The Fact
Among U.S. households with children age 13 or younger, 23.9% paid for childcare in 2024. Those paying households spent an average of $10,520 annually, about 5.6% of household income.
What This Means
Paid childcare is a substantial household expense for families that use it, but most households with young children do not report a direct childcare payment because families use many different arrangements.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, Child Care Challenges and Adaptations: Findings from the 2025 CPS ASEC, 2026.