In May 2022, the median hourly wage paid to child care workers in New Hampshire was $12.99. Child care workers earning the 25th percentile for the occupation had an hourly wage of $10.47, and hourly wages rose to $14.65 for those in the 75th wage percentile. These wages were lower than the comparable wages of child care workers across the U.S., and substantially lower than the same percentiles for Granite State workers across all occupations, with median hourly wages of $13.71 and $23.04, respectively. Lower wages can make attracting and retaining workers more difficult, while subsequent worker shortages can reduce the capacity of child care centers to provide services. New Hampshire’s insufficient child care infrastructure has put significant pressure on the workforce. The Granite State had an estimated 8,300 fewer child care spots than were required to meet the need in 2021. Many former workers, and a disproportionate number of women, left the labor force to fill in child care gaps since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. From October 5, 2022 to October 2, 2023, a monthly average of 16,500 Granite Staters were not working due to caring for a child not in school or daycare. 

 Read more in the NHFPI Fact Sheet: Child Care in New Hampshire: High Price, Low Supply