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Salary comparison

Costume Attendants vs. Childcare Workers: Who Earns More?

Costume Attendants out-earn Childcare Workers by $15K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Costume Attendants land at $50,400 and Childcare Workers at $34,980. The education gap is real: costume attendant programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while childcare worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Costume Attendants is New York ($95,230); for Childcare Workers it's District of Columbia ($47,340).

Costume Attendants
Childcare Workers
Median salary
$50,400
$34,980
Hourly rate
$24.23/hr
$16.82/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$32,150
$24,260
Senior level (90th %)
$109,520
$46,010
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
6,510
518,910
Job growth (10-year)
5.9%
-2.9%
Category
Personal Care
Personal Care
Top-paying state
New York
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Costume Attendants median pay.

State
Costume Attendants
Childcare Workers
New York
$95,230
$37,590
California
$72,030
$40,020
Washington
$64,650
$41,680
Colorado
$57,960
$40,750
Hawaii
$57,660
$37,030
Massachusetts
$55,190
$40,900
District of Columbia
$53,290
$47,340
Minnesota
$52,000
$35,520
Oregon
$51,680
$38,650
Illinois
$49,170
$35,830
Virginia
$46,790
$34,330
New Jersey
$45,010
$36,390
Connecticut
$44,550
$36,660
Florida
$40,680
$34,210
Arizona
$37,430
$35,100

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Costume Attendants or Childcare Workers?

Costume Attendants earn more nationally. The median is $50,400 for Costume Attendants versus $34,980 for Childcare Workers, a difference of $15K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Costume Attendants or Childcare Workers?

Costume Attendants has the better 10-year outlook at 5.9% projected growth, compared to -2.9% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Costume Attendants or Childcare Workers?

Costume Attendants typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Childcare Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Costume Attendants get paid the most?

New York is the top-paying state for Costume Attendants at $95,230/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Costume Attendants vs. Childcare Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New York, Costume Attendants earn $95,230 vs. $37,590 for Childcare Workers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Costume Attendants salary breakdownView →Full Childcare Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Costume Attendants by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Childcare Workers by take-home payExplore →How to become a costume attendantsGuide →How to become a childcare workersGuide →