The 2026 Child Care Market Survey released Thursday by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families has bad news: child care costs are rising faster than expected.
The news comes as the Child Care Bridge Payment program is ending and the cost of goods are continuing to rise.
DCF’s report shows that childcare stabilization payments work to slow tuition rates. Stabilization payments to providers decreased last year, causing woes for parents.
The 2026 Child Care Market Rate Survey indicates difficulty for parents across the economic spectrum when it comes to affording child care.
Statewide, DCF reports that the median price of full-time infant care in group child care programs is $17,400, which is about 22% of median household income.
Dane County saw the steepest prices of nearly $24,000 per year for a single child.
“For a growing number of families, the two biggest lines in the budget are a roof overhead and a safe place for their child to spend the day. With those two expenses now making up more than 50% of a household budget, my concern is that the rising cost of childcare alongside affordability issues across the board is going to push working families into poverty,” Executive Director Ruth Schmidt of Wisconsin Early Childhood Association said in a statement.
Child Care Counts payments will end next week.
