Childcare Workers Salary
Childcare Workers in Pennsylvania make a median of $30,140 a year, or about $14.49 an hour. The range runs from $23K at the entry level to $39K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $31,736 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 64.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $30K get you in Pennsylvania?
About childcare workers
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pay for childcare workers in Pennsylvania runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $35K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,351/month, which is 64% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for childcare workerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level childcare workers (10th percentile) start around $23K. Mid-career wages sit at $30K. Top earners bring in $39K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Childcare Workers salary by metro in Pennsylvania
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $35K | +15% | 7,960 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $32K | +7% | 910 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $31K | +2% | 600 |
| Lancaster | $31K | +2% | 420 |
| York-Hanover | $30K | +1% | 470 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $30K | -1% | 890 |
| Pittsburgh | $30K | -1% | 2,560 |
| Gettysburg | $30K | -2% | 40 |
| Reading | $30K | -2% | 390 |
| Lebanon | $29K | -5% | 90 |
| Erie | $28K | -7% | N/A |
| Altoona | $28K | -9% | 160 |
| Williamsport | $27K | -9% | 140 |
| Chambersburg | $27K | -10% | 140 |
| Johnstown | $27K | -12% | 160 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
Compare to other states
Track childcare workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a childcare worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $30K, rent takes 64% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for childcare workers in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new childcare workers typically earn — is $23K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,363/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 99% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is childcare worker a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $30K here vs. $35K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for childcare workers?
Pennsylvania pays $30K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $32K — below the national median.
How much do childcare workers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $30,140 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,710, and experienced childcare workers can clear $39,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $30K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,111/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 64% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a childcare workers salary go in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median childcare workers salary is worth about $31,736 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do childcare workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.