Amid the unprecedented funding injected into early childhood education post-pandemic, the profession remains one of the most underpaid in the United States. Despite the significant investments, early care educators face persistent challenges, as highlighted by the latest findings from the 2024 Early Childhood Workforce Index, produced by the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment (CSCCE) at the University of California, Berkeley.
As of now, early childhood educators earn an average of $13.07 per hour, placing them in the lowest 3 percent of wage earners nationwide. In stark contrast, elementary and middle school teachers, by comparison, make about $31.80 per hour, and the average earnings for U.S. workers across various industries hover around $23 per hour.
This deep-seated disparity was already embedded in the early care system prior to the pandemic, primarily due to a dynamic where families struggle with costs, yet providers cannot afford to lower their charges. This unsustainable model results in early educators, who are overwhelmingly women—98 percent—and many of whom are women of color, receiving insufficient compensation for their critical role in developing young brains during the most formative years of life.
“Our child care workforce—the majority of whom have some higher education—are building our children’s brains in the most critical period of their development,” noted Caitlin McLean, lead author of the report and director of multi-state programs at CSCCE. “[Yet] early educators are paid so little that many worry where their next meal will come from.”
Compounding the issue is the lack of employer-sponsored benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans in early care programs, leading many educators—43 percent—to rely on public assistance programs like Medicaid and food stamps, generating an estimated $4.7 billion annual cost to taxpayers.
While the injection of federal funds, including the $39 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), helped avert massive closures and temporarily stabilized programs, much of this funding expired in September 2023, leaving many in a precarious position.
The absence of sustained funding has left the sector on unsteady ground. The data from the Workforce Index corroborates this reality, revealing that the financial help was never intended to reforge an ideal child care framework but merely averted the existing system’s collapse.
A case in point is Corrine Hendrickson, whose story exemplifies the challenges educators face after the expiration of ARPA funding. Hendrickson, who operates a licensed home-based child care program in rural Wisconsin, saw her hourly wage increase from $8 to $12 with ARPA funds but has since had to make difficult financial adjustments to maintain even that modest pay rate.
Such realities underline the challenges in the early childhood sector, where nationwide wage increments for early educators have only marginally improved by 4.6 percent, failing to keep pace with the broader workforce, food service employees, and retail workers. Several states have stepped in to mitigate the impact of the funding shortfall, with some areas experiencing notable wage growth, exemplified by Washington, D.C., where early educators received up to a 27.1 percent salary increase due to targeted state programs.
‘This Is a Serious Job’
One success story emerged from Washington, D.C. Lida Barthol, an infant and toddler teacher since 2016, saw her career transformed by local initiatives. Her salary climbed from $11 an hour to the equivalent of $36, reflecting not only the city’s investment in educators but the significance of their profession. The Pay Equity Fund, established by the DC Council, supplements earnings and has substantially enhanced recruitment and retention in the field.
Barthol shared, “It really changed everything about my life,” enabling her to find financial stability and personal fulfillment that once seemed elusive. The program symbolizes the value and necessity of recognizing early educators’ pivotal role, underscoring an important cultural shift toward valuing early childhood education as a critical societal component.
As the field stands at a critical juncture amid political shifts and the end of pandemic-driven support, the discussion around childcare continues to evolve within the national dialogue. Candidates from major parties have addressed childcare during their campaigns, with varying insights and proposed solutions, illuminating the complexities of achieving sustainable reform.
Barthol critically observed that the debate often oversimplifies solutions without addressing fundamental issues such as low pay and unpredictable benefits. For aspiring educators, the demands of the job quickly become apparent, highlighting the need for a system that genuinely supports young families and their caregivers.
As this dialogue advances, early childhood education awaits a fundamental restructuring that affirms its significance and adequately supports those dedicated to nurturing the nation’s youngest minds. The focus now is not merely on preserving existing frameworks but cultivating a sustainable, equitable future for early care professionals.
For further insights, visit the original article on EdSurge: Despite Historic Funding, Early Childhood Educators Continue to Struggle, Report Finds.
