Childcare Worker Salary in Houston, TX
Childcare Workers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $29,530 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,907 take-home, or $2,159 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median childcare worker salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,364
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,831
- Medicare (1.45%)$428
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$25,907
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Childcare Worker pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,490 | $10.81 | $20,131 | $1,678 |
| 25th percentile | $23,380 | $11.24 | $20,863 | $1,739 |
| Median (50th) | $29,530 | $14.20 | $25,907 | $2,159 |
| 75th percentile | $35,370 | $17.00 | $30,600 | $2,550 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,950 | $18.73 | $33,476 | $2,790 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,530 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median childcare worker's $25,907 take-home pay has the buying power of $26,267 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 Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for childcare workers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #140 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 |
| 140 | Houston, TX | $29,530 | $25,907 | $26,267 |
*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 Texas
- San Antonio, TX — $29,440
- Dallas, TX — $31,110
- Corpus Christi, TX — $27,210
- Lubbock, TX — $26,650
- Austin, TX — $28,470
- Killeen, TX — $25,960
- McAllen, TX — $22,310
- El Paso, TX — $23,410
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make in Houston, TX?
The median childcare worker salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $29,530 a year, or about $14.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,380 and $35,370.
What is a childcare worker’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $29,530 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $25,907 a year ($2,159 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a childcare worker?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $34,980. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $26,267 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #140 of 171 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a childcare worker afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 61% of a median childcare worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Skincare Specialist — $48,250
- First-Line Supervisor of Personal Service Workers — $46,350
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services — $45,410
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $44,890
- Residential Advisor — $36,510
- Tour and Travel Guide — $35,990
- Manicurist and Pedicurist — $35,080
- Concierge — $34,750
- Funeral Attendant — $33,270
- Recreation Worker — $31,200
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $31,080
- Animal Caretaker — $30,930