The vast majority of early educators without a union say they face serious workplace challenges, including low wages, inadequate health insurance, and working while sick or skipping legally mandated breaks. This data is from a survey of 351 non-union childcare workers from a wide range of centers including Bright Horizons, YMCA, Kindercare, and La Petite Academy.
LOW PAY: Nearly all childcare centers workers (88%) make $29/hour or less, and most (66%) make below $25/hour. That’s far less than what is needed to afford a modest 1-bedroom apartment in Washington.
PRESSURE TO SKIP BREAKS, WORK WHILE SICK: Too many of us early educators (81%) say we have skipped rest or lunch breaks or worked while sick or with a serious medical condition due to understaffing, not knowing their rights, or inadequate paid time off.
LACK OF AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE: Affordable health insurance is a big challenge for more than half of us: 20% rely on taxpayer-funded Apple Health (Medicaid), 11% are uninsured, 10% are paying out of pocket for private insurance, such as on the taxpayer-subsidized ACA exchange, and another 14% have high premium, high deductible employer-provided insurance.
Poll: Non-Union Early Educators Face Low Wages, Pressure To Work Sick, Inadequate Health Insurance
CHILDCARE CENTER EARLY EDUCATORS ARE UNDERPAID
Respondents listed their current wage range as the following:
24% $16.66* - $20 per hour
42% $20.01 - $25 per hour
18.6% $25.01 - $29 per hour
12.3% Over $29 per hour
3.1% responded with “I don’t know”
*WA State minimum wage 2025
CHILDCARE CENTER EARLY EDUCATORS WANT HIGHER WAGES, BENEFITS
Respondents were asked if they could change anything at their workplace, what would they change? Respondents were able to choose multiple answers.
70.9% want better pay
55.1% want better benefits
48.6% want more staff
45.7% want more training to deal with child behavioral issues
Are you now motivated to do something about what you just learned?
We need you to share this data and our stories with our lawmakers! Tell them to pass HB 1128 / SB 5062 to establish a Child Care Workforce Standards Board. If passed, the board will bring workers, employers, parents, and agencies to the table to improve the standards for all of us. Click the button below to fill out the simple form to have your voice heard!