Childcare Cost vs Working Calculator

What the Childcare Cost vs Working Calculator does

For many families, the cost of childcare takes a large share of a second earner’s pay. Subtracting taxes, childcare and work costs such as commuting from gross pay shows the net gain from working, though long-term career and retirement benefits also matter.

It also works as a childcare cost vs working calculator.

Formula

• Net gain = salary × (1 − tax) − childcare + subsidies − work costs
• Hourly = net gain ÷ hours including commuting

Worked example

Using the starting values in the calculator above:

How to read the result

Childcare costs fall as children reach school age, while career earnings usually rise, so the long-term picture often favours staying in work.

Dependent care FSAs and childcare tax credits can reduce the net cost of childcare.

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