How much to pay a nanny per hour (2026 guide)
Setting a nanny's hourly rate is one of the first — and most awkward — parts of hiring household help. Pay too little and you lose good candidates or create resentment; pay without a plan and your monthly costs surprise you. This guide gives you a real number to start from, the factors that move it, and the rules you can't ignore.
The short answer
In 2026, most US families pay a nanny roughly $21 to $26 per hour. Public industry surveys put the national average around $23–$26/hour, with high-cost metros well above that and lower-cost areas below. If you want a single starting point: $24/hour for one child in a typical mid-sized US city, then adjust up or down using the factors below.
What moves the rate
| Factor | Effect on hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Your city / cost of living | Biggest single factor — metros like SF, Seattle and NYC run $28–$35+ |
| Number of children | Add roughly $2–$5/hour per additional child |
| Experience & references | Career nannies with 5+ years and strong references command a premium |
| Newborn / infant care | +$2–$4/hour; newborn specialists more |
| Extra duties | Housework, cooking, driving, tutoring all justify a higher rate |
| Guaranteed hours & benefits | Paid time off, health stipend or guaranteed hours can offset a slightly lower rate |
Gross vs. net — agree on gross
Always discuss and agree on the gross (pre-tax) hourly rate, not "take-home." If you agree on net pay, you take on the employee's tax burden and any tax-rate change silently increases your cost. Quote gross, and let the nanny see their own withholding.
Overtime is not optional
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, a live-out nanny is a non-exempt household employee. That means every hour over 40 in a workweek is paid at 1.5× the regular rate. You cannot get around this by paying a flat weekly "salary" — the overtime obligation still applies. Live-in nannies and certain states have different rules, so confirm your state's law. Budget for overtime if your schedule regularly runs past 40 hours.
Don't forget the "nanny taxes"
If you pay a household employee more than the IRS annual threshold, you generally owe employment taxes (Social Security, Medicare, and often federal/state unemployment). This is real money on top of the wage — often 10%+ of gross. Two implications:
- Factor the employer tax cost into your budget, not just the hourly rate.
- Keep clean records of hours worked and amounts paid from day one — you'll need them at tax time.
How to land on your number
- Start from the national average (~$24/hour, one child).
- Adjust for your city using local listings on Care.com, Sittercity or UrbanSitter.
- Add for extra children, infant care, and added duties.
- Decide on guaranteed hours and any benefits — these affect the rate a good nanny will accept.
- Quote it as a gross hourly rate, and put it in a simple written agreement.
Then track it without spreadsheets
Once you've set the rate, Paypr keeps the running total for you: log the hours each day, and always know exactly what you owe your nanny by payday.
Download Paypr on the App StoreRate ranges are approximate and drawn from public 2025–2026 industry surveys (Care.com, UrbanSitter, Sittercity, ZipRecruiter, PayScale). This is general information, not tax or legal advice — check current rules for your state.
Related:
Nanny pay calculator · How to track what you owe your nanny · Babysitter hourly rates by city