Childcare Worker Salary in San Diego, CA
Childcare Workers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $39,800 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,061 take-home, or $2,755 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median childcare worker salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,596
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,468
- Medicare (1.45%)$577
- California income tax$581
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$517
- Take-home pay$33,061
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Childcare Worker pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,400 | $17.02 | $29,758 | $2,480 |
| 25th percentile | $37,500 | $18.03 | $31,334 | $2,611 |
| Median (50th) | $39,800 | $19.13 | $33,061 | $2,755 |
| 75th percentile | $45,480 | $21.87 | $37,323 | $3,110 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,670 | $24.36 | $41,145 | $3,429 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,800 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median childcare worker's $33,061 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,548 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 San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for childcare workers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #59 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 |
| 59 | San Diego, CA | $39,800 | $33,061 | $29,548 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $45,720
- Modesto, CA — $41,920
- Santa Rosa, CA — $41,260
- San Francisco, CA — $44,540
- Stockton, CA — $40,010
- Riverside, CA — $40,210
- Visalia, CA — $37,190
- Salinas, CA — $39,520
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make in San Diego, CA?
The median childcare worker salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $39,800 a year, or about $19.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,500 and $45,480.
What is a childcare worker’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $39,800 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $33,061 a year ($2,755 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,099 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a childcare worker?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $34,980. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,548 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #59 of 171 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a childcare worker afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 89% of a median childcare worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Gambling Services Workers — $75,930
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $56,420
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services — $51,910
- First-Line Supervisor of Personal Service Workers — $49,570
- Residential Advisor — $43,810
- Concierge — $42,430
- Tour and Travel Guide — $40,450
- Recreation Worker — $40,380
- Baggage Porter and Bellhop — $38,150
- Animal Caretaker — $37,870
- Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other — $37,840
- Skincare Specialist — $37,640