Child Care Assistance Income Limits by State

Every state sets its own income limit for child care (daycare) assistance, but they do not describe it the same way. Some states express them as a percentage of the federal poverty level (FPL), while others use the state median income (SMI). As a result, the same percentage can represent different income thresholds.

This page puts all 50 states and Washington, DC on one scale: the maximum monthly income for a family of three to qualify at initial application, ranked from highest to lowest.

Child care subsidy income limits, ranked

SMI = State Median Income. FPL = Federal Poverty Level. Monthly limit is for a family of three at initial application.

A higher income limit does not necessarily mean assistance is easier to obtain. Funding may be limited, and some states may use waitlists or restrict enrollment for certain income groups.

See state child care assistance programs for how to apply and the renewal limits.

Download the data (CSV or PDF)

Download the table as a CSV file or a PDF. The CSV includes the limit each state publishes (for example, 85% of SMI), the monthly dollar amount for initial eligibility and for renewal, and the state median income used.

Cite as: Single Mother Guide, “Child Care Assistance Income Limits by State,” 2026, https://singlemotherguide.com/child-care-income-limits-by-state .

How we calculated the limits

• What we compare: the maximum income at which a family of three can first qualify for the state’s child care subsidy (CCDF) program, taken from each state’s published eligibility rules.
• Converting to dollars: states that publish a percent of FPL are multiplied by the 2026 federal poverty guideline for a family of three ($27,320 a year)¹. States that publish a percent of SMI are multiplied by that state’s median income for a family of three from the 2026 LIHEAP State Median Income table.² Both are divided by 12 and rounded to the nearest dollar.
• Sources: income limits come from each state’s child care agency rules and CCDF plan. State median income comes from the HHS LIHEAP table cited below, and the poverty level from the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines.¹
• Above the federal level: federal rules cap eligibility at 85% of SMI. Vermont (575% of FPL) and Maine (125% of SMI) set higher limits through their own programs, so they rank near the top.
• Rank: states are ranked by the dollar limit. New Mexico has no income limit, so it is not ranked.
• Not included: copayments, waitlists, priority groups, asset tests, and any limits that apply only to some families. A state’s published limit can also differ from what a local office applies, so always confirm with your state agency.
• Updates: we review each state’s limit once a year. Where a state agency page and other sources disagree, we use the official state page.