California child care costs among most expensive in US. Here’s how much it typically costs
California is one of the priciest places to access child care in the United States, where it can be more expensive to send your kid to daycare than it is to send them to college.
The state ranks in the top 10 for the most expensive center-based and at-home child care, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data book, a national trends book reporting on children’s well being. Annual costs range from $11,000 to $13,000 a year.
For comparison, tuition and fees at Sacramento State come out to about $7,500 a year, according to U.S. News and World Report.
Child care annual costs in the United States has increased by 220% since 1990, according to the foundation. The hike has made it difficult for some parents to cover the costs, forcing some to quit their jobs to instead look after their child.
Here’s the breakdown on costs in California, according to a 2023 study from the Annie E. Casey Foundation:
Top 10 most expensive states for child care
Center-based child care, such as a Montessori school, are usually operated in commercial spaces and not in the owners home. This type of care is also the most expensive option for a parent, on average.
California center-based annual prices ranked ninth most expensive in the nation.
Average annual cost at a center-based child care facility in California: $13,408
According to the U.S. Census, the median household income in California is $84,097 a year, meaning center-based childcare could cost about 15% of this yearly.. For singles mothers the impact is much larger, the foundation wrote.
The study looked at all 50 states and Washington D.C., which ranked No. 1 for center-based care, with an average annual cost of $24,396.
Family-based child care, which is typically operated in the owner’s home, tends to be more affordable than center-based care, but still starts in the five-figure range. California family-based annual prices ranked sixth most expensive in the nation. Washington D.C. again ranked first, averaging $19,291 a year.
Average annual cost at a family-based child care facility in California: $11,607
When taking into account California’s average household income, family-based child care amounts to about 13% yearly.
Below is the full list of the 10 most expensive places in the nation for child care costs, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data book:
Center-based child care
Washington, D.C. — $24,396 annually
Connecticut — $18,156 annually
New York — $16,551 annually
Colorado — $16,333 annually
Connecticut — $18,156 annually
Minnesota — $14, 607 annually
Nevada — $13,877 annually
Rhode Island — $13,462 annually
California — $13,408 annually
Alaska — $13,046 annually
Family-or-home-based child care
Washington, D.C. — $19,291 annually
Massachusetts — $13,344 annually
Connecticut — $11,955 annually
New York — $11,778 annually
Washington — $11,620 annually
California — $11,607 annually
New Mexico — $10,284 annually
Rhode Island — $$10,068 annually
New Hampshire — $9,940 annually
Hawaii — $9,776 annually
Annual child care costs in the Sacramento area
Sacramento has more expensive child care costs when compared to surrounding counties.
Below are average annual child care costs, according to Kids Data, a California data website powered by the Population Reference Bureau:
Sacramento County
Infant: Child care center, $17,073; Family child care home, $12,388
Preschooler: Child care center, $11,803; Family child care home, $10,806
El Dorado County
Infant: Child Care center, $13,564; Family child care home, $10,125
Preschooler: Child care center, $8,291; Family child care home, $9,059
Yolo County
Infant: Child Care center, $16,215; Family child care home, $11,484
Preschooler: Child care center, $11,190; Family child care home, $9,777
Placer County
Infant: Child Care center, $18,468; Family child care home, $12,910
Preschooler: Child care center, $ 12,613; Family child care home, $ 11,516
