Josh Brooks hadn’t planned for a career taking care of young children, but in tenth grade he started spending time with his ...

The survey, done every month since 2021, found that the number of child care providers struggling economically is rising.

The data shows child care costs range from 8% to 19% of a median family’s income per child. That’s anywhere from $5,357 to $17,171 per year when adjusted for inflation.

Child care workers typically earned $13.71 an hour, or $28,520 a year, in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment remains lower than it was prior to the pandemic.

Hundreds of child care providers in 27 states and Washington, D.C., went on strike Monday to remind policymakers how essential they are, not only to families but to the nation’s economy.