Childcare Worker Salary in Seattle, WA
Childcare Workers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $43,710 a year — 25% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,301 take-home, or $3,108 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median childcare worker salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,065
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,710
- Medicare (1.45%)$634
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$37,301
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Childcare Worker pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,080 | $17.35 | $31,170 | $2,598 |
| 25th percentile | $39,260 | $18.88 | $33,725 | $2,810 |
| Median (50th) | $43,710 | $21.01 | $37,301 | $3,108 |
| 75th percentile | $45,460 | $21.86 | $38,707 | $3,226 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,810 | $25.87 | $45,416 | $3,785 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,710 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median childcare worker's $37,301 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,564 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 Seattle, WA than nationally (location quotient 0.36), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for childcare workers, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #5 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 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 171 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make in Seattle, WA?
The median childcare worker salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $43,710 a year, or about $21.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,260 and $45,460.
What is a childcare worker’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $43,710 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $37,301 a year ($3,108 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a childcare worker?
Pay here is 25% above the national median of $34,980. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,564 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #5 of 171 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a childcare worker afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 65% of a median childcare worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- First-Line Supervisor of Gambling Services Workers — $80,920
- Skincare Specialist — $80,510
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services — $68,020
- Tour and Travel Guide — $63,630
- First-Line Supervisor of Personal Service Workers — $63,560
- Gambling Dealer — $60,490
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $59,810
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $56,380
- Residential Advisor — $54,310
- Manicurist and Pedicurist — $50,800
- Concierge — $47,830
- Recreation Worker — $45,990