Cost of Quality Childcare
Survey Analysis
February 2012
Overview
 Section 1: Staff Salaries and Benefits
 Number of staff, average hours worked/week, hourly wage,
annual salary
 Substitute teacher use and cost, total amount spent on
supervision
 Healthcare, Unemployment Insurance, and Fringe Benefits
 Section 2: Professional Development
 Courses/programs, materials, staffing costs, release time
2
Overview
 Section 3: Occupancy Costs
 Quality of space, geographic location, tenure status
 Occupancy costs, upkeep, subsidized costs/services
 Section 4: Curriculum
and Assessment
 Spending on curriculum materials and assessment tools
 Hours devoted to curriculum preparation and
administering/scoring student assessments
3
Overview
 Section 5: Classroom Materials
 General classroom expenses, new or used purchases
 Personal care, food-related, computer-related expenses
 Janitorial services, cleaning-related duties
 Section 6: Other Expenses
 Other miscellaneous expenses
 Parent outreach/involvement
4
Respondent Profile
 379 respondents (after removing all duplicates, incomplete or
invalid responses)

22.8% response rate
 Program classifications

57% center-based or school-based programs

36% family child care programs

7% after-school or out of school time programs
 Enrollment by age group
5

Infants: average 5.5 enrolled, median 3

Toddlers/preschool: average 35.8 enrolled, median 19

School-age: average 40.4, median 8.5
Section 1: Staff Salaries and Benefits
Number of Direct Service Staff

6
For the director and assistant director positions, a strong majority of respondents
employ just one staff member. Conversely, half of respondents indicated that
between two and 11 staff members are employed in the teacher position, with a
group average of approximately nine teachers on staff.
Director
Assistant
Director
Teacher
Assistant
Teacher
Classroom
Support
Administrative
Support
Count
295
121
297
237
65
120
Mean
1.69
1.21
8.83
4.20
3.88
2.68
Minimum
1
1
1
1
1
0.5
1st Quartile
1
1
2
1
1
1
Median
1
1
6
2
2
2
3rd Quartile
1
1
11
4
4
3
Maximum
150
4
80
78
30
15
Section 1: Staff Salaries and Benefits
Hours Worked Per Week

7
Directors, assistant directors, and teachers were most likely to work full time (40
hours per week) or close to it, while assistant teachers, classroom support, and
administrative support typically appeared to work on a part-time basis.
Director
Assistant
Director
Teacher
Assistant
Teacher
Classroom
Support
Administrative
Support
Count
292
120
291
232
61
113
Mean
42.12
35.89
36.35
25.94
24.57
33.07
Minimum
1
2
1
1
0.25
1
1st Quartile
40
35
31.75
16
8
30
Median
40
40
40
25
30
37.5
3rd Quartile
50
40
40
35.06
40
40
Maximum
75
55
100
100
42
80
Section 1: Staff Salaries and Benefits
Hourly Wage
 Respondents
reported higher average hourly wages
for administrative support and directors, followed by
classroom support and assistant directors.
8
Section 1: Staff Salaries and Benefits
Average Hourly Wage

Some of the highest average hourly wages are observed for administrative support
in central city locations and after-school programs ($24.30 and $24.04) as well as
directors in town locations and center-based or school-based programs ($22.86 and
$22.16). Some of the lowest average hourly wages were for assistant teachers in
rural settings and family child care programs, as well as assistant directors in family
child care programs.
Director
After-School or Out
of School Time
Program
Center-Based or
School-Based
Family Child Care
Program
Central City
Rural
Suburban
9
Town
Assistant
Assistant Classroom Admin.
Teacher
Director
Teacher
Support Support
$19.81
$15.10
$11.58
$9.62
$15.50
$24.04
$22.16
$17.83
$13.78
$10.33
$19.06
$22.16
$16.14
$9.33
$12.67
$9.43
$10.85
$22.80
$21.53
$18.42
$18.46
$22.86
$18.06
$18.48
$15.38
$17.08
$13.07
$12.13
$14.42
$13.19
$10.51
$9.37
$10.72
$9.95
$15.53
-$20.33
$17.53
$24.30
$19.30
$18.89
$21.51
Section 1: Staff Salaries and Benefits
Annual Salary
 Again, the highest average salaries, as demonstrated
by the group mean and median, were observed
among directors and administrative support staff.
10
Section 1: Staff Salaries and Benefits
Average Annual Salary

