Childcare Worker Salary in Columbus, OH
Childcare Workers in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $30,280 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,460 take-home, or $2,205 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median childcare worker salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,454
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,877
- Medicare (1.45%)$439
- Ohio income tax$50
- Take-home pay$26,460
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Columbus? City residents also pay Columbus’s city income tax — about $757 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $25,703 ($2,142 a month). Choose “Columbus” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Childcare Worker pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,070 | $12.53 | $23,079 | $1,923 |
| 25th percentile | $29,060 | $13.97 | $25,513 | $2,126 |
| Median (50th) | $30,280 | $14.56 | $26,460 | $2,205 |
| 75th percentile | $38,420 | $18.47 | $32,776 | $2,731 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,080 | $21.19 | $37,168 | $3,097 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,280 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median childcare worker's $26,460 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,715 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 Columbus, OH than nationally (location quotient 0.70), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for childcare workers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #28 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 |
| 28 | Columbus, OH | $30,280 | $26,460 | $27,715 |
*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
- Cincinnati, OH — $30,150
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make in Columbus, OH?
The median childcare worker salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $30,280 a year, or about $14.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,060 and $38,420.
What is a childcare worker’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $30,280 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $26,460 a year ($2,205 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $50 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a childcare worker?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $34,980. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,715 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #28 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a childcare worker afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 for two bedrooms) — 53% of a median childcare worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $36,260
- Recreation Worker — $33,690