CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for child day care services in Alaska
173 child day care services operated in Alaska in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 173CBP 2023
- Employees
- 1,902mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 23.4U.S. 24.2
- State rank
- 51st of 51by count
The child care center industry in Alaska
Alaska had 173 child day care services in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 624410, Child Day Care Services). They employed 1,902 people in mid-March and reported $62.6 million in annual payroll. That is the 51st highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Child day care services make up 0.78% of the 22,178 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Alaska has 23.4 child day care services, 3.2% below the national rate of 24.2. The average establishment has 11.0 employees against 12.7 nationally. Payroll per employee is $32,908, 10.8% above the U.S. figure of $29,695.
| Measure | Alaska | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 173 | 82,162 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,902 | 1,045,052 |
| Annual payroll | $62,591,000 | $31,032,974,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 11.0 | 12.7 |
| Payroll per employee | $32,908 | $29,695 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 23.4 | 24.2 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Alaska's largest markets for child day care services
Census published child care center counts for 4 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Alaska. The largest is Anchorage, AK, with 93 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 75% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | 93 | 1,341 | 22.8 |
| Fairbanks, AK | 25 | 251 | 26.3 |
| Juneau, AK | 9 | 45 | 28.5 |
| Ketchikan, AK | 3 | — | 21.9 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at child day care services in Alaska
36.8% of Alaska's child day care services with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 36.3% nationally. 62.6% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 63 | 36.8% | 36.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 44 | 25.7% | 18.7% |
| 10–19 employees | 34 | 19.9% | 24.0% |
| 20–49 employees | 30 | 17.5% | 18.8% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 2.2% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a child care center in Alaska has to catch
Child care centers take calls from parents about enrollment, absences and pickups, and from prospective families looking for openings. Staff are with children, so calls must be quick or captured. That holds for child day care services in Alaska as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to child day care services in Alaska:
- A parent calls to report a child's absence.
- The center calls a parent about a sick child.
- A parent calls to ask about openings for an infant.
What child day care services text about
Centers text closures, reminders and pickup notices.
Texting from a local number in Alaska requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
What a phone system costs a child care center in Alaska
Child day care services in Alaska average 11.0 employees, so the comparison uses an 11-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 11 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $330.00 a month and 11 on Ooma Office Pro cost $274.45. Callata comes to $219.00 a month for 11 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $1,332 less than RingCentral for a child care center in Alaska of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $219.00 | $2,628.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $209.00 | $2,508.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $253.00 | $3,036.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $274.45 | $3,293.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $297.00 | $3,564.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $330.00 | $3,960.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in Alaska
Alaska has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a child care center can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 907 | 657 | Alaska | 1957 | none |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for child day care services in Alaska
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Alaska is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many child day care services are in Alaska?
173 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 1,902 people in mid-March.
Which Alaska metro area has the most child day care services?
Anchorage, AK, with 93 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost an 11-person child care center?
$330.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $274.45 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $219.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Alaska number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.