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Child Care Businesses in North Carolina

Counts by county from the U.S. Census Bureau. No provider names or addresses.

Centers with employees (2023)
2,612
Child care workers
35,736
Average yearly pay
$27,670
Self-employed providers (2024)
12,068
13.7 businesses per 10,000 residents

Child care by county

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

CountyCentersWorkersSelf-employedPer 10,000
Alamance County4255520113.7
Alexander County317196.0
Alleghany County4271113.4
Anson County9573419.3
Ashe County68095.6
Avery County43376.2
Beaufort County112074612.8
Bertie County8531815.1
Bladen County9834217.2
Brunswick County22340977.8
Buncombe County477662079.3
Burke County9170526.9
Cabarrus County4676827313.5
Caldwell County15250508.1
Camden CountyNone reportedNot reported87.3
Carteret County15148367.4
Caswell County4403216.1
Catawba County222821027.6
Chatham County27294509.6
Cherokee County538115.4
Chowan County5232118.8
Cleveland County2524915517.8
Columbus County161776816.8
Craven County23366799.9
Cumberland County1051,13453518.9
Currituck CountyNone reportedNot reported3110.1
Dare County539237.4
Davidson County3235917111.7
Davie County792298.2
Duplin County162117718.9
Durham County1061,41242816.1
Edgecombe County141218720.7
Forsyth County711,39255916.2
Franklin County161377612.4
Gaston County5065626013.2
Gates CountyNone reportedNot reported1211.6
Graham CountyNone reportedNot reported78.7
Granville County182026613.8
Greene County7532113.7
Guilford County1622,44974116.5
Halifax County161276917.8
Harnett County3628113412.2
Haywood County14170398.5
Henderson County17172818.3
Hertford County7252516.1
Hoke County1418410121.4
Hyde CountyNone reportedNot reported817.4
Iredell County3443417410.6
Jackson County15132248.9
Johnston County5483420711.1
Jones CountyNone reportedNot reported1010.8
Lee County181185410.9
Lenoir County1922910722.9
Lincoln County222507110.0
Macon County571145.0
Madison CountyNone reportedNot reported167.3
Martin County6634021.3
McDowell County430276.9
Mecklenburg County3054,6321,78118.1
Mitchell County56256.7
Montgomery CountyNone reportedNot reported186.9
Moore County423339713.3
Nash County313497711.2
New Hanover County5699618010.0
Northampton County4282014.2
Onslow County376631589.4
Orange County5053612111.4
Pamlico CountyNone reportedNot reported118.9
Pasquotank County121195716.9
Pender County141716111.4
Perquimans CountyNone reportedNot reported2216.6
Person County9636017.4
Pitt County5577925417.4
Polk CountyNone reportedNot reported136.5
Randolph County283641159.8
Richmond County111366417.7
Robeson County4646726926.9
Rockingham County201387310.1
Rowan County2525315512.0
Rutherford County151485610.9
Sampson County2826110923.0
Scotland County101618829.2
Stanly County243275512.2
Stokes County564399.7
Surry County14172559.7
Swain County4261916.4
Transylvania County753197.7
Tyrrell CountyNone reportedNot reportedNot reported0.0
Union County4779430013.8
Vance County121058122.0
Wake County3225,9511,21813.1
Warren County3132112.8
Washington County9491320.3
Watauga County546194.4
Wayne County3338123422.5
Wilkes County11125407.7
Wilson County1937010816.0
Yadkin County423196.1
Yancey County33175.3

The Census Bureau adds noise to worker counts in small counties to protect business privacy, and leaves out counts it cannot publish. Counties with no centers that have employees show "None reported".

Frequently asked questions

How many child care centers are in North Carolina?
North Carolina had 2,612 child day care businesses with paid employees in 2023, employing 35,736 people. Another 12,068 providers worked on their own in 2024.
Which North Carolina counties have the most child care centers?
Wake County (322), Mecklenburg County (305), Guilford County (162) have the most centers with paid employees.
How do I find a licensed child care provider in North Carolina?
North Carolina licenses child care providers. Use the state's official provider search, which you can reach from childcare.gov.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns and Nonemployer Statistics (NAICS 624410) · 2023 and 2024 data

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