Administrative support staff and directors are among the highest paid, most notably
in after-school programs and family child care programs (administrative support),
center-based or school-based programs (directors), and central city locations
(highest for all positions).
Director
Assistant
Assistant Classroom Admin.
Teacher
Director
Teacher
Support Support
$43,317
$30,964
$19,469
$18,061
$24,980
$50,001
$51,129
$39,605
$30,373
$17,425
$32,161
$46,181
$39,869
$23,075
$34,200
$14,104
$8,508
$50,306
Central City
$57,356
$40,496
$34,767
$20,178
$30,836
$51,804
Rural
$43,920
$40,509
$31,438
--
--
$35,686
Suburban
$44,780
$34,300
$33,250
$17,741
$2,500
$28,104
Town
$45,013
$35,503
$26,218
$12,830
$1,500
$45,039
After-School or Out
of School Time
Program
Center-Based or
School-Based
Family Child Care
Program
11
Section 1: Staff Salaries and Benefits
Substitute Teacher Use and Cost

12
Responses varied for the average number of days substitutes were used: the group
median was 20, while the group average was 54. Conversely, over half of
respondents indicated that the average cost of a substitute for one day of work was
between $50 and $96, with a group median and mean of $72 and $78, respectively.
Number of Days Substitutes
Were Used
Average Cost of a Substitute
for One Day of Work
Count
201
216
Mean
54
$78
Minimum
1
$5
1st Quartile
5
$50
Median
20
$72
3rd Quartile
60
$96
Maximum
300
$688
Section 1: Staff Salaries and Benefits
Supervision Spending
 Total spending on supervision
13

Mean: $110,397

Median: $34,000

Mid-50%: $5,000-$100,000
Section 1: Staff Salaries and Benefits
Benefits
 Teachers and directors were the most likely to receive all
three types of benefits, and healthcare benefits tended to
be the most common benefits received across the board.
14
Section 1: Staff Salaries and Benefits
Benefits

15
The highest average amounts were spent on healthcare benefits for
teachers, fringe benefits for classroom support, and fringe benefits for
teachers. Overall, unemployment insurance benefits had the lowest
average annual amounts across all position categories.
Section 1: Staff Salaries and Benefits
Average Total Benefits

Facilities based in central city locations had the highest total amounts for all
benefits, most notably fringe benefits ($87,815) and health benefits ($66,661). The
lowest average total benefits appear to be centered on unemployment benefits,
which had some of the lowest total amounts overall, and among programs in rural
locations.
After-School or Out of
School Time Program
Center-Based or
School-Based
Family Child Care
Program
Central City
Rural
Suburban
Town
16
Total Health
Benefits
Total
Unemployment
Benefits
Total Fringe
Benefits
$25,211
$13,572
$63,172
$51,122
$14,818
$42,821
$16,716
$13,267
$19,777
$66,661
$22,739
$42,722
$34,491
$22,266
$6,468
$5,298
$9,935
$87,815
$5,844
$32,343
$20,638
Section 2: Professional Development
Spending

17
Teachers and directors were the most likely to benefit from spending on
professional development courses and/or programs (based on number of
respondents – see accompanying report). Overall, spending on professional
development courses and/or programs appears to be highest for classroom support
staff and teachers.
Section 2: Professional Development
Spending

18
Again, teachers and directors were the most likely to benefit from spending on
professional development materials (based on number of respondents – see
accompanying report). On average, teachers received the highest average amounts
of spending on professional development materials, while the values were generally
comparable across the other four direct service positions.
Section 2: Professional Development
Spending

19
Of the five categories, the most common type of professional development for
which spending was reported was “professional development for licensing
requirements” (count shown in accompanying report), while the highest group
mean was for “college-level courses.”
Section 2: Professional Development
Staffing Costs
20

When asked to indicate how much their facility spends each year on
instructors hired to teach professional development courses, half of the
114 respondents who answered this question provided a response of
between $300 and $1,875, with a group mean of $2,393.

When asked how much their facility spends each year on staffing costs
associated with covering staff who are participating in professional
development courses or programs, half of the 97 respondents reported
spending between $300 and $2,000 for these staffing costs, with a group
mean of $1,819.
Section 2: Professional Development
Release Time

21
When asked about the number of hours available in professional development
release time each year for direct service staff, all positions received roughly similar
amounts of release time, with classroom support staff and teachers receiving a few
more days for professional development, on average.
Section 2: Professional Development
Average Total Spending and Release Time

