Childcare Costs in Tennessee vs Salary (2026)
Full-time infant daycare in Tennessee runs about $1,000 a month — $12,000 a year, or 17.4% of the $69,000 median household income, and 16% below the 50-state average. Here is what that means for going back to work.
Average daycare cost in Tennessee
- Per month
- $1,000
- Per week
- $231
- Per year
- $12,000
Full-time infant care. Preschool-age care is about $865 a month.
Next steps
Tennessee childcare and cost-of-living figures
| Figure | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Infant daycare (0–2), full time | $1,000 | $12,000 |
| Four-year-old care, full time | $865 | $10,380 |
| Median 2-bedroom rent | $1,450 | $17,400 |
| Commute for the returning parent | $220 | $2,640 |
| Median household income | $5,750 | $69,000 |
Childcare prices are the published 2023 state averages (Tennessee: $11,985 a year for infant care, $10,389 for a 4-year-old); income and rent are 2026 estimates. Childcare: Child Care Aware of America — Price of Care: 2023 Affordability Analysis (Table I). Income: U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey. Housing: HUD Fair Market Rents. Full methodology and dataset.
What salary do you need to break even in Tennessee?
One child in care
$15,000
Gross salary needed to cover $14,640 of childcare and commuting after tax.
Two children in care
$25,500
Gross salary needed to cover $25,020 for an infant plus a four-year-old, and the commute.
Childcare plus rent consumes roughly 42.6% of the median Tennessee household income, far above the 7% the federal government calls affordable. Below the break-even line a second income is close to unpaid work in cash terms — the second-earner trap — though pension contributions and future wage growth still argue for staying in work (see the opportunity cost of staying home).
Test your own salary against these figures with the two-income break-even calculator or see what survives your nursery bill with the childcare vs salary calculator.
Run your own Tennessee numbers
Load the Tennessee averages into the calculator — $1,000 of childcare, $1,450 of rent and a $69,000 household income — then replace them with your real salary and daycare quote.
Use these Tennessee numbersCity-level childcare costs in Tennessee
Prices inside Tennessee vary widely — metro centers typically run well above the statewide figure.
- Childcare costs in Nashville, TN — $1,170/mo infant care
Tennessee childcare cost FAQs
How much does daycare cost in Tennessee?
Full-time infant daycare in Tennessee averages about $1,000 a month ($12,000 a year) in 2026 — about 16% below the 50-state average of $1,188. Care for a four-year-old is cheaper, around $865 a month, because required staff-to-child ratios loosen.
What salary do you need to break even on childcare in Tennessee?
A returning parent in Tennessee needs roughly $15,000 gross to cover one infant in full-time care plus commuting after federal tax. With two children in care the break-even rises to about $25,500.
What percentage of income goes to childcare in Tennessee?
One infant in full-time care eats about 17.4% of the $69,000 median Tennessee household income. Add the $1,450 median two-bedroom rent and childcare plus housing take roughly 42.6% of gross income — far above the 7% federal affordability benchmark.
Is childcare cheaper in Tennessee than the rest of the US?
At $1,000 a month for infant care, Tennessee is about 16% below the 50-state average of $1,188. Prices inside the state still vary widely: metro centers typically run 20–40% above rural counties.
States with similar childcare prices
- Childcare costs in Maine — $995/mo
- Childcare costs in Iowa — $1,015/mo
- Childcare costs in Alaska — $980/mo
- Childcare costs in North Carolina — $1,020/mo
- Childcare costs in Montana — $975/mo
- Childcare costs in Ohio — $1,030/mo
All 50 states · Childcare costs by city · US childcare calculator