Childcare cost & % of income calculator
Pick a state, your child's age and the care type. This calculator estimates the annual cost (the state's median weekly price × 52 weeks) and the share of household income it represents, against the 7% federal affordability benchmark. It covers 49 states and DC using the public-domain National Database of Childcare Prices, and runs entirely in your browser. Figures are 2018-era medians — estimates, not quotes.
Source: U.S. DOL Women's Bureau — National Database of Childcare Prices. Data as of June 2026.
How it works
The math is intentionally simple and transparent:
annual cost = median weekly price × 52 weeks
% of income = annual cost ÷ household income
Median weekly prices come from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices (latest year per state). If you leave the income field blank, the calculator uses the state's median household income. See the methodology for data vintages and every assumption, and each state page for the underlying prices by age and care type.
Frequently asked questions
How does the childcare cost calculator work?
Pick a state, your child's age group and the care type (center-based or family). The calculator multiplies that state's median weekly price by 52 weeks to estimate an annual cost, then divides by the income you enter (or the state's median household income) to show childcare as a share of income. It uses median prices from the federal National Database of Childcare Prices and runs entirely in your browser.
What is a good percentage of income to spend on childcare?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines affordable childcare as no more than 7% of household income. Many US families spend far more than that on infant care — often 10–20% of income — so the 7% line is a benchmark, not a typical reality.
How accurate is the estimate?
It is as accurate as the source: these are median prices for an entire state, so a specific provider or city can be much higher or lower. The figures are 2018-era medians and prices have risen since. Treat the result as a planning estimate, not a quote, and confirm current rates with providers.
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Last updated: 2026-06-20