Some of the highest average costs were in central city locations (courses/programs
and other costs) and among after-school or out of school time programs (other
costs). Professional development materials appear to have very low levels of
spending, most notably among rural and town locations and family child care
programs. Central city locations appear to allow for the most professional
development release time, while rural locations seem to allow the least.
After-School or Out of
School Time Program
Center-Based or
School-Based
Family Child Care
Program
Central City
Rural
Suburban
Town
22
Courses and
Programs
Materials
Other PD
Costs
Release Time
(Hours)
$4,394
$1,398
$4,521
79.2
$4,365
$1,118
$4,207
74.6
$1,476
$1,023
$1,209
60.6
$6,552
$1,083
$2,533
$1,821
$1,436
$380
$1,101
$1,001
$5,417
$2,291
$3,227
$1,783
90.1
49.2
79.2
59.8
Section 3: Occupancy Costs
Quality of Space
23

Class A buildings are the most prestigious
buildings competing for premier office
users with rents above average for the
area. Buildings have high quality standard
finishes, state of the art systems,
exceptional accessibility and a definite
market presence.

Class B buildings compete for a wide range
of users with rents in the average range
for the area. Building finishes are fair to
good for the area. Building finishes are fair
to good for the area and systems are
adequate, but the building does not
compete with Class A at the same price.

Class C buildings compete for tenants
requiring functional space at rents below
the average for the area.
Section 3: Occupancy Costs
Geographic Location
 The most common response was “town,” at 42.9
percent of respondents, followed by “central city” at
29.1 percent.
24
Section 3: Occupancy Costs
Tenure Status
25

Own: tenant is the sole owner of
all facility properties

Rent: a short-term agreement
with a landlord that can be
changed or amended on a regular
basis

Lease: a long-term contract with
a landlord renting land and
buildings to a tenant
Section 3: Occupancy Costs
Property Owners
Count
Mean
Minimum
1st Quartile
Median
rd
3 Quartile
Maximum
Count
Mean
Minimum
1st Quartile
Median
rd
3 Quartile
Maximum
26
Large-Scale
Maintenance
Projects
78
$10,398
$50
$1,275
$3,000
$10,000
$100,000
Utilities
Classroom Play Spaces or
Environments
138
$14,170
$200
$3,000
$5,000
$10,000
$228,900
84
$2,983
$50
$500
$1,000
$2,125
$35,000
Painting
Furniture
Equipment
101
$983
$10
$200
$350
$1,000
$8,000
90
$1,292
$50
$213
$500
$1,800
$7,500
102
$1,666
$50
$300
$500
$2,000
$11,090
Cooking
Supplies
78
$729
$15
$100
$400
$925
$5,000
Small Repairs &
Renovations
107
$2,742
$100
$475
$800
$2,000
$45,000
Section 3: Occupancy Costs
Property Renters
Count
Mean
Minimum
1st Quartile
Median
rd
3 Quartile
Maximum
Count
Mean
Minimum
1st Quartile
Median
rd
3 Quartile
Maximum
27
Rent
Utilities
40
$48,044
$1,000
$12,900
$18,600
$36,000
$600,000
29
$17,884
$500
$2,000
$4,320
$9,360
$300,000
Painting
Furniture
Equipment
22
$3,735
$100
$250
$500
$1,000
$61,500
26
$3,587
$100
$500
$1,100
$2,000
$61,500
29
$3,531
$100
$500
$1,000
$2,000
$61,500
Classroom Play Spaces or
Environments
29
$4,878
$100
$600
$1,000
$3,000
$62,000
Cooking
Supplies
17
$24,610
$25
$200
$300
$600
$400,000
Small Repairs &
Renovations
34
$3,553
$100
$300
$806
$2,717
$61,500
Section 3: Occupancy Costs
Property Lessees
Count
Mean
Minimum
1st Quartile
Median
rd
3 Quartile
Maximum
Count
Mean
Minimum
1st Quartile
Median
rd
3 Quartile
Maximum
28
Rent
Utilities
51
$70,044
$1,500
$20,000
$39,000
$98,801
$368,000
51
$18,547
$300
$2,450
$8,000
$19,437
$160,008
Painting
Furniture
Equipment
42
$1,370
$100
$300
$700
$2,000
$6,000
42
$1,792
$100
$500
$1,250
$2,375
$8,000
50
$2,381
$100
$500
$1,500
$3,000
$20,000
Classroom Play Spaces or
Environments
44
$3,771
$300
$1,000
$2,000
$4,625
$21,113
Cooking
Supplies
26
$1,065
$100
$213
$425
$1,375
$5,000
Small Repairs &
Renovations
51
$3,631
$100
$1,000
$1,700
$5,000
$30,000
Section 3: Occupancy Costs
Utilities

