--- title: Child care now costs more than $10,000 per year on average—here’s why that’s a problem description: Child care now costs more than $10,000 per year on average—here’s why that’s a problem --- [![Child Care Aware of America Logo](https://info.childcareaware.org/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/usachildcareaware.site-ym.comgraphicslogo-new.png?width=690&height=350&name=usachildcareaware.site-ym.comgraphicslogo-new.png "Child Care Aware of America Logo")](https://www.childcareaware.org/) - [English ](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/child-care-now-costs-more-than-10000-per-year-on-average-heres-why-thats-a-problem#) - [Español (Spanish) ](https://www.childcareaware.org/?lang=es) - [Child Care Career Center](http://careers.childcareaware.org/) - [Help for Military/DoD Families](https://www.childcareaware.org/fee-assistancerespite/) Search ![CCA Logo/Homepage link](https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/ChildCareAware_October2019%20Theme/Images/menu_img.png) ## Media Center For media requests, please call 703-341-4161 or email [news@usa.childcareaware.org](mailto:news@usa.childcareaware.org). # Child care now costs more than $10,000 per year on average—here’s why that’s a problem February 21, 2022 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) CNBC.com Child care is getting more expensive than ever, forcing parents to spend an increasingly large portion of their paychecks on it, according to a recent report from Child Care Aware. The “[Demanding Change](https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/FINAL-Demanding%20Change%20Report-020322.pdf?utm_campaign=Budget%20Reconciliation%20Fall%202021&utm_source=website&utm_content=22_demandingchange_pdf)” report found that the national average annual cost of child care in 2020, the latest data available, was $10,174. That figure represents more than 10% of the median income for a married couple, and more than 35% percent of the median income for a single parent. “One of the repercussions for parents that we’re starting to see is the exit of women from the workforce,” Child Care Aware senior data analyst Kristina Haynie tells CNBC Make It. “Sometimes it’s just not worth it to work because the money that you’re making is all going toward child care.” [Read the full article](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/21/average-cost-of-child-care-is-now-more-than-10000-dollars-per-year.html).  Topics: [Media Mention](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/media-mention) ### Written by [CCAoA](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/author/ccaoa) Previous Post [![CCAoA CEO Featured on Actor Wilmer Valderrama](https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/Essential%20Voices%20image.png) ](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/ccaoa-ceo-featured-on-actor-wilmer-valderramas-podcast) [CCAoA CEO Featured on Actor Wilmer Valderrama's Podcast](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/ccaoa-ceo-featured-on-actor-wilmer-valderramas-podcast) Next Post [A historic child care investment saved centers from collapse. What happens when the money runs out?](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/a-historic-child-care-investment-saved-centers-from-collapse.-what-happens-when-the-money-runs-out) ### Types of Media - [Media Mention (94)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/media-mention) - [News (7)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/news) - [Policy & Advocacy (5)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/policy-advocacy) - [Press (53)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/press) - [Press Release (42)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/press-release) - [Provider Appreciation Day 2025 (1)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/provider-appreciation-day-2025) - [Workforce (1)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/workforce) [See all](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/child-care-now-costs-more-than-10000-per-year-on-average-heres-why-thats-a-problem#) ** ![CCA Logo/Homepage link](https://www.childcareaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/logo-footer.png)![CCA Logo/Homepage link](https://www.childcareaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/logo-footer.png) ** Military Families × Close Panel ** ### Military Families × Close Panel ** × Close Panel