Childcare Worker Salary in St. Louis, MO
Childcare Workers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $33,320 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,324 take-home, or $2,360 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median childcare worker salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,818
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,066
- Medicare (1.45%)$483
- Missouri income tax$629
- Take-home pay$28,324
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $333 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $27,991 ($2,333 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. 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 St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,370 | $14.12 | $25,336 | $2,111 |
| 25th percentile | $30,360 | $14.60 | $26,085 | $2,174 |
| Median (50th) | $33,320 | $16.02 | $28,324 | $2,360 |
| 75th percentile | $36,670 | $17.63 | $30,858 | $2,572 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,230 | $20.78 | $35,821 | $2,985 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,320 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median childcare worker's $28,324 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,787 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
St. Louis, MO has 1.3× 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
St. Louis, MO ranks #12 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 |
| 12 | St. Louis, MO | $33,320 | $28,324 | $29,787 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $31,770
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make in St. Louis, MO?
The median childcare worker salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $33,320 a year, or about $16.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,360 and $36,670.
What is a childcare worker’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $33,320 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $28,324 a year ($2,360 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $629 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a childcare worker?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $34,980. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,787 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #12 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a childcare worker afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median childcare worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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