29
Lessees and renters had higher mean values for utilities than owners, at
$18,547 and $17,884 in annual costs, respectively.
Section 3: Occupancy Costs
Classroom Play Spaces/Environments

30
Renters had the highest mean values for spending on classroom play spaces
and environments, while owners had the lowest mean value.
Section 3: Occupancy Costs
Subsidized Costs/Services

31
Renters and lessees were asked if rent, utilities, or repair, renovation, and
maintenance services were subsidized for or donated to their facility. The most
common item (23.3 percent of respondents) to be subsidized or donated to lessees
was repair, renovation, and maintenance services. Conversely, rent and repair,
renovation, and maintenance services were subsidized or donated to nearly onefifth of renters. Populations include 52 renters and 69 lessees.
Section 3: Occupancy Costs
Average Total Occupancy Costs

Owners have some of the lowest overall costs in all cases except among after-school
programs. Conversely, renters and lessees had the highest total occupancy costs,
especially among center-based or school-based programs and in central city
locations.
After-School or Out of
School Time Program
Center-Based or
School-Based
Family Child Care
Program
Central City
Rural
Suburban
Town
32
Owners
Renters
Lessees
$81,390
$18,122
$83,800
$38,208
$113,556
$89,757
$10,401
$18,677
$34,700
$45,791
$15,740
$22,952
$16,641
$218,845
$34,666
$70,233
$36,083
$140,357
$67,751
$70,535
$41,773
Section 4: Curriculum and Assessment
Spending

Typical spending was considerably higher for curriculum materials than for
assessment tools, and the group mean for curriculum materials was more
than double the group mean for assessment tools.
Count
Mean
Minimum
1st Quartile
Median
3rd Quartile
Maximum
33
Curriculum Materials
249
$4,502
$50
$500
$1,000
$3,500
$230,000
Assessment Tools
200
$1,996
$20
$195
$325
$1,000
$230,000
Section 4: Curriculum and Assessment
Hours Devoted to Curriculum Preparation

In general, it appears that directors, assistant directors, and teachers all
dedicate approximately the same amount of time to curriculum
preparation (average of around eight hours each week) while assistant
teachers devote an average of 5.3 hours each week.
Count
Mean
Minimum
1st Quartile
Median
rd
3 Quartile
Maximum
34
Director
Assistant Director
Teacher
Assistant Teacher
180
8.24
1
3
5
10
60
70
8.04
1
3
5
10
35
217
7.89
1
3
5
10
80
95
5.32
0.5
2
5
5
25
Section 4: Curriculum and Assessment
Hours Devoted to Assessments

The mean value for assistant directors was highest at 5.3 hours each week,
followed by teachers (5.1 hours) and directors (4.8 hours).
Count
Mean
Minimum
1st Quartile
Median
3rd Quartile
Maximum
35
Director
Assistant
Director
Teacher
Assistant
Teacher
113
4.78
0.25
1.5
3
5
40
49
5.31
0.5
2
4
5
38
174
5.06
0.25
2
3
5
75
55
3.26
0.5
1
2
5
20
Section 4: Curriculum and Assessment
Average Spending and Hours Devoted

For spending, central city facilities had the highest average total amount, while
family child care programs spent the least on average. Greater amounts of time
were typically devoted to curriculum preparation in after-school or out of school
time programs and in central city locations, while much less time was devoted to
administering and scoring student assessments in after-school or out of school time
programs and in family child care programs.
After-School or Out of
School Time Program
Center-Based or
School-Based
Family Child Care
Program
Central City
Rural
Suburban
Town
36
Total Spending
Curriculum
Preparation (Hours)
Assessments
(Hours)
$10,887
18.4
6.2
$8,344
17.8
10.7
$1,301
13.8
6.1
$11,806
$2,609
$3,263
$4,187
19.1
16.7
16.1
14.4
9.8
9.1
8.9
8.3
Section 5: Classroom Materials
Spending

37
Art materials received the highest group mean spending amount, followed by
materials to support language and literacy and materials for gross motor
development. Interestingly, the group medians for all classroom expenses
(excluding art materials) were between $173 and $250, indicating that the middle
ranges of values for all expenses were somewhat similar.
Section 5: Classroom Materials
Used or Second-Hand Purchases

38
Over half of respondents purchased less than 10 percent of these classroom
materials second-hand or used. Childcare providers that purchased more than 75
percent of these items second-hand or used constituted just 6 percent of the
sample.
Section 5: Classroom Materials
Personal Care Routines

