Child care and electricity cost by state
Center-based infant care averages $15,629 a year; Massachusetts is $27,067 and Mississippi $6,492. Pick a state, add the kids and your electricity use, and see the yearly bill next to the salary it takes.
$15,629/yr infant care, 47-state average
$27,067 Massachusetts, highest infant
$6,492 Mississippi, lowest infant
47.2¢highest electricity, per kWh (Hawaii)
12.7¢lowest electricity (Nevada)
Your household
Result
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child care + electricity per year
$0child care per year
$0child care per month
$0electricity per month
$0gross salary just to cover these (at 30% tax)
Infant care by state
| State | Infant | Toddler | 4-year-old | Before/after school | Summer | Electricity ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama * | $8,859 | $8,646 | $8,219 | $5,363 | $1,787 | 16.33 |
| Alaska | $12,425 | $11,601 | $10,143 | $6,490 | $2,298 | 29.41 |
| Arizona | $16,384 | $13,742 | $11,987 | $5,203 | $2,668 | 15.05 |
| Arkansas | $9,727 | $8,933 | $8,530 | $3,621 | $1,863 | 14.37 |
| California | $23,071 | $14,378 | $13,689 | $12,081 | — | 29.75 |
| Colorado | — | — | — | — | — | 17.17 |
| Connecticut | $18,616 | $18,356 | $15,496 | $4,953 | — | 24.51 |
| Delaware | $17,252 | $15,194 | $13,584 | $5,403 | $2,632 | 18.70 |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — | — | — | 25.98 |
| Florida * | $14,230 | $12,272 | $10,052 | $5,501 | $1,834 | 14.99 |
| Georgia | $11,066 | $10,537 | $9,574 | — | $2,021 | 15.90 |
| Hawaii | $25,096 | $19,832 | $14,868 | $11,481 | — | 47.18 |
| Idaho | $10,887 | $10,259 | $9,443 | $6,613 | — | 13.37 |
| Illinois | $19,601 | $18,771 | $14,739 | $7,651 | $2,550 | 19.32 |
| Indiana | $17,461 | $16,193 | $12,854 | $6,290 | $2,853 | 17.02 |
| Iowa | $13,253 | $13,208 | $10,438 | $3,725 | $4,708 | 17.06 |
| Kansas | $12,741 | $11,958 | $10,692 | $3,198 | $1,849 | 15.47 |
| Kentucky | $13,075 | $12,541 | $10,993 | $6,003 | $2,554 | 13.80 |
| Louisiana | $11,133 | $10,259 | $9,418 | $5,987 | $1,995 | 12.87 |
| Maine | $16,144 | $15,210 | $14,516 | $7,885 | $2,628 | 32.11 |
| Maryland | $20,124 | $19,500 | $14,612 | $11,908 | — | 21.40 |
| Massachusetts | $27,067 | $24,468 | $21,364 | $13,403 | $4,080 | 30.48 |
| Michigan | $14,064 | $14,983 | $13,342 | $5,369 | $1,790 | 22.99 |
| Minnesota | $20,592 | $18,200 | $15,912 | — | — | 17.20 |
| Mississippi | $6,492 | $6,492 | $6,240 | $4,284 | — | 14.43 |
| Missouri | $15,080 | $12,688 | $11,440 | $4,290 | $1,430 | 16.02 |
| Montana * | $15,476 | $15,476 | $14,676 | $5,003 | $3,335 | 15.57 |
| Nebraska | $15,080 | $13,520 | $12,480 | $5,928 | $2,600 | 13.54 |
| Nevada | $15,633 | $14,276 | $13,219 | — | — | 12.72 |
| New Hampshire | $16,462 | $15,262 | $13,385 | $11,174 | — | 27.64 |
| New Jersey | $17,977 | $16,748 | $14,551 | $10,120 | $3,671 | 24.61 |
| New Mexico | — | — | — | — | — | 16.51 |
| New York | $20,978 | $19,152 | $17,800 | $12,776 | — | 28.65 |
| North Carolina | $13,916 | $12,960 | $11,530 | $6,658 | $2,219 | 14.95 |
| North Dakota | $12,281 | $11,561 | $10,855 | — | — | 13.31 |
| Ohio | $13,936 | $12,532 | $10,552 | $6,162 | $2,054 | 19.38 |
| Oklahoma | $11,012 | $10,294 | $8,425 | $5,014 | $1,824 | 14.82 |
| Oregon | $21,774 | $20,567 | $15,284 | $4,310 | — | 15.92 |
| Pennsylvania * | $15,302 | $14,553 | $13,114 | $8,146 | $2,715 | 21.77 |
| Rhode Island | $18,972 | $18,972 | $16,639 | $14,943 | — | 28.18 |
| South Carolina | — | — | — | — | — | 15.76 |
| South Dakota | $8,859 | $8,859 | $8,282 | $5,603 | — | 15.15 |
| Tennessee | $13,926 | $12,800 | $11,565 | $2,588 | $8,019 | 13.42 |
| Texas * | $10,894 | $10,454 | $9,863 | $6,588 | $2,196 | 15.91 |
| Utah | $14,533 | $11,626 | $10,136 | $6,096 | $2,032 | 13.31 |
| Vermont | $21,670 | $20,621 | $17,759 | $11,965 | $4,817 | 23.84 |
| Virginia | $17,264 | $16,380 | $14,404 | $5,772 | $3,510 | 17.64 |
| Washington | $23,136 | $20,544 | $17,760 | $5,196 | — | 14.63 |
| West Virginia * | $9,339 | $8,539 | $8,272 | $5,403 | $2,632 | 16.31 |
| Wisconsin | $18,604 | $18,443 | $15,636 | $6,958 | — | 19.41 |
| Wyoming * | $13,120 | $12,210 | $11,525 | $6,413 | $2,382 | 14.43 |
Child care: Child Care Aware of America 2025 price survey (published April 2026); * = state market-rate survey rather than CCAoA data; Colorado, DC, New Mexico and South Carolina collect no price data. Electricity: EIA Table 5.6.A residential average, August 2026. Sources: Child Care Aware of America: Child Care Affordability Analysis 2025 (Table 1) · EIA electric power monthly, Table 5.6.A.
Making it fit
- Dependent care FSA: $7,500 pre-tax in 2026 (raised by the 2025 tax law from $5,000), worth about $2,000 a year at a 27% combined rate.
- Child and dependent care credit: 20 to 50% of up to $3,000 ($6,000 for two) of expenses, higher rates for lower incomes from 2026.
- State programs: New Mexico covers child care for most families; Vermont and Washington subsidize to about 500% of poverty; check the state portal before assuming the sticker price.
- These costs sit on top of rent and insurance in the salary-needed math.