Wages, Benefits, and Financial Circumstances of Center-Based Infant-Toddler Educators

This research highlight features new analysis of center-based infant-toddler educators’ workplace supports and financial circumstances using the 2024 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE). We found that infant-toddler educators earned lower wages, reported more financial constraints, and reported less access to workplace benefits such as employer-based health insurance and paid time off, compared to other center-based early educators. Our brief outlines detailed findings alongside helpful data visualizations, shares actions state and local leaders are taking to ease financial strain and improve working conditions for center-based infant-toddler educators, and outlines where more research is needed.