The True Cost of Quality Child Care in Washington A report by the Washington Child Care Collaborative Task Force | Page 26

The true cost of quality care requires investments for living wages

The task force sees living wages , benefits and program enhancements as essential components of the true cost of quality child care . Table 2 estimates living wages using MIT ' s Living Wage Model for child care providers by role and region for child care centers and family child care homes .
Table 2 : MIT Living Wage salaries for child care providers
Central Wash .
Eastern Wash .
King & Pierce
Northwest Wash .
Olympic Peninsula
Southwest Wash .
Program Director
Assistant Director
Admin . Assistant
$ 85,245 $ 86,041 $ 106,257 $ 96,248 $ 91,075 $ 90,857
$ 70,451 $ 71,108 $ 87,816 $ 79,544 $ 75,268 $ 75,088
$ 44,420 $ 44,835 $ 55,369 $ 50,154 $ 47,458 $ 47,344
Lead Teacher $ 57,746 $ 58,286 $ 71,980 $ 65,200 $ 61,695 $ 61,548
Assistant Teacher
$ 44,420 $ 44,835 $ 55,369 $ 50,154 $ 47,458 $ 47,344
Aide / Floater $ 44,420 $ 44,835 $ 55,369 $ 50,154 $ 47,458 $ 47,344
FCC Provider / Owner
$ 73,702 $ 75,164 $ 91,695 $ 84,133 $ 78,881 $ 78,995
Source : P5FS cost of quality survey , administered March – April 2022
2022 COST OF QUALITY CHILD CARE LEGISLATIVE REPORT 23