For California families, child care is not simply a service, it’s what makes work, education, and family life possible. Yet for many families, finding care that’s both affordable and accessible remains a challenge. Federal affordability thresholds consider child care affordable when a family spends no more than 7% of its household income on child care (National Childcare Authority, 2026). In California, families spend up to 25% of their household income on child care, depending on where they live and the type of care they use. To meet the 7% affordability threshold, a California family with one infant and one 4-year-old would need to earn $561,000 a year, far above the state’s average annual household income of $171,424 (Child Care Resource Center, 2026). California parents have a wide range of public and private child care options, but high costs and limited availability can make these choices difficult to access. Rising prices, inflation, and household budget constraints are forcing many families in California to make difficult choices.
"There have been times when I've had to make difficult decisions about which bills to pay first or which necessities had to wait. These financial pressures create stress and uncertainty, not only for me but for my children as well." - Parent from Lancaster
The challenge is not simply that child care costs too much but rather the high cost of providing care makes it difficult to lower prices without undermining the educators and providers families depend on. Child care is a necessity for many families, yet early educators are among the lowest paid workers in California. In 2025, typical starting wages for child care providers were approximately $18 an hour for assistant teachers and $21an hour for lead teachers, while the estimated living wage for a single adult was $30 an hour (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2026; Powell et al., 2026). At the same time, providers face significant operating costs, including staffing, facilities, insurance, supplies, and regulatory compliance as well as reimbursement rates that do not fully cover the cost of care. This creates a difficult balance: families cannot afford to pay more, while providers struggle to operate on what families can afford. The challenge is not simply that child care costs too much but rather the high cost of providing care makes it difficult to lower prices without undermining the educators and providers families depend on. Child care is a necessity for many families, yet early educators are among the lowest paid workers in California. In 2025, typical starting wages for child care providers were approximately $18 an hour for assistant teachers and $21an hour for lead teachers, while the estimated living wage for a single adult was $30 an hour (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2026; Powell et al., 2026). At the same time, providers face significant operating costs, including staffing, facilities, insurance, supplies, and regulatory compliance as well as reimbursement rates that do not fully cover the cost of care. This creates a difficult balance: families cannot afford to pay more, while providers struggle to operate on what families can afford.
But affordability is only one part of the problem. Access also depends on whether care is available where and when families need it. Child care deserts, communities where the supply of licensed care does not meet the number of children who need it, remain a challenge across California. The shortage is particularly pronounced for infants and toddlers, who require lower child-to-adult ratios and therefore cost more to serve (Child Care Resource Center, 2019). In many communities, families may face long waitlists or have few providers available within a reasonable distance of home or work.
At the same time, California does not lack child care options. California’s mixed-delivery system recognizes that no single type of child care works for every family and offers a wide range of options. Families can choose among family child care homes, child care centers, family, friend, and neighbor care or transitional kindergarten. These settings serve different needs: some families need traditional weekday schedules while others need evenings, weekends, care close to home, cultural or linguistically responsive care, or a smaller home-based setting. The strength of California’s mixed-delivery system is in its ability to maintain a range of child care settings based on family preferences and needs.
"My son started this program when he was just one year old, and he is now three years old. Watching him grow and thrive has been incredible. His teachers have played such an important role in his development, learning, confi¬dence, and social skills. This program has not only supported my son—it has helped keep our family stable, allowed me to maintain my employment, and given us hope for a better future.” - Parent from San Bernardino, CA
California has spent decades building an early care and education and child care infrastructure that gives families a foundation to build on. The path forward is not about creating a one-size-fits-all system, but about strengthening the system that already exists so providers can remain in business, educators can earn sustainable wages, and families can find care that works for their schedules, budgets, and family and child needs. A strong child care system must address both sides of the equation: making child care more affordable for families while making it economically sustainable for the people who provide it. When affordability and accessibility improve together, families have greater opportunities to choose the care that works best for them, and California strengthens its foundation for families, children, and the early care and education workforce/field.
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