Child care · Washington
Child care costs in Washington
Infant care is expensive in Washington: a full-time spot at a child care center averaged $21,348 a year in 2024, about $1,779 a month. Home-based family child care averaged $18,000. At 21.5% of median household income, Washington ranks 16th of 50 states for cost burden (1 = least affordable).
Washington child care prices by age
| Age | Center, per year | Center, per month | Home-based, per year | Home-based, per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | $21,348 | $1,779 | $18,000 | $1,500 |
| Toddler | $19,236 | $1,603 | $16,200 | $1,350 |
| 4-year-old | $16,908 | $1,409 | $14,556 | $1,213 |
— means Washington did not report that price. Monthly figures are the yearly average divided by 12. Source: Child Care Aware of America, Child Care in America: 2024 Affordability Analysis, Tables I and II.
How Washington compares
| Center infant price rank | 6th highest of 50 (50 states and DC with a price); middle state $15,080 |
|---|---|
| Median household income, 2024 | $99,389 (margin of error ±$1,322); U.S. $81,604 |
| Center infant care as share of that income | 21.5% (about 11.2 weeks of pay) |
| Home-based infant care as share of income | 18.1% |
| Affordability rank | 16 of 50 ranked (1 = least affordable) |
Ranks and income shares come from the Baby Money Report 2027; income is the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 1-year median household income (B19013) for all households, not only families with babies. Every state side by side: child care costs by state.
Ways to cut the bill in Washington
If your employer offers a dependent care FSA, you can pay up to $7,500 of care with pre-tax pay in 2026 (IRS Publication 15-B). The federal Child and Dependent Care Credit covers 20% to 50% of up to $3,000 in care for one child. Which one saves more depends on your income: try the FSA vs. credit calculator, and see every credit on the 2026 baby tax benefits page.
Before care starts, Washington pays up to 12 weeks of bonding leave at up to $1,647 a week: Washington paid family leave. To add care, leave and credits into one year-one number, use the baby budget calculator set to Washington.
Sources: Child Care Aware of America, U.S. Census Bureau. Data free to reuse: JSON.
Last verified October 6, 2026 against official sources: Child Care Aware of America, U.S. Census Bureau.
Cite this page: This Mom, “Child Care Costs in Washington”, thismom.com/child-care-costs/washington/ (updated ). Data free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link to the page.