A childcare budget tool

Is it worth going back to work?.

See what a second income leaves after taxes, childcare and commuting.

Your details

All amounts in USD

Care cost prefilled from Elko County. Edit it to match your quote.

Source 2022 · CPI adjusted to August 2026

Tax assumptions

Tax year

Filing status

State income tax assumption (%)

An editable effective rate; state tax credits are not modeled.

Income and costs

Returning worker’s annual wages

Spouse’s annual wages

Used for joint returns; ignored for other filing statuses.

Total childcare per month

For all children together.

Commuting and work costs per month

Qualifying people needing care

One person gives a $3,000 credit expense cap; two or more gives $6,000.

Annual dependent care FSA election

Use your actual plan election; federal and earned-income limits apply.

Works without JavaScript. Inputs appear in the result URL. Privacy details.

The next step

Make the numbers your own.

Enter your income and confirmed care costs, then calculate to see the result and the steps behind it.

Take-home pay − childcare − work costs + care tax benefits

What’s included?

Standard-deduction federal tax, employee Social Security and Medicare, your state-tax assumption, care costs and your FSA election plus any modeled care credit. Joint returns use the difference between tax on one wage and tax on both.

A cash result is one part of the decision. Reliability of care, time, benefits, retirement and future earnings also matter.

Read the source and rules

Explore another question

Keep the full picture
in view.

Your care quote is a starting point. These tools help with the choices that follow.