Year-round child care costs parents an average of $8,355 per child. Families in the United States pay an average of $8,355 per year on child care for each child, which can limit parents' career prospects and have an influence on family budgets.
The year-round estimate includes costs for infant care (crying it out, crib rentals, and nursing homes), preschool (daycare centers and private schools), elementary school (public and private schools), middle school (public and private schools), and high school (public and private schools). It does not include costs for summer camp or other forms of occasional care.
In addition to year-round child care, families also spend an average of $9,900 on vacation care. This amount covers hiring a babysitter before you leave for vacation, after you return home, and during times of need such as sick days. It does not include expenses for daycare while you are at work or any other form of part-time care.
While college tuition has increased dramatically over time, the cost of child care hasn't changed much since 2005. That means if you can afford to go to college, you can probably afford to hire a baby sitter too.
Child care is still significantly more expensive than college.
Childcare costs can vary greatly depending on location and quality, which might raise the average cost. According to Bankrate's poll, the typical annual cost of child care for families is $2,859. However, there is no doubting that child-care expenditures are a financial strain for many families.
Families who make less than $50,000 per year spend an average of $12,046 on childcare. For families who make between $50,000 and $100,000, the average is $13,076. The most expensive area for childcare is San Francisco, where the average yearly cost is $27,914. In Washington, D.C., it's $20,794; in New York City, it's $18,036.
In addition to determining how much parents need to spend on childcare, it's also important to understand how much they should be spending. The government recommends that you should spend no more than 10 percent of your household's income on childcare. However, this number varies based on the type of childcare you choose. If you can't afford a nanny or day care center, for example, you'll need to find other ways to reduce your expenses.
Even if you have a high-paying job, finding affordable childcare can be difficult. This is because the demand for early education and care services exceeds the supply by at least 20 percent.
According to a May study done by YouGov on behalf of Bankrate among almost 3,500 respondents, including around 700 parents with children under the age of 18, parents pay a little more than $700 per kid per month during the school year and an average of $834 for summer child care. That means if you want to have a 30% chance of being able to afford child care, you need to save 20% of your income.
The study also found that parents could expect to spend about $7,000 total over the course of their children's childhoods. That amount includes tuition for day care or after-school programs, as well as other associated costs such as transportation, food, and activities. It also assumes that parents will be able to save enough money each month to cover any potential gaps in coverage due to vacations or illness.
In California, the median monthly cost of care for a child between the ages of 0 and 17 is $13,680, according to a June survey conducted by Child Care Aware of America. The survey included information from nearly 6,400 caregivers across the country, including 1,600 who said they were currently providing care in a center.
Caregivers were asked how much they spent on themselves and their families each month, then how much they expected to spend on child care. They were also asked what percentage of their household income they believed they needed to earn to be able to afford child care.
According to our poll, whereas first-time mothers expect to spend $591 per month for child care, they actually spend $650 per month. Childcare prices in the United States rise year after year. In fact, they are so high that one in five parents cannot afford to go back to work even if they wanted to.
The most expensive area of the country is New York City, where monthly child care costs reach $10,000 - $12,000 for full time care. The least expensive place is Mississippi where parents can expect to pay $100 per month or less for part time care.
Mothers who work outside the home can expect to spend about 30 percent of their income on childcare. This means that they would need to earn at least $7500 a year if they want to be able to pay for child care without any difficulty.