Child Care Data & Statistics

Child Care Aware of Washington provides thorough and independent information and analysis to illustrate the need for healthy child care businesses and equitable access for all families. The reports below reflect important data such as the number of child care providers, providers by type, children using subsidies, and child care provider compensation.

Key Statistics

• The number of family child care providers dropped 20% in 5 years, with larger child care centers adding some capacity. While the decline in family child care providers has recently stabilized, some counties are continuing to see declines.
• Washington’s population grew by more than 400,000 in 5 years, while the capacity of child care providers grew by just 3,000 children.
• Washington ranks 3rd in the nation for least affordable child care for an infant in a family child care program. 
• The average cost to have an infant in a child care center is 15.4% of median income for a married couple and a daunting 51.5% of median income for a single mother. 
• While median household incomes have increased 5% since 2010, median child care rates have increased between 13-20% for center-based care and 11-31% for family child care.