Childcare Costs in Wisconsin vs Salary (2026)
Full-time infant daycare in Wisconsin runs about $1,130 a month — $13,560 a year, or 17.8% of the $76,000 median household income, and 5% below the 50-state average. Here is what that means for going back to work.
Average daycare cost in Wisconsin
- Per month
- $1,130
- Per week
- $261
- Per year
- $13,560
Full-time infant care. Preschool-age care is about $925 a month.
Next steps
Wisconsin childcare and cost-of-living figures
| Figure | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Infant daycare (0–2), full time | $1,130 | $13,560 |
| Four-year-old care, full time | $925 | $11,100 |
| Median 2-bedroom rent | $1,200 | $14,400 |
| Commute for the returning parent | $220 | $2,640 |
| Median household income | $6,333 | $76,000 |
Childcare prices are the published 2023 state averages (Wisconsin: $13,572 a year for infant care, $11,128 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 Wisconsin?
One child in care
$16,500
Gross salary needed to cover $16,200 of childcare and commuting after tax.
Two children in care
$27,500
Gross salary needed to cover $27,300 for an infant plus a four-year-old, and the commute.
Childcare plus rent consumes roughly 36.8% of the median Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin numbers
Load the Wisconsin averages into the calculator — $1,130 of childcare, $1,200 of rent and a $76,000 household income — then replace them with your real salary and daycare quote.
Use these Wisconsin numbersWisconsin childcare cost FAQs
How much does daycare cost in Wisconsin?
Full-time infant daycare in Wisconsin averages about $1,130 a month ($13,560 a year) in 2026 — about 5% below the 50-state average of $1,188. Care for a four-year-old is cheaper, around $925 a month, because required staff-to-child ratios loosen.
What salary do you need to break even on childcare in Wisconsin?
A returning parent in Wisconsin needs roughly $16,500 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 $27,500.
What percentage of income goes to childcare in Wisconsin?
One infant in full-time care eats about 17.8% of the $76,000 median Wisconsin household income. Add the $1,200 median two-bedroom rent and childcare plus housing take roughly 36.8% of gross income — far above the 7% federal affordability benchmark.
Is childcare cheaper in Wisconsin than the rest of the US?
At $1,130 a month for infant care, Wisconsin is about 5% 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 New Mexico — $1,125/mo
- Childcare costs in Indiana — $1,145/mo
- Childcare costs in Arizona — $1,170/mo
- Childcare costs in Nebraska — $1,085/mo
- Childcare costs in Nevada — $1,085/mo
- Childcare costs in Missouri — $1,075/mo
All 50 states · Childcare costs by city · US childcare calculator