A major investment in Missouri’s early childhood workforce is about to begin. On May 26, 2026, the Child Care WAGE$® Missouri WAGE$ Missouri) salary supplement program officially launches in St. Louis County, bringing new financial support and recognition to early childhood educators working in licensed and license-exempt child care programs.
Developed as a strategy to strengthen workforce stability, WAGE$ Missouri provides salary supplements tied to education level and continued employment in the same child care program. The pilot is the first of its kind in Missouri and is designed to help reduce turnover, reward professional growth, and support the educators who make quality early care possible every day.
The program is administered by Child Care Aware® of Missouri and licensed through Early Years. With more than 30 years of success in other states, the WAGE$ model has demonstrated how investing directly in educators can strengthen child care programs, improve continuity of care for children, and support working families across entire communities.
Child care educators are the foundation of Missouri’s economy. When programs experience high staff turnover, families struggle to maintain reliable care and employers feel the impact as parents miss work or leave the workforce entirely. The launch of WAGE$ Missouri represents a meaningful step toward building a stronger, more sustainable early childhood system in St. Louis County.
The new pilot also aligns closely with the TEACH Early Childhood Missouri Scholarship program, which helps educators earn college credits and degrees in early childhood education with reduced financial burden. Together, TEACH Missouri and WAGE$ Missouri create a pathway for educators to advance their education while increasing their earning potential and strengthening long-term career commitment within the field.
Funded through a $5.6 million award administered by the St. Louis County Children’s Services Fund, the pilot is expected to serve as a model for future expansion across Missouri.
Early childhood educators working in St. Louis County-based child care programs can learn more about eligibility and application information at childcarewagesmo.org. Apply today!
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