Childcare Worker Salary in Salt Lake City, UT
Childcare Workers in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area earn a median $33,790 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,776 take-home, or $2,398 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median childcare worker salary in Salt Lake City, UT. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,875
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,095
- Medicare (1.45%)$490
- Utah income tax$555
- Take-home pay$28,776
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.50% state
Childcare Worker pay by experience in Salt Lake City, UT
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,500 | $11.30 | $20,871 | $1,739 |
| 25th percentile | $29,650 | $14.25 | $25,636 | $2,136 |
| Median (50th) | $33,790 | $16.25 | $28,776 | $2,398 |
| 75th percentile | $36,280 | $17.44 | $30,664 | $2,555 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,310 | $22.26 | $38,272 | $3,189 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Utah resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,790 buys in Salt Lake City, UT
Prices in Salt Lake City, UT are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.23× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median childcare worker's $28,776 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,528 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 Salt Lake City, UT than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for childcare workers, adjusted for cost of living
Salt Lake City, UT ranks #84 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 |
| 84 | Salt Lake City, UT | $33,790 | $28,776 | $28,528 |
*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 Utah
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make in Salt Lake City, UT?
The median childcare worker salary in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT metro area is $33,790 a year, or about $16.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,650 and $36,280.
What is a childcare worker’s take-home pay in Salt Lake City, UT?
On the median $33,790 salary, a single filer living in Utah takes home about $28,776 a year ($2,398 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $555 in Utah taxes in 2026.
Is Salt Lake City, UT a good place to work as a childcare worker?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $34,980. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,528 would in a typical U.S. city. Salt Lake City, UT ranks #84 of 171 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a childcare worker afford rent in Salt Lake City, UT?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Salt Lake City, UT is $1,426 a month ($1,717 for two bedrooms) — 59% of a median childcare worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Salt Lake City, UT
- Skincare Specialist — $47,730
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services — $47,670
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $45,520
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $40,720
- Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other — $37,470
- Tour and Travel Guide — $37,140
- Animal Caretaker — $34,800
- Recreation Worker — $32,940
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers — $31,670
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $29,590
- Manicurist and Pedicurist — $29,490