A new report from the U.S. Department of Education shows what it calls a “troubling pay gap” for early childhood workers. They earn less than hairdressers, janitors, mail order clerks, tree trimmers and pest control workers.
On average, child care workers here earn about $24,000 a year. That’s about $3,000 more than the national average. Kindergarten teachers here earn $46,000 -- about $5,000 less than the national average.
That leaves Colorado with one of the smallest gaps between wages for child care workers and kindergarten teachers. In all states, the report shows the median earnings for child care workers qualify them for public benefits.
