Finance

I make $35K as an early childhood educator in Vancouver—I feel like I’m bailing water from a sinking ship

Real people. Real finances. From six-figure earners to side hustlers, BCBusiness's Money Makers is pulling back the curtain on how British Columbians really make, spend and think about money—no filters, just facts.

By The Editors /

As families across B.C. settle into another back-to-school season, one group of professionals remains consistently overlooked: early childhood educators. Despite being the backbone of the province’s $10-a-day child care dream, they earn far less than the value of their work. This week’s Money Maker spotlights a 34-year-old Vancouver educator who brings home $35,000 a year—including a $5,599 top-up from the province’s Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement program, which was introduced to help recruit and retain workers in the sector. Even with the supplement, she faces daily worries about financial security and wonders if she’ll ever be able to afford a home of her own.

But the program comes with limits: it doesn’t cover overtime, vacation, or sick leave and educators can’t rely on it consistently since employers must opt in, the payments often arrive outside regular paycheques, and future funding could shift with each election. This educator argues that what’s really needed is a protected, publicly funded wage grid—yet that demand continues to be sidelined. “ECEs continue to be undervalued in our society,” she shares. “Quality childcare programs that follow meaningful longterm child-led inquiry based philosophies will make a large impact on whether your child falls in love with learning and learns critical thinking skills. Children are our future. We should be increasing our education budget and building a better tomorrow for those who will have to live in it.”

Her monthly expenses take up nearly her entire paycheque, with little flexibility for savings. “I feel like I am bailing water from a sinking ship,” she says of her financial reality, where keeping up with bills takes priority over long-term planning. Retirement savings are repeatedly pushed to the back burner, as survival—rather than stability or growth—remains the daily focus.

While she finds her work meaningful, she sometimes wishes she had chosen a tech career instead—and cautions anyone entering early childhood education to expect low pay unless they’re prepared to take on the risks of running their own daycare.

  • Age: 34
  • Location: Vancouver
  • Industry: Education
  • Role: Early childhood educator
  • Pronouns: She/her
  • Total income: $35,000

Income

  • Annual salary: $29,400
  • B.C. ECE Wage Enhancement Program (ECE-WE): $5,599
  • Benefits: Extended healthcare/vision care, life insurance, group RRSP plans, dental coverage, professional development stipends

Do you feel fairly paid for what you do?

No. I feel underpaid and undervalued for my work load, unfortunately.

Name one item you splurge on, regardless of your budget.

I will splurge on new supportive shoes. Standing and walking all day can cause a lot of discomfort and pain without it.

What’s something you refuse to spend money on?

I typically refuse to buy clothing for full price. Waiting instead for the items to go on sale.

Do you use a financial advisor, app, spreadsheet—or vibes?

I follow a simple budget.

How has living in your city/neighbourhood impacted your financial choices?

I know I will never own a home in Vancouver. It is an unfortunate fact that I will need to say goodbye to my friends, family and neighbours. Knowing this, my future plans revolve around further education and finding somewhere else to hopefully one day own a home with a little bit of property. Having a respectably-sized garden and a place to call my own would be a dream.

Do you ever find yourself concerned about money or financial security?

I find myself worrying daily of my financial security. There are reminders everywhere in this city, on the news and in our day-to-day lives that the cost of living keeps getting higher. Home security is at the top of many people’s list of concerns.

How, if at all, are you approaching retirement planning right now?

Retirement planning keeps getting pushed back as I catch up to bills and plan future education (future bills) to try to go beyond just surviving. I feel like I am bailing water from a sinking ship.

Is there a job you secretly admire for the pay or lifestyle?

I sometimes wish I had gotten into tech.

How do you define financial success? What does being “rich” mean to you? 

At this point, financial success would be being able to fix my car when it breaks down. Or knowing I can afford to move when something changes or goes wrong with my living situation. Ideally, it would be to buy a home with some property to turn into an orchard. With three dogs. And some chickens.

What’s one lesson you’ve learned about work and finances that you think others in your industry could benefit from?

Do not get into early childhood education for the money. It is an incredibly important and fulfilling career but unless you are able to pay the costs and handle the risks of opening your own daycare, expect low pay.

Want to share your money story with BCBusiness? We want to hear from anyone living and working in B.C.—regardless of your role, experience or background. Take our short, anonymous survey here!