Childcare Worker Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Childcare Workers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $34,520 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,857 take-home, or $2,405 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median childcare worker salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,962
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,140
- Medicare (1.45%)$501
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,060
- Take-home pay$28,857
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Childcare Worker pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,550 | $13.73 | $24,243 | $2,020 |
| 25th percentile | $32,220 | $15.49 | $27,080 | $2,257 |
| Median (50th) | $34,520 | $16.60 | $28,857 | $2,405 |
| 75th percentile | $36,920 | $17.75 | $30,712 | $2,559 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,350 | $19.40 | $33,362 | $2,780 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,520 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median childcare worker's $28,857 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,138 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 about as common in Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for childcare workers, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #27 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 |
| 27 | Philadelphia, PA | $34,520 | $28,857 | $28,138 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 46 metros →
Childcare Worker salaries elsewhere in Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $29,840
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median childcare worker salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $34,520 a year, or about $16.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,220 and $36,920.
What is a childcare worker’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $34,520 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $28,857 a year ($2,405 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,060 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a childcare worker?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $34,980. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,138 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #27 of 46 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a childcare worker afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 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 Philadelphia, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Personal Service Workers — $51,560
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $48,040
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $37,320
- Recreation Worker — $35,710
- Animal Caretaker — $34,970
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $32,220
- Manicurist and Pedicurist — $31,200