Childcare Workers Salary
Childcare Workers in Wisconsin make a median of $32,460 a year, or about $15.61 an hour. The range runs from $25K at the entry level to $43K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $34,411 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 54.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $32K get you in Wisconsin?
About childcare workers
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Childcare workers pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $32K locally vs. $35K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,202/month, which is 52.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wisconsin
Entry-level childcare workers (10th percentile) start around $25K. Mid-career wages sit at $32K. Top earners bring in $43K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Childcare Workers salary by metro in Wisconsin
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay | $35K | +7% | 460 |
| Madison | $34K | +6% | 680 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $33K | +3% | 1,840 |
| Sheboygan | $33K | +2% | 120 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $32K | +0% | 110 |
| Appleton | $31K | -4% | 260 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $31K | -5% | 140 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $31K | -5% | 330 |
| Eau Claire | $30K | -6% | 210 |
| Kenosha | $30K | -7% | 150 |
| Wausau | $30K | -7% | 130 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $30K | -7% | 140 |
| Fond du Lac | $29K | -10% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
Compare to other states
Track childcare workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a childcare worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $32K, rent takes 52.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for childcare workers in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new childcare workers typically earn — is $25K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,479/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 81% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $32K locally vs. $35K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for childcare workers?
Wisconsin pays $32K median vs. the U.S. average of $35K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $34K — below the national median.
How much do childcare workers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $32,460 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,650, and experienced childcare workers can clear $42,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $32K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,282/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 52.7% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $34,411 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.