Oklahoma Human Services pays child care providers between $8.00 and $50.60 per day for each child on subsidy, with the exact amount set by the child’s age, the provider’s star rating, the type of setting, and whether care is full-time or part-time. Infant care at a five-star center pays the most at $50.60 per full-time day. Part-time school-age care at a one-star home sits at the low end near $8.00. Most families also owe a monthly co-payment based on income, and DHS pays the provider the balance.1Oklahoma Human Services. Appendix C-4-B – Child Care Provider Rate Schedule
Full-Time Daily Rates at Licensed Centers
A full-time day means more than four hours of care. Younger children draw higher rates because required child-to-staff ratios are stricter, and higher star ratings pay more across every age bracket.
- One-star center: $20.00 infants (0–12 months), $20.00 toddlers (13–24 months), $17.20 ages 2–4, $17.00 ages 4–6, $13.80 school-age (6–13).
- Two-star center: $22.80 infants, $21.80 toddlers, $19.60 ages 2–4, $18.50 ages 4–6, $16.10 school-age.
- Three-star center: $38.00 infants, $33.60 toddlers, $31.50 ages 2–4, $22.80 ages 4–6, $18.80 school-age.
- Four-star center: $44.00 infants, $41.80 toddlers, $35.90 ages 2–4, $25.20 ages 4–6, $20.70 school-age.
- Five-star center: $50.60 infants, $48.10 toddlers, $41.30 ages 2–4, $29.00 ages 4–6, $23.80 school-age.
The star gap matters. A five-star center receives more than double what a one-star center gets for the same infant, $50.60 versus $20.00 per day.1Oklahoma Human Services. Appendix C-4-B – Child Care Provider Rate Schedule
Full-Time Daily Rates at Family Child Care Homes
Licensed family child care homes use a slightly different structure. Infants and toddlers are grouped together (0–24 months) rather than split at 12 months.
- One-star home: $20.00 (0–24 months), $17.20 (2–4), $16.20 (4–6), $13.00 school-age.
- Two-star home: $20.70 (0–24 months), $18.50 (2–4), $18.50 (4–6), $13.70 school-age.
- Three-star home: $28.60 (0–24 months), $26.50 (2–4), $22.80 (4–6), $18.20 school-age.
- Four-star home: $39.50 (0–24 months), $36.00 (2–4), $26.60 (4–6), $20.70 school-age.
- Five-star home: $45.40 (0–24 months), $41.40 (2–4), and higher rates for older brackets.
In-home care, where an approved caregiver (often a relative) watches the child in the child’s own home, pays 90 percent of the one-star home rate for a child of the same age.1Oklahoma Human Services. Appendix C-4-B – Child Care Provider Rate Schedule
Part-Time Rates
Part-time care means four hours or fewer in a day. Those rates run roughly 55 to 70 percent of the full-time rate for the same age and star level. As an example, part-time infant care at a three-star center pays $23.40 per day compared with $38.00 for full-time.1Oklahoma Human Services. Appendix C-4-B – Child Care Provider Rate Schedule
Add-On Payments
DHS adds daily amounts to the base rate in certain situations.
- Non-traditional hours: $14 added per day when care happens evenings, overnight, or weekends.
- Child welfare cases: $5 added per day for children in foster care or receiving care under a protective services plan.
- Special needs: children with documented disabilities may qualify for a moderate or severe special needs add-on, scored against a needs assessment.
DHS has also been paying a temporary $5-per-day increase for every eligible child on top of the regular schedule.2Child Care Handbook. Section C Rates and Unit Types
What Families Pay: The Monthly Co-Payment
Most families pay a co-payment directly to the provider each month, and DHS pays the provider the rest of the authorized amount. The co-payment is one household amount covering every subsidized child in the family, not a per-child charge.3Oklahoma Human Services. Child Care Eligibility and Copayment Chart
Amounts are set by adjusted monthly income and household size. Families at the lowest income levels owe nothing. Sample figures from the schedule effective October 2025:
- Family of 3 earning $1,831–$1,910/month: $128/month.
- Family of 3 earning $3,821–$5,589/month: $276/month, the maximum for that household size.
- Family of 4 earning $2,209–$2,274/month: $153/month.
- Family of 4 earning $4,548–$6,654/month: $328/month, the maximum.
A family of three earning $1,830 per month or less pays zero, as does a family of four earning $2,208 or less. Oklahoma’s co-payments stay within the federal cap of 7 percent of household income; the maximum co-payment for a family of four works out to about 5.6 percent of income at the top of the eligibility range.4Administration for Children and Families. CCDF Family Co-Payments by State
If a provider’s private charges exceed what DHS pays, the provider cannot bill the family for the difference beyond the assigned co-payment. Picking a higher-rated facility effectively means DHS covers more of the cost.1Oklahoma Human Services. Appendix C-4-B – Child Care Provider Rate Schedule
Who Qualifies for the Subsidy
Family income cannot exceed 85 percent of Oklahoma’s state median income for the household size. That ceiling is roughly $5,589 per month for a family of three and about $6,654 per month for a family of four.3Oklahoma Human Services. Child Care Eligibility and Copayment Chart
Income alone is not enough. At least one parent or guardian must be working, in school, or in job training. Benefits may also be approved as part of a child protective services plan. Children qualify from birth through age 12; those with documented disabilities or under court supervision can qualify through age 18. Applicants must live in Oklahoma and document the child’s citizenship or qualified immigration status.5Oklahoma Human Services. Child Care Benefits
Which Providers DHS Will Pay
The provider must hold a DHS contract. Licensed centers need at least a one-star-plus rating to contract; licensed family homes need at least one star when licensed, or one-star-plus when operating on a permit.6Oklahoma Administrative Code. OAC 340:40-13-5 – Child Care Provider Contracts DHS does not contract with out-of-state providers. Families can search the Child Care Locator tool on the Oklahoma Human Services website to find contracted programs.7Oklahoma Human Services. Contracting with Oklahoma Human Services