How Much Do Childcare Workers Make in California?
Median wage from BLS May 2025 — and the after-tax number the salary sites skip. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data and 2026 tax law, the median Childcare Workers in California earns $40,020 per year and takes home $33,746 ($2,812/month) — a keep-rate of 84.3%, with 52,780 employed in the state.
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| Gross pay | $3,335.00 |
| Federal income tax | $218.53 |
| Social Security | $206.77 |
| Medicare | $48.36 |
| California state income tax | $49.18 |
| You keep | $2,812.16 |
How much do Childcare Workers make in California?
The median Childcare Workers in California earns $40,020 per year (BLS May 2025), about $19.24 per hour.
What is that after taxes?
$40,020 gross in California keeps $33,746 after federal income tax ($2,622), FICA ($3,062) and state income tax ($590) — $2,812 per month, a 84.3% keep-rate.
How does California compare to the national median for Childcare Workers?
The California median is $5,040 above the national median of $34,980.
Which state pays Childcare Workers the most?
Washington DC has the highest median gross for Childcare Workers at $47,340 — but compare take-home, not gross: state taxes change the order.
Childcare Workers salary in every state · California paycheck calculator · California minimum wage