Childcare Worker Salary in New York, NY
Childcare Workers in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $37,870 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,161 take-home, or $2,597 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median childcare worker salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,364
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,348
- Medicare (1.45%)$549
- New York income tax$1,448
- Take-home pay$31,161
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $1,044 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $30,116 ($2,510 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. 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 New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,360 | $16.52 | $28,530 | $2,377 |
| 25th percentile | $35,930 | $17.27 | $29,707 | $2,476 |
| Median (50th) | $37,870 | $18.21 | $31,161 | $2,597 |
| 75th percentile | $43,720 | $21.02 | $35,545 | $2,962 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,970 | $22.58 | $37,981 | $3,165 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,870 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median childcare worker's $31,161 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,683 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
New York, NY has 1.5× the national concentration of childcare worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for childcare workers, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #29 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 |
| 29 | New York, NY | $37,870 | $31,161 | $27,683 |
*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 New York
- Albany, NY — $36,170
- Rochester, NY — $35,090
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make in New York, NY?
The median childcare worker salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $37,870 a year, or about $18.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,930 and $43,720.
What is a childcare worker’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $37,870 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $31,161 a year ($2,597 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,448 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a childcare worker?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $34,980. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,683 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #29 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a childcare worker afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 92% of a median childcare worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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