Childcare Worker Salary in Baltimore, MD
Childcare Workers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $34,860 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,898 take-home, or $2,408 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median childcare worker salary in Baltimore, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,003
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,161
- Medicare (1.45%)$505
- Maryland income tax$1,292
- Take-home pay$28,898
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.75% state
Childcare Worker pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,260 | $15.03 | $26,176 | $2,181 |
| 25th percentile | $33,290 | $16.00 | $27,711 | $2,309 |
| Median (50th) | $34,860 | $16.76 | $28,898 | $2,408 |
| 75th percentile | $37,110 | $17.84 | $30,599 | $2,550 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,140 | $21.70 | $36,669 | $3,056 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,860 buys in Baltimore, MD
Prices in Baltimore, MD are 4.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median childcare worker's $28,898 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,657 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 Baltimore, MD than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for childcare workers, adjusted for cost of living
Baltimore, MD ranks #104 of 171 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Port, FL | $47,300 | $40,186 | $39,237 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $44,320 | $36,549 | $34,552 |
| 3 | Boulder, CO | $43,380 | $35,836 | $34,064 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $45,720 | $37,504 | $33,964 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $43,710 | $37,301 | $33,564 |
| 6 | Modesto, CA | $41,920 | $34,652 | $33,284 |
| 7 | St. Cloud, MN | $34,030 | $28,521 | $32,546 |
| 8 | Las Cruces, NM | $34,270 | $29,210 | $32,379 |
| 104 | Baltimore, MD | $34,860 | $28,898 | $27,657 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 171 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make in Baltimore, MD?
The median childcare worker salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $34,860 a year, or about $16.76 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,290 and $37,110.
What is a childcare worker’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $34,860 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $28,898 a year ($2,408 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,292 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a childcare worker?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $34,980. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,657 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #104 of 171 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a childcare worker afford rent in Baltimore, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baltimore, MD is $1,511 a month ($1,857 for two bedrooms) — 63% of a median childcare worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baltimore, MD
- Skincare Specialist — $58,930
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services — $50,810
- First-Line Supervisor of Personal Service Workers — $50,640
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $47,140
- Residential Advisor — $45,400
- Manicurist and Pedicurist — $37,590
- Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other — $37,430
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $36,370
- Recreation Worker — $35,780
- Animal Caretaker — $35,420
- Animal Trainer — $34,620
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers — $33,700