Childcare Worker Salary in Cincinnati, OH
Childcare Workers in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area earn a median $30,150 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,359 take-home, or $2,197 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median childcare worker salary in Cincinnati, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,438
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,869
- Medicare (1.45%)$437
- Ohio income tax$47
- Take-home pay$26,359
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Cincinnati? City residents also pay Cincinnati’s city income tax — about $543 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $25,816 ($2,151 a month). Choose “Cincinnati” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro spans Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Childcare Worker pay by experience in Cincinnati, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,090 | $11.58 | $21,448 | $1,787 |
| 25th percentile | $27,570 | $13.25 | $24,314 | $2,026 |
| Median (50th) | $30,150 | $14.50 | $26,359 | $2,197 |
| 75th percentile | $35,830 | $17.23 | $30,766 | $2,564 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $39,790 | $19.13 | $33,839 | $2,820 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,150 buys in Cincinnati, OH
Prices in Cincinnati, OH are 4.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median childcare worker's $26,359 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,638 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Childcare Worker jobs are less concentrated in Cincinnati, OH than nationally (location quotient 0.65), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for childcare workers, adjusted for cost of living
Cincinnati, OH ranks #31 of 46 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver, CO | $44,320 | $36,549 | $34,552 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $45,720 | $37,504 | $33,964 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $43,710 | $37,301 | $33,564 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $44,540 | $36,618 | $31,673 |
| 5 | Riverside, CA | $40,210 | $33,368 | $31,349 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $41,590 | $33,738 | $31,162 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $34,450 | $29,861 | $30,996 |
| 8 | Providence, RI | $37,230 | $31,315 | $30,770 |
| 31 | Cincinnati, OH | $30,150 | $26,359 | $27,638 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 46 metros →
About the job: childcare workers
Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -2.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Childcare Worker salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Cleveland, OH — $30,460
- Columbus, OH — $30,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make in Cincinnati, OH?
The median childcare worker salary in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area is $30,150 a year, or about $14.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,570 and $35,830.
What is a childcare worker’s take-home pay in Cincinnati, OH?
On the median $30,150 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $26,359 a year ($2,197 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $47 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cincinnati, OH a good place to work as a childcare worker?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $34,980. Local prices are 4.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,638 would in a typical U.S. city. Cincinnati, OH ranks #31 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a childcare worker afford rent in Cincinnati, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cincinnati, OH is $1,043 a month ($1,342 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median childcare worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cincinnati, OH
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- Recreation Worker — $29,880
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $27,650