Most U.S. families don't earn nearly enough to afford child care, study finds

January 23, 2026

TL;DR

The HHS defines affordable child care as costing no more than 7% of household income.
Households need nearly $403,000 income to afford child care for two children under the HHS definition.
The median U.S. family income is $105,800.
Average annual child care cost for two children is $28,000.
Monthly child care costs for two children average $2,252, exceeding rent in many large cities.
Families spend 8.9% to 16% of their median income on full-time care for one child.
New York City plans free child care for 2-year-olds, and Kentucky is pushing for universal Pre-K.

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