Childcare Worker Salary in Wilmington, NC
Childcare Workers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median $29,040 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,864 take-home, or $2,072 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median childcare worker salary in Wilmington, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,305
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,800
- Medicare (1.45%)$421
- North Carolina income tax$650
- Take-home pay$24,864
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Childcare Worker pay by experience in Wilmington, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,060 | $10.61 | $19,405 | $1,617 |
| 25th percentile | $26,360 | $12.67 | $22,774 | $1,898 |
| Median (50th) | $29,040 | $13.96 | $24,864 | $2,072 |
| 75th percentile | $35,300 | $16.97 | $29,644 | $2,470 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,870 | $18.69 | $32,370 | $2,697 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,040 buys in Wilmington, NC
Prices in Wilmington, NC are 3.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 7% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median childcare worker's $24,864 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,786 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 Wilmington, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for childcare workers, adjusted for cost of living
Wilmington, NC ranks #147 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 |
| 147 | Wilmington, NC | $29,040 | $24,864 | $25,786 |
*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 North Carolina
- Asheville, NC — $32,150
- Winston, NC — $30,060
- Durham, NC — $30,970
- Greensboro, NC — $29,240
- Charlotte, NC — $30,390
- Raleigh, NC — $28,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker make in Wilmington, NC?
The median childcare worker salary in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $29,040 a year, or about $13.96 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,360 and $35,300.
What is a childcare worker’s take-home pay in Wilmington, NC?
On the median $29,040 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $24,864 a year ($2,072 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $650 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Wilmington, NC a good place to work as a childcare worker?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $34,980. Local prices are 3.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,786 would in a typical U.S. city. Wilmington, NC ranks #147 of 171 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a childcare worker afford rent in Wilmington, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Wilmington, NC is $1,380 a month ($1,512 for two bedrooms) — 67% of a median childcare worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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