Tax Calculator

Paycheck Tax Calculator

All states
Utah flag2025 pricesInfant rank #30

Utah Childcare Cost 2025

Infant center: $13,094/yr (12.8% of median income). Preschool: $9,725/yr.

By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2025

$13,094
Infant / yr
$9,725
Preschool / yr
12.8%
% income
$22,819
Two-child / yr

Utah center-based childcare costs

Infant (annual)

$13,094

Infant (monthly)

$1,091

Preschool 4-yr (annual)

$9,725

Two-child total

$22,819

Infant center care ranks #30 nationally (highest = #1) and is below the $14,802 US average. Infant care is 12.8% of median family income—above the 7% HHS affordability benchmark. Two children in center care would consume about 22.2% of median income.

Federal dependent-care benefits (overview)

These programs may reduce out-of-pocket cost or taxes but do not change the market averages above. State credits and subsidies vary.

Dependent-care FSA

Employer plans may allow up to $5,000 per year in pre-tax contributions for eligible care (lower limit if married filing separately).

Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit

Federal credit may apply to a portion of work-related care expenses. Rules depend on income and qualifying expenses. Illustration only—see our child tax credit calculator for related context.

Key takeaways — Utah childcare costs

  • Utah center-based infant care averages $13,094/yr ($1,091/mo)—national infant price rank #30 (#1 = highest).
  • Infant care is 12.8% of median family income in Utah, above the 7% HHS affordability benchmark.
  • Preschool (4-year-old) center care averages $9,725/yr (rank #36). Two-child center total: $22,819/yr (22.2% of median income).
  • Versus the US average infant cost ($14,802), Utah is $1,708 below the mean.
  • Bordering states range from $9,327 to $21,840 in infant center tuition—compare before assuming UT is always cheapest.
  • Dependent-care FSA (up to $5,000/yr) and the federal child care credit may help after tax—not the market averages on this page.
Compare with another state →

Utah vs neighboring states

Center-based infant annual cost for jurisdictions that share a border with Utah. Utah infant care: $13,094 (12.8% of median income).

StateInfant / yr% incomevs UTCompare
Utah$13,09412.8%—This page
Colorado$21,84017.9%+$8,746vs UT
Nevada$15,95018.3%+$2,856vs UT
Arizona$15,62516.5%+$2,531vs UT
New Mexico$14,24421%+$1,150vs UT
Idaho$9,63011.3%−$3,464vs UT
Wyoming$9,32711.1%−$3,767vs UT

Utah monthly equivalents

Annual totals divided by 12 (rounded). Providers may bill weekly or require deposits.

Infant center (monthly equiv.)

$1,091

per month (equiv.)

Preschool 4-yr center (monthly equiv.)

$810

per month (equiv.)

Two-child center (monthly equiv.)

$1,902

per month (equiv.)

How to read this page

Utah childcare cost overview (2025)

Utah shows $13,094 per year for center-based infant care and $9,725 for a 4-year-old in center preschool, using the same 2025 compiled table as the nationwide hub.

Median family income in Utah is $102,647 in this dataset. Infant tuition therefore consumes 12.8% of that benchmark—affordability rank #37 (#1 = least affordable relative to income).

Open a compare page for dollar gaps with neighbors or destination states, or return to the hub to see where Utah sits on the full 51-jurisdiction list.

Affordability in Utah: income burden vs price rank

Price rank #30 and affordability rank #37 can differ. A state with moderate tuition can still strain budgets if local wages lag, or feel lighter if incomes are high.

HHS uses 7% of income as an affordability ceiling. Utah exceeds that threshold for one infant center slot at 12.8%. Adding preschool for a second child raises the burden to about 22.2%.

State pre-K, subsidies, and employer benefits are not subtracted from these averages. Check your state child-care agency and local CCAoA fact sheet for net copays.

Planning tuition and tax benefits in Utah

Budget monthly cash flow using $1,091/mo infant and $810/mo preschool equivalents, then add registration fees, supplies, and summer gaps your center charges.

