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👶 Childcare

Childcare costs more than college.
Here's why.

Why childcare costs so much, what help is out there, and why it's so hard for families to get it.

Why does childcare cost so much?

It takes a lot of people to keep kids safe all day. But childcare workers are some of the lowest-paid workers in the country. Even so, most centers still struggle to stay open.

So families pay more than they can afford. And the people taking care of our kids still can't make ends meet. The system is broken on both sides.

📊 The average annual cost of childcare in Pennsylvania is now over $14,000, more than in-state college tuition.
Why is it getting more expensive every year?

Childcare costs went up 29% between 2020 and 2024. That's faster than prices overall. One big reason: when federal COVID relief money for childcare ran out in 2023, a lot of centers had to raise prices just to keep the doors open. Some couldn't make it at all.

The people who watch our kids are paid very little. When they leave for better-paying jobs, centers have to close rooms. Fewer rooms mean fewer spots. Fewer spots mean higher prices. It's a cycle that hurts everyone.

Pennsylvania has also lost childcare providers over time. There are fewer licensed home-based programs than ten years ago. In Philadelphia alone, that number was cut in half between 2013 and 2023. Fewer providers means fewer choices for families.

On top of that, building costs, rent, food, and supplies have all gone up for childcare centers too. Those costs get passed on to families, or the center closes. Either way, we lose.

💡 In Pennsylvania, nearly 60% of all communities are childcare deserts. That means there are more than three kids for every licensed childcare spot.
What can we do right now?

A few places to start:

① See if you can get Child Care Works: This is Pennsylvania's program that helps pay for childcare. It's for families who earn under a certain amount. Apply online through COMPASS at compass.state.pa.us or call 1-877-472-5437.

② Find your local Early Learning Resource Center: ELRCs help families in every part of Pennsylvania. They can help you find care, apply for help paying for it, and connect you to other programs. Call 1-888-461-5437 or apply through COMPASS.

③ Look into Head Start and Early Head Start: Free early learning for families who qualify, for kids from birth to age 5. Find a program near you at the federal Head Start locator online.

④ Ask your employer: Some employers help pay for childcare or offer special savings accounts for it. It's worth asking, even if you think the answer is no.
The numbers
$14,000+
What it costs on average to have one child in childcare for a year in Pennsylvania. That's more than college tuition.
(Source: First Five Years Fund / Tootris, 2026)
60%
of Pennsylvania communities are childcare deserts. That means more than 3 kids for every licensed spot.
(Source: ReadyNation / Start Strong PA, 2023)
$12.43/hr
What a childcare worker makes per hour in Pennsylvania. That's less than $26,000 a year.
(Source: Start Strong PA / Children First, 2023)
29%
How much childcare costs went up across the country between 2020 and 2024. That's faster than prices overall.
(Source: Child Care Aware of America, 2025)
Get help now
  • Child Care Works (Pennsylvania): Apply online at compass.state.pa.us or call 1-877-472-5437. Helps families who earn under a certain amount pay for care.
  • Find your local ELRC: Early Learning Resource Centers help families find and pay for childcare all across Pennsylvania. Call 1-888-461-5437 or visit compass.state.pa.us to get started.
  • Head Start and Early Head Start: Free early learning for families who qualify, for kids from birth to age 5. Find a program at eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/center-locator
  • 211: Free. Connects you to local childcare help and programs near you.
The bigger picture

"We shouldn't have to choose between going to work and knowing our kids are safe. But for a lot of us, that's exactly the choice we're making every day."