Childcare vs Staying Home Calculator
Compare the net income from returning to work after childcare, commuting, taxes and work expenses against staying home.
Your numbers
- Including employer benefits
- $30,320
- After-tax pay
- $47,120
- Work-related costs
- $22,800
- After-tax pay
- Childcare
- Work costs
- Net gain
How the childcare vs staying home calculator works
Net gain = after-tax pay − childcare − commute and work costs. Add long-term factors such as retirement contributions and career growth for a full picture.
Example
Using the default inputs (Gross annual salary: $62,000; Total tax rate: 24%; Childcare cost / month: $1,600; Commute & work costs / month: $300; Employer benefits value / yr: $6,000), the calculator returns net annual gain from working of $24,320. Change any field above to see your own result and charts update instantly.
Good for these goals
Frequently asked questions
Is a negative number a reason to stay home?
Not necessarily; career capital, retirement savings and Social Security credits also matter.
What about the childcare credit?
The Child and Dependent Care Credit can offset some costs. See IRS Form 2441.
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Estimates are for educational purposes only and are not financial, tax or legal advice. Results depend on your inputs and simplified assumptions; tax figures reflect 2026 federal rules and may differ from your situation. See our disclaimer. © 2026 FinanzCalc.