Childcare Workers salary · Tennessee
Childcare Workers Salary in Tennessee
Childcare Workers in Tennessee earn a median of $29,660 a year, which is $14.26 an hour. That is $5,320 below the national median of $34,980, a difference of 15 percent. The state employs 13,650.
Tennessee against the US May 2025
| Figure | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $29,660 | $34,980 |
| Median hourly | $14.26 | $16.82 |
| Mean annual | $30,720 | $35,030 |
| 10th percentile | $21,730 | $24,260 |
| 90th percentile | $38,050 | $46,010 |
| Employment | 13,650 | 518,910 |
How Tennessee compares
By median pay, Tennessee ranks 10 of the 12 states this site reports for childcare workers. Ranking is on the published median only. It says nothing about how far that salary goes once housing, state income tax and commuting are paid, and those differences between states are frequently larger than the pay gap itself.
Other states for childcare workers May 2025
| State | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $40,900 | $19.66 | 13,140 |
| Colorado | $40,750 | $19.59 | 13,310 |
| California | $40,020 | $19.24 | 52,780 |
| New York | $37,590 | $18.07 | 44,020 |
| New Jersey | $36,390 | $17.49 | 25,070 |
| Illinois | $35,830 | $17.23 | 23,900 |
| Virginia | $34,330 | $16.51 | 13,930 |
| Florida | $34,210 | $16.45 | 21,760 |
| Michigan | $30,970 | $14.89 | 14,010 |
| Texas | $28,570 | $13.73 | 34,160 |
| Georgia | $28,020 | $13.47 | 21,040 |
Common questions
How much do childcare workers make in Tennessee?
The median salary for childcare workers in Tennessee is $29,660 a year, or $14.26 an hour. That is $5,320 below the national median of $34,980, a difference of 15 percent. Tennessee employs 13,650 of them.
Is Tennessee a good state to work as a childcare worker?
On pay alone, Tennessee ranks 10 of the 12 states this site reports for the occupation, by median salary. Pay is only half the question though: a state with a higher median can still leave you with less once housing and taxes are counted, and this site does not adjust for cost of living.
What is the pay range for childcare workers in Tennessee?
The lowest-paid 10 percent earn $21,730 or less and the highest-paid 10 percent earn $38,050 or more. The middle half falls between $26,910 and $35,200.
Where these numbers come from
Published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release, for SOC code 39-9011 in Tennessee. Nothing on this page is interpolated or averaged by this site. See the national childcare workers salary page for the full picture, or how to read these figures for what the survey covers.