Yes.
Child care centers in Minnesota are unaffordable for many state residents.
The benchmark for child care affordability set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is 7% of annual household income.
A 2023 Child Care Aware report estimated that a “married-couple family” in Minnesota with a median income of $138,780 spends 11.2%-14.5% of their income on child care.
A 2023 report from the Minnesota House put the average percentage at 21.2% for infant care, and a 2024 study by Bankrate ranked the state as one of the most expensive for child care.
Minnesota requires a 4:1 child-to-adult ratio for child care centers, increasing costs. Minnesota also lacks an employer child care tax credit. There is a statewide Child Care Assistance Program and a tax credit per child, though both have income restrictions.
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