Childcare Workers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,940 or more. The middle half of childcare workers in Chicago earn between $33,770 and $38,220.
- $31K10th
- $34K25th
- $37KMedian
- $38K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,220 | $3,102 | $17.89 |
| Median | $36,610 | $3,051 | $17.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,770 | $2,814 | $16.24 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,220 | $3,185 | $18.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Childcare Workers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $37,220, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $30,385 a year, or $2,532 a month and $1,169 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $31,000 | $2,583 |
| Working in IL | $30,385 | $2,532 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for childcare workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $37,220 buys what about $35,928 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 9.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Childcare Workers salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$37,220
- Decatur$35,350
- Springfield$35,130
- Champaign$35,060
- Bloomington$34,430
- Rockford$34,280
- Peoria$34,030
- Kankakee$33,920
Highest-paying cities for childcare workers
Sarasota, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,680).
- Sarasota, FL$52,680
- San Jose, CA$48,450
- San Francisco, CA$46,100
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Boulder, CO$44,280
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Childcare Workers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do childcare workers make an hour in Chicago?
$17.89 an hour on average, and $17.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level childcare workers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the childcare workers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $30,385 a year ($2,532 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,220.
Do childcare workers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($35,505).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 39-9011; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.16, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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