Welcome to the Wisconsin Shares Child Care Estimator


Wisconsin Shares helps eligible families by paying for a portion of child care costs while parents or caregivers go to work, school, and more. This tool can be used to estimate how much you may be able to receive in subsidy funds through the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program. show more

Subsidy amounts vary due to several factors, including:
  • Your child's age
  • The county where your child care provider is located
  • The provider's price and regulation type
  • Your family's monthly income
  • Whether your child needs full-time or part-time care
Knowing your potential subsidy amount can help you determine your out-of-pocket costs. Enter the following information - we'll do the calculation for you. We won't ask for your name or any contact information. We also won't share your answers with anyone.

  

Include yourself, your spouse (if applicable), and any minor children in your home. Only include a partner you are not married to if you are both parents of a child in your home. Do not include other people who may live with you, like roommates or parents of adults in the home.


What is your hourly/monthly gross income? This is the amount you earn before taxes. If your hours vary from week to week, enter the hours you typically work in a week.


If you have a second job or there is a second income in the household, enter the information below by clicking on the Second Income button. This information is needed to determine your potential benefit amount.

   

   

Do you know how much the child care provider charges? If yes, select Yes and enter the information. If no, you can find your selected provider by typing the provider's name in the Provider field and by selecting the provider from the suggestions. This estimator will use the price that the provider has reported to DCF. This price may not be accurate and is subject to change based on the provider’s current pricing.


If you do not know the provider type, search for the provider in Child Care Finder to find the regulation type, or click the "i" icon to learn more about the different types.

   

Important – this is an estimate only!

  • This is not a guarantee of subsidy amounts or out-of-pocket costs. Your provider may charge a different price than the price we have.
  • To be financially eligible your family’s monthly gross income must not be more than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) (Wisconsin Shares Co-Payment Schedule). After being found eligible, you can remain financially eligible until your income reaches 85% of the state median income. Visit the How to Apply for the Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy Program to learn how to apply.
  • This is also not an application, and you will still need to apply and be approved to receive child care subsidy funds.
  • Your results are estimates only. If you apply and are approved for subsidy funds, you must work with your provider to determine the cost of care for your child(ren) and any out-of-pocket costs that you might need to pay.
  • The income you enter here may not be the total income that is counted for eligibility. This could result in a lower subsidy amount after you are determined eligible.

If you have questions or would like to apply for Wisconsin Shares, contact your local agency. To learn more about Wisconsin Shares, visit the Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy Program webpage.