Building a Bigger Tent

If you share only one blog post this year as an earlychildhood educator, let it be this one.

Costs are rising. Living is expensive. And early childhood educators across Tennessee are still not receiving the compensation they deserve for the essential work they do. According to ZipRecruiter, the average childcare worker in Tennessee earns alittle more than $30,000 per year—a reality that makes financial stability increasingly difficult as costs continue to rise. That’s why Child Care WAGE$ Tennessee is expanding—building a bigger tent to bring salary supplements and greater financial stability to more early learning professionals than ever before.

Today, we are excited to announce four major program updates designed to make WAGE$ more inclusive, more accessible, and more impactful.

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1. Directors and Assistant Directors No Longer Need Classroom Hours

In the past, child care directors and assistant directors needed at least 10 classroom hours per week to qualify for WAGE$. This created barriers for administrators whose roles are primarily operational, not instructional.

That has now changed.

Directors and assistant directors are now eligible without classroom-hour requirements, allowing WAGE$ to finally recognize the essential administrative and leadership work they provide.

These professionals keep centers running, support staff, ensure compliance, and maintain high-quality learning environments. This is our way of saying thank you to the often-overlooked leaders who keep Tennessee’s early childhood system moving forward.

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2. Income Cap Increased From $20 to $30 per Hour

As the cost of living continues to rise, many educators have found themselves earning slightly more than the previous $20/hour cap, yet still struggling financially. With a transformational $7.2 million investment from the State of Tennessee, WAGE$ has now expanded eligibility.

That’s why educators earning up to $30/hour now qualify.

This means:

• Hundreds of additional early childhood educators are now eligible
• More child care staff can receive the financial relief they deserve
• Centers can retain more experienced and educated teachers

This change helps ensure that financial support grows alongside educators’ real-world needs.
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3. Level 7 Status is Now Fully Permanent

Our third update removes one of the most limiting and confusing aspects of the previous WAGE$ structure.

Previously:

• Level 7 permanent status applied only to educators with an associate degree and at least 24 early childhood education (ECE) credits
• Level 7 non-permanent status applied to educators with a bachelor’s or master’s degree butfewer than 12 ECE credits

Now, that distinction is gone. All Level 7 educators now qualify for permanent status and can receive up to $3,750 annually in salary supplements.

With this update, educators with degrees outside of early childhood education can receive long-term, secure salary supplements, helping them remain in the field they love.

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4. Non-Permanent Levels Now Last Longer

This final update brings even more stability to educators who are still working toward permanent status on the salary supplement scale.

Previously, participants in non-permanent levels had only two years to advance their education before rolling off the program. Now, that support window has expanded.

Educators in non-permanent levels will now receive salary supplements for up to three years, giving them more time to complete coursework, strengthen their credentials, and move to a higher level.

For family child care providers, the runway is even longer: They now have four full years to progress to the next level before transitioning off.

This change ensures that educators juggling work, school, and family responsibilities can continue receiving WAGE$ support while growing professionally. More time means more opportunity, more stability, and a stronger early childhood workforce.

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Help Us Build a Bigger Tent -- The Right Way

These updates are already making a real difference, and interest in WAGE$ is growing quickly. You can help by sharing this information with educators who may now qualify—and by encouraging colleagues to review eligibility requirements before applying.

• Share this article with educators working in DHS-licensed child care programs
• Tell your director or assistant director they may now be eligible
• Encourage educators earning $30/hour or less to explore WAGE$
• Reach out to educators with degrees outside of ECE who may now qualify for permanent Level 7 status
• Support non-permanent educators by letting them know they now have more time than ever to advance

If you’re unsure whether you qualify or have questions about education pathways, eligibility, or next steps, our team is here to help. Visit the 'How It Works' page to review eligibility requirements, learn more about the program, and apply when you’re ready. Together, we can strengthen Tennessee’s early childhood workforce—one educator at a time.

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