If your employer offers a dependent-care FSA, enrolling before the plan year can set aside up to $5,000 pre-tax for eligible care. Unused FSA dollars may forfeit—size contributions against realistic tuition.

The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit uses different rules than the Child Tax Credit. Use our child tax credit calculator for related federal credit context; confirm CDCTC eligibility with IRS Publication 503 or a tax preparer.

Who this Utah childcare page helps

Useful if…

  • •Families living in or moving to Utah estimating center tuition.
  • •Commuters comparing Utah with a neighboring state’s childcare markets.
  • •Benefits coordinators pairing local tuition data with FSA enrollment windows.
  • •Parents stacking gross tuition against median-income benchmarks before subsidy applications.

Use official tools if…

  • •You need a subsidy copay or Head Start eligibility letter.
  • •You use family child care, nanny share, or part-day schedules only.
  • •You need tuition from one named provider, not a statewide average.
  • •You need legal or divorce-specific cost allocation advice.

Utah childcare planning checklist

Quick steps before treating statewide averages as your exact tuition quote.

  1. 1Confirm Utah infant $13,094/yr and rank #30.
  2. 2Compare 12.8% of median income to the 7% HHS cap.
  3. 3Add preschool $9,725/yr if a 4-year-old will be in center care.
  4. 4Sum two-child total $22,819/yr when ages are staggered.
  5. 5Review the neighbor table for cross-border tuition gaps.
  6. 6Get quotes from local centers; averages hide county and quality tiers.
  7. 7Enroll FSA and model CDCTC after gross tuition, not before.

States with similar infant center costs

Florida$13,021Missouri$13,173Maine$13,310Pennsylvania$13,354Montana$12,778Oklahoma$12,468

Compare Utah with another state

Compare any two states

Center-based infant and preschool costs with income burden.

vs California →vs Texas →vs Florida →

Utah childcare cost FAQs

Utah averages $13,094 per year ($1,091/month) for center-based infant care—rank #30 nationally (highest cost = #1).

Center-based care for a 4-year-old in Utah averages $9,725 per year ($810/month), rank #36 among states and DC.

Infant center care is 12.8% of median family income in Utah. HHS affordability is 7%; this exceeds that benchmark for one infant slot.

Combined center costs total $22,819 per year—about 22.2% of median family income for both children.

Residents of Utah can use the same federal dependent-care FSA (up to $5,000/yr) and Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit rules as taxpayers nationwide. Some states add credits or subsidy programs—check your state revenue or child-care agency.

Utah ranks #37 for infant care burden (share of income), where #1 is least affordable relative to median family income.

No. Figures are center-based averages only. Family child care homes, nannies, and part-day care differ. Use Child Care Aware state fact sheets for local provider types.

2025 price-year estimates from Child Care Aware / EPI lineage; page updated 2026-07-31. Confirm quotes with local centers before budgeting.

Colorado $21,840/yr (+$8,746 vs UT, 17.9% income); Nevada $15,950/yr (+$2,856 vs UT, 18.3% income); Arizona $15,625/yr (+$2,531 vs UT, 16.5% income); New Mexico $14,244/yr (+$1,150 vs UT, 21% income); Idaho $9,630/yr ($-3,464 vs UT, 11.3% income); Wyoming $9,327/yr ($-3,767 vs UT, 11.1% income). Use compare links for side-by-side totals.

About $1,091/month if annual $13,094 is spread evenly over 12 months. Centers may bill weekly or require deposits.

For one infant center slot, Utah is 12.8% of median family income—above the 7% benchmark in this dataset.

Infant plus preschool center slots total $22,819/yr—about 22.2% of median family income and $1,902/mo if divided evenly.

Infant price rank is #30; affordability (share of income) rank is #37. High wages can make expensive states feel relatively lighter, and vice versa.
All state childcare costsChild tax credit calculator