Maryland has some of the highest child care costs in the nation and soaring expenses have been putting pressure on employers and employees alike.
The average annual cost in Maryland for using a child care center was $15,003.49, 16% of the state’s median income, which ranks sixth in the U.S., according to a study by Care.com and the latest income data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Parents have been confronted with the stark reality of unaffordable child care costs while schools are closed for the summer.
Child care is considered unaffordable if it costs families more than 7% of their household income, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Based on the study’s average rates, no U.S. state offers affordable child care.
Maryland is the fifth most expensive state for average weekly rates for daycares, nannies and babysitters. Weekly daycare costs amount to $288.53, while hiring a nanny averages $781.41 per week. The weekly expense for those opting for a babysitter is around $174.62.
