In early 2025, King County, Washington, launched the Best Starts for Kids Wage Boost Pilot, which in its first year gave about 850 child care professionals up to an additional $8,320 in pay. On top of the wage boost, the pilot aims to improve child care professionals’ well-being and workforce stability, as well as children’s continuity of care.

The Urban Institute and Cardea Services are conducting a mixed-methods, community-informed study evaluating the pilot’s impact. This brief shares findings on the financial, emotional, social, and physical well-being of the King County child care workforce from a baseline survey of 1,094 child care professionals, conducted before the launch of the pilot.

Why This Matters

Financial, emotional, social, and physical health are all important components of an individual, family, and community’s overall well-being. When child care professionals face challenges to these kinds of well-being, they are less able to thrive. Further, when child care professionals have greater well-being, they are better able to dedicate their time, energy, and attention to providing high-quality care for children.

What We Found

• Many child care professionals are at risk of food and financial insecurity and face high levels of financial stress.
• One in five child care professionals reported symptoms of depression and half reported elevated stress.
• When child care professionals could not afford their day-to-day needs, they reported elevated stress and depression symptoms.
• Social support networks were a source of strength for King County child care professionals. Those that could regularly participate in social, spiritual, community, or self-care activities were less likely to report elevated depression symptoms.
• While child care professionals generally reported good overall health, they often lacked supports for their continued physical well-being. The majority reported working while sick or injured and one in five did not have health insurance.