Child Care WAGE$® Tennessee

We care for children
by caring for teachers

An infant boy crawls in a playground outdoors.

Ellwanda White

I love seeing the light bulb go off in children's brains. I just love nurturing children and ensuring they have the early start they need so once they leave us, they'll be prepared for any school their parents take them to. This is important work we do and it means a lot that WAGE$ recognizes that.

Janice Burnett

I am an owner of a family home. The money I've received from WAGE$ has really helped me in times when my enrollment was down, I had bills due, I needed extra resources for my classroom, just for starters. When I first heard about WAGE$ I thought, "WOW, they're going to pay me for the education and knowledge I already have?!" They don't have to do this for us, but the fact that they did makes me feel so valued for the work I do.

Lindsey Pritchett

It was important to me to go for my Bachelor's degree because this field is always changing. I love learning and the more you learn the more you can adapt and be flexible with the children. It means a lot that WAGE$ has rewarded me for having my degree. Because of WAGE$ my overall quality of life is much better.

An infant boy sits while a child care professional reads to him.

Educator retention is a primary goal of WAGE$.
Creating a more stable learning environment aids in a child's development during their early years.

By prioritizing the welfare of teachers, WAGE$ nurtures the future of Tennessee's youngest learners, fostering a brighter educational landscape for all.

Learn about WAGE$

Upcoming Events

All About WAGE$ Webinar

February 10, 2026

Join us for an informative webinar all about the Child Care WAGE$ Tennessee program! This session will provide an overview of how WAGE$ works, who is eligible, and how educators can receive ongoing salary supplements while continuing their careers in early childhood education.

We’ll cover:

What the WAGE$ program is and how it supports early childhood educators

Eligibility requirements for educators and child care programs

Recent program updates and expanded opportunities

How to apply (or re-apply) and what to expect after applying

This webinar is ideal for early childhood educators, family child care providers, and child care directors who want to learn more about how WAGE$ can support their professional growth and financial stability.

Click Here to Register

Educators give WAGE$ a gold star

We have a waitlist of around 200 children. It is really hard to tell those families "No" because we don't have the space or staffing capacity. I feel like WAGE$ is a really great recruitment tool for staff. It also gives them an incentive to continue their education and go forth with those dreams they may not have been able to do on their own.

Kristen Cannon

Executive Director

Knoxville, TN

Wages was important for me because it allowed me to give more to the staff. I’ve got teachers that have their bachelors’, and they get over $2,000. That is a very big thing for them—it always seems to come at a time when they really need it.

Karen Whaley

Director

McDonald, TN

Having this little extra money is the difference of working a second job and having my focus 100% on the kids here and not worrying about supplementing my income by working at multiple different jobs.

Stephanie Kolakowski

Educator

Franklin, TN

How to qualify

You’re eligible for a salary supplement if you:

Work in a TN DHS licensed child care program
Earn $30 or less per hour
Have one of the education levels listed in the Salary Supplement Scale
Have worked at least 6 months in the same child care program with children ages birth - five, at least 10 hours per week in the classroom
Are employed at the same child care program when funding is available, and a final confirmation has been completed