CDCareer Decision

Childcare Workers Salary in Chicago, IL

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Childcare Workers in Chicago, IL have a median annual salary of $36,610, with 17,540 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $31,200 at the 10th percentile to $45,940 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$36,610

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$17.60

Employment

17,540

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$31,200
10th
$33,770
25th
$36,610
Median
$38,220
75th
$45,940
90th

Local compared with national

Chicago, IL

$36,610

Median annual · 2025

United States

$34,980

Median annual · 2025

The Chicago, IL median is 4.7% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $1,630).

Top skills

  1. 1.MonitoringImportance 3.5
  2. 2.Service OrientationImportance 3.4
  3. 3.Social PerceptivenessImportance 3.3
  4. 4.Active ListeningImportance 3.1
  5. 5.SpeakingImportance 3.1
  6. 6.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.1
  7. 7.CoordinationImportance 3.1
  8. 8.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.0
  9. 9.WritingImportance 3.0
  10. 10.Active LearningImportance 3.0
  11. 11.Learning StrategiesImportance 3.0
  12. 12.InstructingImportance 3.0

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Job zone
2

Technology used

  • Educational software
  • Google Classroom
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Word
  • Nearpod
  • Scheduling software
  • Schoology
  • Seesaw
  • Tadpoles
  • Web browser software

Common tasks

  • Maintain a safe play environment.
  • Observe and monitor children's play activities.
  • Communicate with children's parents or guardians about daily activities, behaviors, and related issues.
  • Support children's emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts.
  • Care for children in institutional setting, such as group homes, nursery schools, private businesses, or schools for people with disabilities.
  • Sanitize toys and play equipment.
  • Dress children and change diapers.
  • Keep records on individual children, including daily observations and information about activities, meals served, and medications administered.
  • Identify signs of emotional or developmental problems in children and bring them to parents' or guardians' attention.
  • Instruct children in health and personal habits, such as eating, resting, and toilet habits.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Childcare Workers salary in other locations

Other occupations in Chicago, IL