2021 Texas Child Care Market Rate Survey
In this 2021 Texas Child Care Market Rate survey report, explore the rates charged to the general public for child care between October 2020 and July 2021. The report summarizes child care market rate data for Texas and each of its 28 local workforce development areas.
Researchers at the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing conducted the report in collaboration with the Ray Marshall Center. Each year, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) contracts the survey as part of an annual project.
In this 2021 report, researchers estimated market rates for child care using a combination of survey data and Texas Workforce Commission data on published rates of providers who accept subsidies. Researchers surveyed three types of child care facilities: licensed child care centers, registered homes, and licensed homes.
Compared to the previous year, estimated median daily rates increased by about 7.9%, or about $1.81 per day. Market rates for child care have been increasing above the normal rate of inflation since 2020. The typical child care inflation rate in Texas is between 2–5% per year. This increase in rates is unsurprising given impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and a significant number of facilities no longer licensed to care for children.
2021 Texas Child Care Market Rate Survey Final Report (PDF)
Supplemental Report (PDF)
Supplemental Report (Excel)
Supplemental Report – Expanded Percentiles (PDF)