Definition: Estimated annual child care cost at which families of half of children enrolled in full-time licensed care pay more and families of half of children enrolled in full-time licensed care pay less, by age group and type of facility (e.g., in 2023, the median annual cost of full-time licensed child care for an infant in a child care center in California was $19,719).
Data Source: California Child Care Resource and Referral Network, California Child Care Portfolio (May 2025).
Footnote: These estimates are based on data from the U.S. Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices (NDCP). Refer to the NDCP technical report for detailed descriptions of full-time care arrangements and of infant, toddler, preschooler, and school-age age groupings. Child care centers are facilities that provide care for children during all or part of the day. These facilities may be large or small and can be operated independently by nonprofit organizations or by churches, school districts, or other organizations. Most child care centers are licensed by the California Dept. of Social Services (CDSS). In family child care homes, care for up to 14 children is offered in the home of the provider, often a parent. Family child care homes also are licensed by CDSS.
