Is it worth going back to work?
See what a second income leaves after taxes, childcare and commuting.
Open calculator: Worth workingA childcare budget tool
Compare center, home-based care, a nanny and a nanny share—including employer taxes.
The next step
Enter your income and confirmed care costs, then calculate to see the result and the steps behind it.
Daycare quotes alongside nanny wages, employer taxes and sharing costs
Hourly pay, federal weekly overtime, paid weeks, employer FICA and net FUTA, plus the additional annual costs you enter. Each sharing family is modeled as a separate employer.
DOL’s July 2026 table lists a basic rate of $7.25/hour for Tennessee. Coverage exceptions, local rates and state overtime can differ. Review the wage rules.
Care.com’s published nanny-rate context is a platform survey and posted-rate sample. Our $25 default is a planning assumption.
Explore another question
Your care quote is a starting point. These tools help with the choices that follow.
See what a second income leaves after taxes, childcare and commuting.
Open calculator: Worth workingCompare center, home-based care, a nanny and a nanny share—including employer taxes.
Open calculator: Daycare vs. nannyCompare federal tax benefits with the rules for 2025 and 2026.
Open calculator: FSA vs. tax creditCompare your income with published state limits and find the application.
Open calculator: Subsidy income check