Seattle, Washington$20.50/hrBrooklyn, New York$19.00/hrWashington, DC$18.25/hrSan Diego, California$17.75/hrPortland, Oregon$17.50/hrDenver, Colorado$17.25/hrAtlanta, Georgia$16.75/hrChicago, Illinois$16.25/hrMinneapolis, Minnesota$16.25/hrPhoenix, Arizona$16.25/hrPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania$16.00/hrCharlotte, North Carolina$15.75/hrHouston, Texas$15.75/hrTampa, Florida$15.00/hrOrlando, Florida$14.75/hrSan Antonio, Texas$14.00/hr

Beyond cost of living, commuting can also play a role, says Emily Dills, CEO of Seattle Nanny Network. For instance, if the nanny has to commute, Dills says, “The nanny will be taking into consideration the cost of her time in transit and mileage, especially if the hours are part time.”

Looking up average nanny rates for your area is good starting place — you can always go up or down based on expected duties or nanny̵7;s experience.

Types of duties and tasks

In addition to where you live, what you’re asking the nanny to do could also affect how much you’ll pay. Caring for more children, for example, usually means more work for the nanny, and therefore, a higher pay rate.

The specific tasks included in the job description of a nanny can change from one family to the next, says Los Angeles parent coach and nanny matchmaker Stella Reid. “[Hiring a nanny] is about making a family̵7;s life easier,” Reid says. That can mean “things like party organization, grocery shopping, organizing, planning schedules — it can be a lot of hats for one person.”

Circumstances that might make the price of nanny services go up or down include:

How much more a nanny should earn for these non-child-care tasks is between the family and the nanny, Reid says, and it should be something that’s discussed during routine pay assessments and written down in a nanny contract or workers agreement.  

For those at a loss for what would be appropriate, however, Gabriela Gerhart, founder and president of Motherhood Center in Houston, said in a prior interview with Care.com that it’s fairly standard to tack $1-$2 onto the hourly rate for common household tasks like meals or laundry for the whole family.

Experience and background of the nanny

If families are looking for someone with a lot of training or background in a specific area, they should be prepared to pay more for that experience.

“Nannies with a bachelor and master̵7;s degree, especially related to early childhood education, typically have a higher earning potential,” says Michelle LaRowe, lead educator at NannyTraining.com and author of ̶0;Nanny to the Rescue!̶1; Nannies with specialized training or experience with niche circumstances, such as caring for multiples or children with special needs, also earn more.

What extra costs are not included in a nanny̵7;s pay rate?

How much you pay your nanny is only part of the equation. When you’re budgeting for nanny services, you should also take into consideration other costs, like nanny taxes, background checks and supplemental care when your nanny is sick or on vacation. These additional expenses include:

How much a nanny costs can differ widely from one family to the next, based on circumstances, expectations and experience levels. Families interested in hiring a nanny should start by looking into the costs of nannies in their area and taxes for their state and adjust their budget from there.

For more tips and advice about interviewing nannies, setting up taxes and payroll and more, check out The Complete Guide to Nannies for everything you need to know about hiring a nanny, start to finish.


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How much does a nanny cost?

How much does a nanny cost?

If you’ve narrowed down your choice of child care options and decided that hiring a nanny is the right option for your family, you’re probably wondering: Can we even afford a nanny? As with any child care option a parent considers, it’s crucial to know up front what it’s going to cost so you can look at your budget and plan accordingly.

How much is a nanny?

According to the Care.com 2021 Cost of Care surveythe national average cost of a nanny for one child averaged $612 per week, or about $15.30 per hour. You can find most current average rates for nannies, depending on location and number of children, with our cost of child care calculator. But there are several other factors to keep in mind when discussing a nanny̵7;s pay rate.

What should I factor into a nanny̵7;s pay rate?

The cost of hiring a nanny has many variables, including where you live, what the nanny is hired to do and how much experience they bring to the position.

Geographic area

One of the biggest factors in how much you’ll pay for a nanny is where you live. Hourly rates for nannies vary widely from one community to the next. Those living in areas with a higher cost of living generally pay more for nanny services than in lower-priced areas. Competition can also be a factor. Cities with fewer experienced, well-qualified nannies will pay them more than in places where competition isn’t quite so fierce.

Here are some examples of the going nanny rates based on location, according to recent Care.com data.

Current nanny rates for top cities*

CITYHOURLY NANNY RATE