Facts In Action

A recent study about child care expenses by the Urban Institute reported that 48% of employed families with children under age 13 pay for child care, with an average cost per month of $303.

The average cost of child care amounts to a significantly larger percentage of low-income families' parental earnings, however:

• Low-income families pay an average of 14% of earnings for child care
  
• Higher-income families pay an average of 7% of earnings for child care

Source:
Getting Help with Child Care Expenses, L. Giannarelli, S. Adelman, and S. Schmidt, The Urban Institute, 2003.

For more information:
look online at www.urban.org

Facts in Action, March/April 2003