New York Is No Longer No. 1 – Why Parents Can Celebrate This Turning Point in Childcare

Bad news for parents: Childcare hourly rates nationwide jumped again last year, rising at a rate above inflation for the second year in a row.

New nationwide jump data released on Friday in Axios shows average caregiver wages are up about 9.7% compared to 2021, according to UrbanSitter. The caregiver selection website found that the national average for 2022 is about $22.68, about two dollars more than the previous year.

The $2 rally was reflected in major US cities such as San Francisco, Chicago, and Los Angeles. While in the underdogs, including Seattle and Austin, parents forked out more in cash, up $3 and $4 from last year, respectively.

Most notable in the rate breakdown, however, may be one city that saw a drop in hourly rates.

According to UrbanSitter, it will no doubt come as a shock to many that New York City was the only major metropolitan area to see a drop in childcare between 2021 and 2022.

The Big Apple has previously said it has the highest hourly rates for babysitting, averaging $23.45 in 2021. But after an unusual fall last year, the city ranks fifth behind San Francisco, Seattle, Austin and Los Angeles.

Where can parents find some of the cheapest rates? Well, it will be in Springfield, Missouri.