COLUMBUS, Ohio-New data from Child Care Aware reveals that in most of the U.S., the cost of child care for two children surpasses any other living expense. In 2023, the average annual cost for a family with an infant and a 4-year-old exceeded housing expenses in the Midwest, South, and Northeast.
Nationally, child care costs rose by 3.7% from the previous year, with an average of $11,582 for one child. The report highlights that child care professionals earn an average of $30,360 annually, making it financially burdensome for them to afford child care for their own children. For married couples, child care costs consume over 10% of their income, while for single parents, it can exceed 30%.
