Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a child care provider cost in Canton, MS in 2026?

In Canton, MS, the average child care provider earns about $12.84 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $514/week or $2,226/month. Most Canton families pay somewhere in the $8–$17/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$12.84/hr · Canton average

These numbers come from 30 live child care provider listings in Canton on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$514
$2,226
$26,707

Find child care near you

What drives the price

Most Canton families pay somewhere in the $8–$17/hour range. Where a given family lands depends on a handful of factors. Three of them drive most of the spread.


01

Experience

Experience is one of the biggest levers on a child care provider's rate.
Nannies with 10+ years, or specialty skills like newborn care or multiple languages, typically command the highest hourly rates.

02

Number of kids

One child is the baseline. Each additional child usually adds $1–$2/hour. Twins and infants tend toward the high end.
+$1 to $2/hour per additional child
Hourly rate by number of kids
1 kid (baseline)$12.84
2 kids~$13.84
3+ kids~$14.84+

03

Hours & schedule

Standard weekday daytime hours are easiest to staff. Early mornings, evenings, weekends, and last-minute coverage all push rates up.
10–20%premium for off-hours coverage
Hourly rate adjustment by schedule
Weekday 9–5 (standard)
Evening/weekend+$2–4/hr
Last-minute+$3–5/hr

Also factor in: live-in vs. live-out · household duties beyond childcare · driving · cooking · travel.

How do Canton child care provider rates compare to state and national averages?

Canton runs below the U.S. average for child care provider rates — a meaningful budget advantage for families looking here.

Hiring child care in Canton, MS typically costs about the same as the Mississippi average of $13/hour and 23% less than the United States average of $17/hour.

Average hourly child care rates compared across Canton, MS and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Canton, MS
Canton, MS$13/hr
Mississippi$13/hr+0%
United States$17/hr+31%

Where Canton, MS fits among nearby cities

10 nearby cities have enough child care provider data to compare, with rates ranging from $11.87/hour in Hattiesburg to $15.54/hour in Madison.

Below: how each compares to the Canton, MS average of $12.84/hour.

Nearby cities ranked by child care provider rate

10 cities near Canton, MS ranked by average hourly child care provider rate, most to least expensive.
#City$/hrvs. Canton, MS
1Madison$15.54+21%
2Oxford$13.51+5%
3Southaven$13.43+5%
4Jackson$13.36+4%
5Gulfport$13.34+4%
6Brandon$12.92+1%
7Starkville$12.71-1%
8Biloxi$12.63-2%
9Tupelo$12.03-6%
10Hattiesburg$11.87-8%
Most expensive nearby: Madison ($15.54) Least expensive nearby: Hattiesburg ($11.87)

Tips to find a great child care provider without overpaying

  • Be flexible on experience. Some of the best child care on the platform have 3–5 years on the job and charge meaningfully less than experienced child care with 10+ years. References matter more than years.
  • Consider a share. If your kids are similar ages and you live near another family, a share is the single biggest cost reduction available without compromising on care.
  • Be specific about hours upfront. Most child care will take a slightly lower rate for a guaranteed steady schedule than for a higher-rate, unpredictable one.
  • Bundle benefits thoughtfully. Two weeks PTO, a health stipend, transit passes, education assistance, or an annual raise commitment can help close the gap with families offering a higher hourly rate.
  • Match rate to responsibilities. A higher rate often makes sense once you add cooking, errands, or driving. Don't compare apples to oranges across listings.

How to reduce nanny costs?

Split the cost of a nanny with another family
and enjoy flexible child care.
Learn more about nanny sharing

How families use Nanny Lane to find a child care provider in Canton, MS

Nanny Lane is a marketplace built specifically for connecting families with child care — no recruiters in the middle. Most families work through it like this:

  1. 01

    Browse child care provider profiles in Canton, MS

    Filter by hourly rate, experience, languages, and availability.

  2. 02

    Message the ones who look like a fit

    Reach out to the child care whose experience and rate match what you're looking for.

  3. 03

    Schedule a phone call, then a paid trial day

    Trial days feel awkward at first — that's normal. They're the best way to see how a child care provider fits with your family in real time.

  4. 04

    Hire your child care provider

    If you'd rather not handle taxes and payroll yourself, our payroll team can take care of it.

Available child care in Canton, MS

30 active listings in Canton

Makala W. - Seeking Work in Canton

Nanny Makala

Canton, MS
$13/hr
Part-time
2 years experience

A little bit about me

I am 20 years old. I am currently working at a daycare. I recently just graduated from Holmes Community College with an associates degree in social work

Have experience working with

Infants
Da'Meeria H. - Seeking Work in Canton

Nanny Da'Meeria

Canton, MS
$13/hr
Part-time
3 years experience

A little bit about me

Hello, I’m Da’Meeria and I am a Canton native. My childcare experience expands across age groups. I enjoy being a mentor in the lives of children. I look forward to meeting your family and hope to create a lasting impact through care, attention, and fun!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Catelyn H. - Seeking Work in Canton

Nanny Catelyn

Canton, MS
$13/hr
Part-time
5 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi I’m Catelyn Hammack! I’ve lived in the Canton/Madison area my whole life. I’ve been babysitting kids since I was about 14 but I worked at a preschool for about 5 years! I mostly worked with infants and toddlers during that time! I am also first aid and CPR certified! If you have any questions at all please reach out and ask!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
MoMo R. - Seeking Work in Canton

Nanny MoMo

Canton, MS
$12/hr
Part-time
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

Kind
Caring
Honest
Loving
Nigeria J. - Seeking Work in Canton

Nanny Nigeria

Canton, MS
$11/hr
Full-time
2 years experience

A little bit about me

Hey, my name is Nigeria Jones and I have cared for Childers and elderly people before. I am a very helpful person and the best caregiver a person can have.

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Laela K. - Seeking Work in Canton

Nanny Laela

Canton, MS
$14/hr
Part-time
2 years experience

A little bit about me

Hey! I am 21 years old currently a nursing student. I worked at a daycare for 2 years and I love to be around and take care of kids! I am certified in CPR and have plenty of knowledge on caring for a child.

Have experience working with

Infants

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Valerie V. - Seeking Work in Canton

Nanny Valerie

Canton, MS
$14/hr
Full-time
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

Hey my name is Valerie Vaughn Im 40 years old I have 4 children of my own plus a grandbaby I have child care experience and also my own parenting skills I love to work with children I work for Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services I've been working from them for 7 years but I've worked in the child care professional in my younger years at a daycare taking care infants toddlers and teens wifk very well with children very creative skills and loving every moment of it all I would love to work with you all

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Bennie D. - Seeking Work in Canton

Nanny Bennie

Canton, MS
$14/hr
Full-time
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

My Name Ms.Bennie Dortch have never been to Jail and I Love working with Kids @ babes I love this Kind of work I have over 20 years experience

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certification

CPR
Mary C. - Seeking Work in Canton

Nanny Mary

Canton, MS
$15/hr
Full-time
5 years experience

A little bit about me

I am a grandmother and currently working full time in childcare but looking to change from a classroom to one family to focus on so I can give my true best to the children I spend my days with.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
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