Annual cost of child care: $8,528
As a share of married-couple family income: 11.0 percent of $77,244
As a share of single-father income: 25.1 percent of $33,968
As a share of single-mother income: 49.5 percent of $17,215
As a share of minimum wage income: 46.7 percent of $18,261

Wisconsin

Annual cost of child care: $12,268
As a share of married-couple family income: 12.2 percent of $100,160
As a share of single-father income: 27.4 percent of $44,693
As a share of single-mother income: 42.2 percent of $29,080
As a share of minimum wage income: 81.1 percent of $15,131

Wyoming

Annual cost of child care: $10,394
As a share of married-couple family income: 11.7 percent of $88,781
As a share of single-father income: 17.6 percent of $59,141
As a share of single-mother income: 33.3 percent of $31,201
As a share of minimum wage income: 68.7 percent of $15,131

District of Columbia

Annual cost of child care: $23,666
As a share of married-couple family income: 12.6 percent of $187,764
As a share of single-father income: 43.9 percent of $53,924
As a share of single-mother income: 100.6 percent of $23,528
As a share of minimum wage income: 85.6 percent of $27,653

Methodology

The annual cost of child care used in this analysis is from the Child Care Aware 2018 Report: The U.S. and the High Cost of Child Care. For each state, this analysis considered the annual cost of infant care at a child care center. Child Care Aware does not report this data for Montana or South Dakota.

Data on median family income, median single-father income, and median single-mother income comes from the U.S. Census Bureau 2017 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. Income data is for family households with children under 18.

Minimum wage data is from the U.S. Department of Labor, effective Jan. 1, 2019. The federal minimum wage was assigned to states without state-specific minimum wages. To calculate the annual income of a single minimum wage earner, the hourly wage was multiplied by 2,087 hours per year, which is the standard used by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Haven Life Insurance Agency LLC (Haven Life) conducted this research for educational/informational purposes only. Haven Life is an online life insurance agency offering term life insurance issued by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Haven Life does not provide tax, legal, investment, or housing/real estate advice, and the information in the study should not be relied on as such. You should consult your own tax, legal, investment, and other advisors, as appropriate, before engaging in any transaction.

High child care costs put strain on American families in every state