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
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 #101 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 |
| 101 | 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 171 metros →
Childcare Worker salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Youngstown, OH — $30,520
- Cleveland, OH — $30,460
- Akron, OH — $30,140
- Toledo, OH — $29,000
- Cincinnati, OH — $30,150
- Dayton, OH — $29,140
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 #101 of 171 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
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services — $50,040
- First-Line Supervisor of Personal Service Workers — $42,050
- Residential Advisor — $41,930
- Manicurist and Pedicurist — $37,670
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $37,410
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $36,260
- Recreation Worker — $33,690
- Animal Caretaker — $30,920
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers — $28,350
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $27,540