Just read the earlier post about daycare costs...

MrsPilz · August 2010

I am curious...where are you and what do you pay for a group center? I am in a small town area and our center charges $155/wk ages 6wks-3yrs and a little less as they get older. We provide all meals and formula. And even more interested if you know what the staff make

Thanks

BeccaMarie · August 2010

My DD goes to a chain child care center in St. Paul MN. They are accredited and worth every penny that I pay.

Infant tuition is well over $300/week (don't remember exactly, but I know we budgeted $1,300/month, which wasn't quite enough for the year) for full-time

Toddler tuition is about $275/week for full-time

The center provides all food, formula for babies on formula (one brand only), wipes, etc. Parents provide diapers, breast milk (obviously), change of clothes and a lovey.

I would take an educated guess, that the lead teachers, with a couple years of experience make around $11/hour. Aides obviously make less, and lead teachers with more experience make more. One obviously does not go into childcare to get rich.

All lead teachers at my dd's center have a degree in early childhood education.

I am not sure how your center makes it work at $155/week for infants. What is the required staff-child ratio there?!?!? (here it is 1:4 for 6 weeks - 16 months)

MrsPilz · August 2010

our ratio is 1:4 for 2 and under. We are in a city of 20k So cost of living isnt quite as high. And you are so very correct on not getting rich

But I remember a training session we had where the speaker said it well... " We dont get into childcare for the money...its for the warm and fuzzies "

jesspacatc · August 2010

I pay 320/week for 60 hours a week - i'm about 50 miles north of NYC, so we have a suburban population. We bring everything - which is ok with me.

Trissie18 · August 2010

We pay $325 a week for an infant up to 18 months ($175) and a toddler 18 months to 3 ($150) in central NY. The center is a state run facility with a $75 million dollar a year budget. We provide everything (diapers, wipes, food, etc.) except snacks for both boys.

Alibean · August 2010

So, this was over 3 years ago (I'm a SAHM until Monday) but then I paid over $1000/mo for part-time care m-w-f for an infant. The ratio was 1:5 and it was in a suburb just south of Denver. I _think_ FT paid over $300/week.

KathrynMD · August 2010

We pay 1500/mo for full time 6:30-6:30 infant and toddler care (we don't stay that long, but we could). Our rate won't go down until DD graduates to the 2's room which basically means she's potty trained, and even then it only goes down to 1100 or 1200. The ratio is 1:3. We live in Columbia, MD - halfway between DC and Baltimore so we are in a very HCOL area

aocain02@yahoo.com · August 2010

Holy cow there are some expensive daycares out there! When we were looking at centers, the one we were going to put DS in (but thankfully ended up with family to watch him) was at a church and would've been $980/month. We would supply everything for him...diapers, wipes, formula/breast milk, food, etc.

EuroChick · August 2010

For full time 1410 euro a month 7:45 to 5:45 daily. The only thing we provide is diapers and the cost is the same from 3 months to 4 years old. BUT the Dutch government pays 37% and DH's work pays 45% of the rest so it works out to be a good deal. When LO two comes Dutch government will pay 57% and DH's work 45% so it actually won't cost anything

It's a great deal, at least I know where my tax dollars go....

TKx2 · August 2010

We go to a local chain (4 centers in the area) and pay $250 per week. It was $276 when she was in the infant room. They do provide meals and snacks for the toddlers and older. My sister worked in daycares in college and the workers make squat...she made about $8/hour and she said the head teachers that were there for a long time were making about $11 or $12...I made that working as a part time teller at a bank in college.

sju · August 2010

North FL.

We pay $890/month for DD (will go down a little when she turns 18mos and then each time she moves up), and $660 for DS after a 10% sibbling discount. DS's tuition will drop to $500 when he starts voluntary pre-k next year. They provide all food and wipes. We also pay $450/yr for registration and supplies. No formula for infants though.

Our old daycare was run by a church and it was cheaper. We paid $1000 for both kids and it was about to go down when DD turned one but we switched daycares. They provided drinks and snacks for kids older than 18 mos. We had to provide the rest, which was fine. Yearly registration and supplies was $65/per child.

I don't know how much the teachers make but I know it is not much based on comments I heard from one teacher. She said her job did not pay but she loved it.

LuaBear · August 2010

Pittsburgh. We start her at the best daycare in the city next month. We pay just over $1000 a month and provide diapers, wipes, and a change of clothes. The center has the formula (one kind only).

rissainthesky* · August 2010

ours cost $310 a week in NJ for infant room. 3:1 ratio, and they provided nothing.

kcox123 · August 2010

We use a small center that has 12 infants (3 teachers), 15 toddlers (3 teachers), 15 2 year olds (2 teachers), 15 3 year olds (2 teachers), and up to 20 in pre-k which is 4 & 5 year olds (2 teachers). Rates range from around $190 per week for infants to around $150 per week for pre-k. Each time they move "up" a class the rate drops by around $7-8 per week or so. Our center provides all drinks, breakfast, hot lunch and snacks. They do not provide formula for infants, diapers or wipes (we bring that stuff). I do not know what the staff make but it's near the top of daycares in our area and they get health insurance so the good ones rarely leave. The owner is an RN (former L&D nurse) so that's a bonus too. ANd there's a full-time manager who is awesome and doesn't put up with anything from the staff (if they are late just a few times - they are out. If they just seem consistently grouchy or impatient - out. And I've seen them kick kids out (rarely but I've seen it at least 2 times in the 4 years my oldest has been there) for behavior related issues that clearly aren't being at least worked on at home (one was a biter and the parents clearly weren't concerned even though their kid was biting others weekly - as in drawing blood; the other kids was just terrible in terms of behavior - rude, loud, violent, etc. and it was clear the parents weren't doing or saying anything to him to get it under control).

AutumnBride929 · August 2010

I'm in a relatively small city in NC. It's small to us, at least (we are not from here). Our DC center costs $190/wk ages 6wks-2yrs and then it progressively goes down a little bit as they get older. They provide snacks and meals; we provide formula and purees.

cc62406 · August 2010

Northern IL, near Chicago suburbs. Pay $203 for infant to 2 yr. Cost increase in 1 week to $223. Ratio is 4:1. Rates then go down as they move up, get potty trained, ratio goes up, etc. . No idea what teachers make or if the get benefits.

TarzansWife · August 2010

Small beach town north of San Diego (where EVERYTHING is more expensive). Infant care is $1600 per mo. Next mo. LO moves to the toddler room and it goes down to $1000 per mo. Infant room ratio is 2:8. Toddler room ratio is 1:10. We provide everything.

Artslvr · August 2010

From a poll I did in 2007, then updated for 2009, on the Washington, DC Bump board: https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=0Aj1JxqE0aW0JcDZMaFhsTkk5RmRVMmNWeTBrQ05aZVE&hl=en&output=html

MegGary · August 2010

I live in east central NJ & we pay $150 a week. They provide everything including formula. They have a large selection as well. I know that up to 18 months it's $165. We didn't start there till she was 18 months so we didn't pay that. It's also run by the church so it's non-profit.

The daycare she went to before we could get into the current one was $200 a week. Nothing included. They did pizza on Wednesdays & we paid an extra $12 for the month for that. DD lovessss her pizza so no big deal. That DC was right outside NYC & privatly run.

michelcreek · August 2010

Suburn of San Francisco - group center for infant to 1 yr. is $1900 a month, they provide snacks, we provide bottles. The staff don't make much at all, and they all have degrees! It's sad really how that works out.