Childcare Workers pay range in Santa Fe
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,660 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,300 or more. The middle half of childcare workers in Santa Fe earn between $34,270 and $43,530.
- $31K10th
- $34K25th
- $36KMedian
- $44K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,500 | $3,208 | $18.51 |
| Median | $36,440 | $3,037 | $17.52 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,270 | $2,856 | $16.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,530 | $3,628 | $20.93 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Childcare Workers pay in Santa Fe vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Childcare workers in Santa Fe earn 8% more than the New Mexico average ($35,510) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($35,030). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $34,980.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $38,500 | $36,440 | $30,660 | $46,300 | 130 |
| New Mexico | $35,510 | $35,840 | $29,880 | $42,190 | 4,120 |
| United States | $35,030 | $34,980 | $24,260 | $46,010 | 518,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Childcare Workers salary after taxes in Santa Fe
On the average salary of $38,500, a single filer in Santa Fe takes home about $32,427 a year, or $2,702 a month and $1,247 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Santa Fe a good place for childcare workers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Fe area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.8), so the average $38,500 buys what about $38,981 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Fe ($48,710). A typical home costs $558,896, or 14.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Childcare Workers salary in other New Mexico cities
Santa Fe ranks 1st of 4 New Mexico metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Santa Fe$38,500
- Albuquerque$36,000
- Farmington$34,750
- Las Cruces$34,380
Highest-paying cities for childcare workers
Sarasota, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,680).
- Sarasota, FL$52,680
- San Jose, CA$48,450
- San Francisco, CA$46,100
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Boulder, CO$44,280
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Childcare Workers salary in Santa Fe: questions
How much do childcare workers make an hour in Santa Fe?
$18.51 an hour on average, and $17.52 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level childcare workers salary in Santa Fe?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,660 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the childcare workers take-home pay in Santa Fe?
About $32,427 a year ($2,702 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,500.
Do childcare workers earn more in Santa Fe than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% more than the U.S. average for this job ($35,030).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 39-9011; area Santa Fe, NM (42140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.63, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.63).
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