How Much Does a Nanny Cost?

Childcare is a necessity for many mamas. So if you’re asking how much does a nanny cost?, you’re not alone. We’ll take you through the details.
Breaking news: it’s impossible to be in more than one place at the same time (at least as far as we know).

And this very simple fact has got many a mama asking: how much does a nanny cost?

Childcare is an expense that can take up a significant portion of our monthly budgets.

And for many of us, it’s non-negotiable.

Between all our commitments, we simply can’t be with our kids all the time.

And even if we have a support structure around us, it can be hard to ensure that we’re always covered when we need to be.

Whether you need someone to help out full-time or for an hour here or there, knowing the ballpark prices ahead of time can help you prep your budget and schedule.

Let’s take a look at the numbers.

In this article: 📝

How much does a full-time nanny cost?

The first thing to know is that full-time (and part-time) nannies are considered household employees rather than independent contractors.

This is important when it comes to how you deal with the issue of taxes.

In short, it’s your responsibility to withhold their taxes from their salary rather than the nanny budgeting for their tax expenses themselves.

The IRS details exactly what that means for you here.

Don’t worry — we’ll give you a quick cheat sheet:

• You need a contract with them that outlines any benefits you have agreed upon.
  
• You need to set up payroll — how and when you will pay them.
  
• You need to get a federal and state employer tax ID.
  
• You need to file a W-2 form for them and a New Hire Report within your state.

Once you’ve figured out how you’re going to pay them, the next step is how much.

There are so many factors that go into the cost of a nanny.

The most significant are:

Your family makeup

How many children you have, what ages they are, and how much support you need will all have a bearing on how much your nanny will cost.

Geography

The cost of living in your city affects how much caregivers need to earn. (Keep reading for more details.)

What you expect your nanny to do

Do they need to drive, for example?

Or assist with grocery shopping and errand running?

And how about birthday party planning?

Help with homework?

Field trips?

The nanny’s experience and educational background

Is this a part-time job for a teenager, or are you looking for someone with a college degree that can help your kids out with their schoolwork?

If they have post-secondary education in early child development, for example, you have a serious professional on your hands — and they’ll need to be compensated for that.

How much does a nanny cost per month?

According to a survey run by Care.com, an online marketplace that connects caregivers to those who need them, the national average cost of a nanny per week for one child is $694.

That puts the monthly costs at somewhere in the region of $2,800 — but again, this will vary widely based on exactly who you’re hiring and what you expect them to do.

How much does a nanny cost per day?

We’ll take you through the hourly rates in various places based on the recent Care.com survey.

We’ve also converted the numbers into daily rates based on an eight-hour day.

(Note that these are averages based on specific cities and may vary from what’s expected in your specific location.

There also may be other costs involved, such as mileage if they’re using their own cars, for example.

But this gives you a rough idea.)

How much do nannies charge in Colorado?

In Denver, the average hourly rate for a nanny is $17.75.

That brings the daily total to somewhere around $140.

How much is a nanny in California?

In San Diego, the average hourly rate is $18.50.

So the daily is around $148.

(We may not have to tell you that there are some very expensive cities in California, meaning the average might be much higher than $18.50 if you live in San Francisco or LA.)

How much is a nanny in New York?

If you want a nanny in Brooklyn, you’re looking at about $19.75 an hour.

And that’s about $158 a day.

How much is a nanny in Washington State?

Seattle is quite expensive, coming in it at around $21.50 an hour.

So that’s about $172 a day.

Know that there is help available.

If you need assistance finding a nanny, check out our full guide here.

And we know, for many families, this expense can feel impossible.

There are government assistance options available.

And you may be eligible for tax credits based on how much you spend on childcare in comparison to your income.

Low-income families may qualify for financial assistance.

There are also state-funded pre-kindergarten and other support programs that might be appropriate for you and your family.

Your first step to accessing these services is to head here to see what is available in your state.

And if you need some support through this thing called motherhood, join our Peanut community.

We don’t have to do this alone.