Tell Us: How Much is Daycare Costing You?

There is no way around it: working moms and dads are paying a lot of their salary to a daycare provider.

According to a study publicized in the Boston Globe by Child Care Aware® of America, Massachusetts had the highest average annual cost for full-time infant daycare in the U.S. at an average $14,980 per year, and that top expense continues through age 4.

It’s only when a child enters school that the state drops off the top 10 list.

According to the article, even if you look at the figure as a percentage of income, Massachusetts still ranks in the top 10. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that parents spend no more than 10 percent of their family income on childcare. Wishful thinking. In Massachusetts, the cost of care as a percentage of state median income for a two-parent family is 14.2 percent. If you’re a single mom, it’s crippling at 53.6 percent.

Tell us: What is your experience paying for daycare in the area? Are we part of the trend here in Andover?