Daycare in Pennsylvania

Browse 7,434 licensed daycare centers and family childcare homes across Pennsylvania.

Calculate Pennsylvania CostsChoosing Guide

Average Daycare Costs in Pennsylvania

Infant (0-12 months)
$275/week
~$14,300/year
Toddler (1-2 years)
$250/week
~$13,000/year
Preschool (3-5 years)
$225/week
~$11,700/year

* Costs vary by location, facility type, and program. These are state averages for full-time care.

Browse by County

Select a county to view licensed daycare providers in that area.

Philadelphia County
1,716
Allegheny County
721
Montgomery County
452
Lehigh County
342
Delaware County
333
Bucks County
294
Chester County
277
Lancaster County
223
York County
185
Berks County
178
Dauphin County
174
Luzerne County
173
Westmoreland County
142
Erie County
139
Northampton County
136
Cumberland County
117
Lackawanna County
114
Lebanon County
97
Washington County
89
Butler County
81
Show all 68 counties
Centre County
80
Franklin County
78
Beaver County
73
Blair County
72
Monroe County
71
Mercer County
61
Cambria County
60
Schuylkill County
55
Lycoming County
52
Adams County
51
Fayette County
51
Clearfield County
50
Lawrence County
45
Northumberland County
41
Crawford County
39
Somerset County
36
Bradford County
32
Tioga County
31
Armstrong County
30
Columbia County
29
Huntingdon County
27
Wayne County
27
Carbon County
25
Indiana County
25
Bedford County
24
Greene County
23
Jefferson County
20
Elk County
20
Susquehanna County
19
Snyder County
18
Clarion County
18
Mifflin County
18
Perry County
17
Pike County
17
Venango County
17
Warren County
16
Clinton County
14
Wyoming County
11
Montour County
11
Union County
10
Mckean County
9
Mckean County
9
Juniata County
8
Fulton County
6
Potter County
5
Cameron County
4
Forest County
3
Sullivan County
2

Verify Provider Licenses

Check any provider's licensing status with Pennsylvania's official database.

Verify License

Types of Daycare in Pennsylvania

Licensed Daycare Centers

Commercial facilities licensed by Pennsylvania to provide group childcare. Centers must meet state standards for safety, staff qualifications, and child-to-staff ratios.

  • • State-licensed and inspected
  • • Structured educational programs
  • • Multiple age-appropriate classrooms
  • • Full-time and part-time options

Family Childcare Homes

Licensed providers who care for children in their home. Pennsylvania regulates home-based providers to ensure safe environments and appropriate care.

  • • Home-like environment
  • • Smaller group sizes
  • • Often more flexible schedules
  • • Mixed age groups

Pennsylvania Licensing Agency

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services - Office of Child Development and Early Learning

1-717-346-9320
Verify a LicenseAgency Website

Required Staff Ratios

Age GroupPennsylvania RequiresNAEYC Recommends
Infants1:41:3
Toddlers1:51:4
Preschool1:101:8
School Age1:121:10

Infants are under 1 year. Young toddlers (1-2) have 1:5 ratio.

Childcare Assistance

Child Care Works

Administered by: Early Learning Resource Centers (ELRCs)

Income Eligibility

200% of Federal Poverty Level (about $62,000 for family of 4)

Apply for Assistance

Quality Rating System

Keystone STARS

Pennsylvania uses a 4-level quality rating system. Look for rated providers for assurance of quality.

Find rated providers

State Pre-K Program

Pre-K Counts & Head Start

Who qualifies: 3 and 4-year-olds

Income: 300% of Federal Poverty Level for Pre-K Counts

Learn more about Pre-K

Things to Know About Pennsylvania Childcare

  • •Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have higher costs than rest of state.
  • •Pennsylvania has strong Pre-K Counts program with good access.

Ready to Start Your Search?

Use our calculator to estimate daycare costs in Pennsylvania, then explore our guide to choosing the right provider.

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