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Notes: Alexandria parents pay the most in the region for childcare

By ALXnow.com

Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!

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🚨 You need to know

Child care anywhere is expensive, but WTOP reports that childcare costs in Alexandria are a cut above the rest of the region.

A study of childcare data throughout the region by the Women’s Bureau found that Alexandria parents are paying the largest portion of their median family income for child care. Parents in Alexandria pay an average of 17% of their income for an infant at a daycare center, around $24,000 on average, and around 14% of their income to preschool.

The report notes that while childcare is expensive, childcare providers operate on thin margins and are paid low wages, meaning the industry has difficulty attracting new workers:

Even though child care is expensive, childcare providers operate on thin margins and childcare workers receive very low wages – a median of $13.22 an hour. This is lower than almost any other occupation, and wages fall below the living wage in most states, failing to meet childcare workers’ basic needs. Low pay in the childcare sector means that employers cannot attract sufficient workers and many areas are considered childcare deserts, leaving families with limited options. Yet, families cannot afford to pay more, meaning the childcare sector needs substantial government investment to function adequately and eventually prosper.

An interactive map of childcare prices for Alexandria and other localities is available online.

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About the Author

  • This is the staff byline for ALXnow, used by editors and other full-time staff. Launched in October 2019, ALXnow is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Alexandria, Virginia.