How much does daycare cost in Seattle?
Two numbers matter: what the county-wide data says, and what the program in front of you actually charges. This page keeps them separate.
King County medians, by age (2024)
| Age group | Median price | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (0–11 mo) | $2,530/mo | full-time |
| Toddler (1–2½ yr) | $2,167/mo | full-time |
| Preschool (2½–5 yr) | $1,820/mo | full-time |
| School-age | ≈$500/mo | part-time, before/after school |
Source: Child Care Aware of WA — King County 2024 report — medians across licensed centers county-wide, not quotes from any provider on this site. Licensed family homes generally charge less; Seattle-proper centers often charge more than the county median.
What Seattle providers actually charge
Most programs quote tuition only on request. 6 of Seattle's 339 licensed providers currently publish rates on their own websites — on their pages here, that's the 💲 tuition published chip, shown with the source link and the date we checked. Published full-time rates at those providers run roughly $2,300 to $3,800 a month depending on age — noticeably above the county medians.
When you tour, ask for the all-in number: registration fee, deposit, supply fees, and the late-pickup rate (question 9 of the tour checklist).
Why it costs this much
Child care pricing is mostly a staffing equation. Washington's licensing rules (WAC 110-300-0356) cap one caregiver at 4 infants, 7 toddlers, 10 preschoolers or 15 school-age kids — so each infant seat carries roughly 2–3× the labor of a preschool seat, in a city with high commercial rent and a high minimum wage. That's also why tuition steps down at each room change, and why a program staffing tighter than the required ratio is genuinely spending more on your child.
Ways to bring the number down
Washington's Working Connections subsidy, Seattle's Child Care Assistance Program, the sliding-scale Seattle Preschool Program, state pre-K (ECEAP), and the Dependent Care FSA (raised to $7,500/year for 2026) can each cut thousands off the sticker price — the paying-for-care guide walks through who qualifies for what.
Quick answers
How much is infant daycare in Seattle per month?
The 2024 median at licensed King County centers was $2,530/month for full-time infant care (Child Care Aware of WA — King County 2024 report). Seattle providers that publish infant rates list roughly $3,200–$3,800/month.
How much is preschool or toddler care in Seattle?
2024 King County licensed-center medians: $2,167/month for toddlers and $1,820/month for preschool age, full-time. Rates at individual Seattle programs vary widely — always confirm current tuition directly.
Why is infant care so much more expensive?
Staffing. Washington centers may assign one caregiver at most four infants (WAC 110-300-0356), versus seven toddlers or ten preschoolers — so an infant seat carries two to three times the labor of a preschool seat.
How can I pay less for child care in Washington?
Working Connections Child Care (the state subsidy), Seattle’s Child Care Assistance Program, the sliding-scale Seattle Preschool Program for 3–4 year olds, and a Dependent Care FSA (up to $7,500/year pre-tax in 2026) are the main levers. Some providers offer their own sliding scales or scholarships.