Childcare vs Salary Calculator
Put your nursery or daycare quote next to the salary that pays for it. This calculator shows the share of gross pay and of take-home pay that childcare swallows, what is genuinely left over each month, and how the answer changes if the second parent drops to part time.
Your numbers
The parent working in every scenario
The returning or second earner
Full-time cost while both parents work
Fares, fuel, parking
Rent or mortgage payment
Household food shop
Your result
Childcare as a share of the second salary
29.9%
Childcare takes 29.9% of the second earner's take-home pay (28.4% of gross), leaving $2,827 extra in the household each month.
| Per month | Both parents work | One parent at home | Second parent part time (60%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take-home income | $9,794 | $5,447 | $8,153 |
| Childcare | -$1,300 | $0 | -$780 |
| Commuting | -$440 | -$220 | -$352 |
| Housing | -$1,800 | -$1,800 | -$1,800 |
| Other living costs | -$2,050 | -$2,050 | -$2,050 |
| Left over each month | $4,204 | $1,377 | $3,171 |
Taxes use published United States income-tax bands with no childcare subsidy applied. See the methodology.
Open these numbers in the full calculatorHow to read this comparison
Childcare as a share of pay, not of the household budget
The honest comparison is against the take-home pay of the parent whose work makes care necessary — not against total household income. A £1,100 nursery bill is 22% of a £60,000 household but well over half of a £26,000 second salary after tax.
The part-time middle ground
Dropping to three or four days often removes proportionally more childcare cost than income, because care is billed per day while tax is levied on the whole salary. The part-time scenario in the results shows whether that trade works for your numbers.
Costs the nursery invoice hides
Registration deposits, holiday retainers, late-pickup fees, nappies and food supplements, plus the commute and convenience spending that only exist because you work. Add them into the monthly childcare and commute fields to get a truthful picture.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of your salary should childcare be?
The US federal affordability benchmark is 7% of household income. In practice families in major metros commonly pay 15–25% of household income, and 40–60% of a single second salary, for one infant in full-time care.
How do I compare daycare cost to my take-home pay?
Take the second earner's gross salary, subtract the tax on that salary alone, divide by twelve, then subtract the monthly childcare and commuting bill. What remains is the real monthly value of that job — which is what this calculator computes.
Is part-time work better when childcare is expensive?
Often, yes. Childcare is charged per day, so three days of care costs roughly 60% of full-time, while the salary drop is partly cushioned by lower tax. The part-time scenario here compares both options directly.
Which countries does this calculator support?
The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and South Africa, each with its own published income-tax bands and currency.