39
Annual spending on cots and bedding typically ranged from $100 to $500, with a
group average of $891, making it the least costly material related to personal care
routines. Toileting and diapering was the most expensive, with half of respondents
indicating that their facility spent between $150 and $1,000, and a group average of
$1,563.
Section 5: Classroom Materials
Food-Related Expenses

40
The most costly food-related expense appeared to be the cost of staff to provide
food, which had a group average of $20,323. Although just 65 respondents
indicated that this expense was applicable, half of those respondents reported
paying between $2,000 and $20,462. Snacks were the least costly food-related
expense, which cost half of respondents between $1,000 and $5,000 and had a
group average of $4,950.
Section 5: Classroom Materials
Food Allowance from CACFP

A total of 148 respondents indicated that they do receive a food allowance from the
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which amounts to 56 percent of
respondents who answered this question. The amount received typically ranged
from $300 to $23,250, and the group average of $26,749 suggests that there were
several facilities receiving very large amounts from CACFP.
Amount Received from CACFP
41
Count
128
Mean
$26,749
Minimum
$300
1st Quartile
$3,000
Median
$6,000
3rd Quartile
$23,250
Maximum
$335,694
Section 5: Classroom Materials
Computer-Related Expenses and Office Supplies

42
Although budgets for office supplies appeared to be somewhat higher than the
three types of computer-related expenses overall, the group average for IT support
is by far the highest of the four, most likely because of several facilities budgeting
very large amounts of funding for this expense.
Section 5: Classroom Materials
Average Total Spending

The highest amounts of spending tended to be in central city locations and
center-based or school-based programs, especially for food-related and
computer-related expenses. The lowest amounts of spending were in the
areas of personal care spending (especially family child care programs,
after-school programs, and rural locations) and computer-related expenses
(specifically in family child care programs and town-based facilities).
Learning
Materials
After-School or Out of
School Time Program
Center-Based or
School-Based
Family Child Care
Program
Central City
Rural
Suburban
Town
43
Personal Care Food-Related
Spending
Expenses
ComputerRelated
Expenses
$4,751
$1,519
$19,156
$7,968
$10,863
$4,487
$34,594
$27,731
$2,162
$877
$7,693
$1,024
$16,824
$3,439
$3,260
$3,641
$6,638
$1,237
$1,744
$1,599
$57,854
$7,866
$15,190
$10,106
$49,460
$1,725
$1,925
$1,580
Section 5: Classroom Materials
Janitorial Services and Spending

44
When asked if their facility employs a janitor or contracts with a janitorial
service, slightly over half of respondents answered affirmatively (132 “yes”
versus 129 “no”). Facilities that use a janitor or janitorial service budget a
considerably higher amount for these services than facilities without
janitorial services spend on cleaning supplies.
Amount Budgeted
for Janitorial
Services
No Janitorial Services:
Amount Spent on
Cleaning Supplies
Count
110
102
Mean
$18,339
$841
Minimum
$20
$30
1st Quartile
$4,000
$250
Median
$10,000
$450
3rd Quartile
$20,000
$700
Maximum
$230,000
$9,500
Section 5: Classroom Materials
Average Spending on Janitorial Services and Cleaning

45
After-school or out of school time programs and central city-based
facilities appeared to spend the most on janitorial services, while centerbased or school-based programs and rural-based facilities spent the most
on cleaning supplies.
Section 5: Classroom Materials
Cleaning-Related Duties

46
Directors and teachers were most likely to perform any cleaning-related
duties (count of responses not shown here). Interestingly, all four direct
service positions typically spent the same amount of time performing
these duties: across all job categories, the middle-50 percent of responses
were in approximately the same range. The group means, however,
indicated that teachers and directors may have spent more time
performing cleaning-related duties.
Section 6: Other Expenses
Miscellaneous Spending

47
The widest middle 50-percent ranges of values were provided for transportation
and administrative office supports, and the highest group means were for
administrative office supports, transportation, and licensing fees.
Section 6: Other Expenses
Parent Outreach and Involvement

48
The highest group median value was for parent nights ($400), while the highest
group mean was for home visits ($3,300).
Section 6: Other Expenses
Parent Outreach and Involvement

49
Both parent outreach/communications and “other spending,” which includes items
such as advertising, accountants, and transportation, were highest in central city
locations and in center-based or school-based programs, and were lowest at family
child care programs.
Other Expenses
Parent Outreach
After-School or Out of School
Time Program
$76,023
$2,783
Center-Based or School-Based
$100,508
$5,351
Family Child Care Program
$2,150
$459
Central City
$193,134
$7,132
Rural
$10,127
$1,417
Suburban
$14,991
$3,178
Town
$12,098
$1,473