Childcare Worker Salary in Seattle, WA
Childcare Workers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $43,710 a year — 25% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,301 take-home, or $3,108 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median childcare worker salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,065
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,710
- Medicare (1.45%)$634
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$37,301
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Childcare Worker pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,080 | $17.35 | $31,170 | $2,598 |
| 25th percentile | $39,260 | $18.88 | $33,725 | $2,810 |
| Median (50th) | $43,710 | $21.01 | $37,301 | $3,108 |
| 75th percentile | $45,460 | $21.86 | $38,707 | $3,226 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,810 | $25.87 | $45,416 | $3,785 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,710 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median childcare worker's $37,301 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,564 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 Seattle, WA than nationally (location quotient 0.36), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for childcare workers, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #3 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 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make in Seattle, WA?
The median childcare worker salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $43,710 a year, or about $21.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,260 and $45,460.
What is a childcare worker’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $43,710 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $37,301 a year ($3,108 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a childcare worker?
Pay here is 25% above the national median of $34,980. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,564 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #3 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a childcare worker afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 65% of a median childcare worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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