Washington state infant care now averages over $21K a year
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Washington state has some of the highest day care center prices in the country, with the average infant tuition topping $21,000 per year, according to a new report.
Why it matters: Rising child care costs put a huge financial strain on families, forcing some parents — typically women — to either ratchet back their working hours or leave the labor force entirely, Axios' Emily Peck writes.
The big picture: Washington's child care costs are the fifth highest among U.S. states, according to data released this month by the advocacy group Child Care Aware.
- Only Massachusetts, California, Maryland, Hawaii and the District of Columbia had higher child care prices last year, the nonprofit said.
By the numbers: In 2024, putting an infant in a day care center in Washington cost an average of $21,348 per year, according to Child Care Aware.
- That's about $8,000 higher than annual in-state tuition and fees at the University of Washington, where costs run about $12,973 for a standard three-quarter academic year.
Between the lines: Families with multiple kids face steeper costs: day care center tuition for an infant and a toddler averaged $38,256 annually in Washington last year.
- That's nearly 30% of the median household income for married couples in the state, which Child Care Aware pegged at $145,513.