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Childcare Costs Vs Per Diem PACU Nurse Salary in Los Angeles
I make pretty decent money as a Ambulatory Surgery PACU RN in Los Angeles, affording a comfortable living is still kinda hard because it is hella expensive here. One of my longest running gripes and I know, my readers are probably so tired of hearing this from me is the exorbitant price of childcare in Los Angeles. And yeah, I know, I’ve heard it’s basically the same across the whole US.
Just look at what CNBC said. In 2025, the average annual infant care cost in California is $21,945, while care for toddlers to four year olds costs slightly less at $13,020. Well, I don’t know where the heck they found these numbers because from 2023 to 2025, I was paying $2,500 a month or $30,000 a year for my infant. When my child turned into a toddler, I was paying a smidge less at $2,100 to $2,200 a month or about $26,400 a year for an Au Pair in Los Angeles.
Read: Day in a Life of an Ambulatory PACU and Pre OP Nurse
Let’s just say with these prices, my PACU Registered Nurse salary was stretched thin, almost paycheck to paycheck. I didn’t want to be a stay at home mom, and I also didn’t want to work full time as a PACU nurse and then pick up a second job just to afford childcare. So I had to get resourceful and figure out how to save money while dealing with this insane, but hopefully temporary, expense.
A few things I’ve done to manage childcare costs as a Per diem PACU Nurse in Los Angeles:
1. Shamelessly ask coworkers and friends with kids a few years older than mine for hand me downs. Thank God one of my best friends at work has two boys who are just one to two years older than mine. Every season, she gives me 3 Costco sized boxes of clothes. She has also given us a very expensive high chair and other baby items. My child does not need brand new clothes.
2. Scour Facebook Marketplace for second hand toys, strollers, and equipment. I get to buy expensive, gently used brand name toddler toys and equipment for more than 50 percent off. I also like to think I’m doing a small part in helping the environment by not buying new stuff when perfectly usable items would otherwise be thrown away.
3. Drive by nicer neighborhoods on trash day. I don’t do this every weekend, but once in a while, when I’m out doing errands like grocery shopping, I happen to see kids’ toys placed on the curb for free. I’ve picked up a slide, a water fountain, and a basketball hoop, among other things that I deemed my toddler would actually use. One time, I was visiting my sister in another part of Los Angeles and randomly passed by a daycare that was closing. They had a ton of children’s supplies laid out on the lawn for free. Since I was early, I had first dibs on a cute toddler kitchen I had been eyeing on Facebook Marketplace, plus several working toddler scooters and bicycles. I felt like I won the lottery that day.
4. Sign up for free or cheap toddler classes at libraries and local rec centers. Since my son turned two, naturally he started enjoying playing with other kids and socialization skills have definitely improved, so I started looking for toddler activities that are low cost and sometimes even free. I usually check the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL.org) for toddler story times and our local recreation centers or parks for available activities. It’s not free childcare since you still have to watch your child because they’re toddlers, but it does give you a little breathing room because they are playing with other kids and allows them a bit more independence. My son is currently enrolled in “toddler gym time” at our local rec center, which runs three hours in the morning with a teacher coordinating activities. He gets to socialize and play with toys we don’t have at home, and I get to sit back for a bit and maybe even work on my laptop, all for $10 a month. Win win.
5. Check your workplace benefits center for childcare discounts. Some employers have affiliations with childcare centers. Mine offers a 10 percent discount, which honestly helps.
6. Use a credit card to pay daycare costs, if allowed. At least get something back, like points you can use for airlines or hotels.
7. Sign your child up for a 529 plan. Depending on the state, contributions to a 529 may be state income tax deductible. Not in California though. Sigh.
8. Set aside FSA money for kid eligible expenses. Cold and cough meds because kids are always sick, baby wash, sunscreen, overnight training pants, and wipes. I usually check the FSA store to see what’s eligible. I set aside $1,000 per year for my FSA.
9. Dependent Care FSA. This has been the biggest help by far. I contribute $5,000 per year, which significantly lowers my tax bill, and I get reimbursed when I file. For 2026, the IRS increased the limit to $7,500, but unfortunately my employer chose not to increase theirs. Bummer. Still better than nothing.
So yeah, there you go. These are the things I’ve been doing to survive having one child with a Per Diem PACU RN salary in Los Angeles. I honestly don’t know how people with multiple kids do it. Maybe they’re wealthy. I don’t know. But yeah, it’s hard. I do like to think there’s light at the end of the tunnel, when my son starts school. Fingers crossed he does well in public school because I definitely cannot afford private school on a registered nurse salary in LA.
In the meantime, I suck it up, pay the expenses, and enjoy my son’s childhood. As everyone says, they’re only this cute once, and only for such a short time.
Resources:
CNBC: How much child care costs in every U.S. state
LAPL.org: https://www.lapl.org/
529 Plan: Are 529 Contributions Tax Deductible? State-by-State Guide 2025
