Childcare Worker Salary in Durham, NC
Childcare Workers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $30,970 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,337 take-home, or $2,195 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median childcare worker salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,536
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,920
- Medicare (1.45%)$449
- North Carolina income tax$727
- Take-home pay$26,337
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Childcare Worker pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,370 | $11.72 | $21,215 | $1,768 |
| 25th percentile | $28,300 | $13.61 | $24,295 | $2,025 |
| Median (50th) | $30,970 | $14.89 | $26,337 | $2,195 |
| 75th percentile | $37,080 | $17.83 | $31,003 | $2,584 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,870 | $20.13 | $34,661 | $2,888 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,970 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median childcare worker's $26,337 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,993 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 Durham, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.70), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for childcare workers, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #124 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 |
| 124 | Durham, NC | $30,970 | $26,337 | $26,993 |
*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 North Carolina
- Asheville, NC — $32,150
- Winston, NC — $30,060
- Greensboro, NC — $29,240
- Charlotte, NC — $30,390
- Wilmington, NC — $29,040
- Raleigh, NC — $28,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make in Durham, NC?
The median childcare worker salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $30,970 a year, or about $14.89 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,300 and $37,080.
What is a childcare worker’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $30,970 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $26,337 a year ($2,195 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $727 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a childcare worker?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $34,980. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,993 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #124 of 171 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a childcare worker afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 66% of a median childcare worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
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- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $48,060
- Animal Caretaker — $33,960
- Recreation Worker — $31,720
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $27,470