One of the most frequent questions we get asked from our families who are hiring a long-term nanny is how much they should pay them. How much to pay a nanny is something to figure out early in the process, not after you decide to hire someone. This way there are no surprises for either side.
Remember, hiring a nanny is hiring a professional to work in your home, much like a small business owner hires someone for their team.
If you’re hiring through an agency like ours, we will help you determine an appropriate offer for the type of nanny you’re seeking. But to get a general idea of all the factors that influence what you’ll pay your nanny, see the list below.
Factors for how much you pay a nanny
- Fair Labor Standards Act
Full- and part-time nannies are covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). They must be paid an hourly rate that is at least the federal minimum wage or the minimum wage for your state or city if it’s higher. Overtime pay of time and a half must also be paid for more than 40 hours of work per week. - Location
As with most jobs, nannies that live in areas that have a higher cost of living or in metropolitan areas tend to be paid more. According to the latest research by the International Nanny Association, the average hourly rate for a nanny in California is $23/hour. Washington, New York, Massachusetts, and Maryland are also on the higher end of the pay scale with average rates of at least $20/hour. But in an area like the Capital Region, the average pay rate is around $15/hour. - Live-in or Live Out
Will your nanny be live-in or live-out? A nanny who lives in your home could be paid less if they are receiving room and board. - Full-time or Part-time
Are you hiring a full-time nanny or is it a part-time position? A full-time employee has more job security and may receive benefits that can keep their hourly rate lower than a part-time nanny. - Experience, Education, and Training
As with most professions, experience counts. Think about how many years of child care you would like to have in a candidate. What about certifications, formal education, or training in a child care field? The more experience, education, and training a nanny possesses, the higher her pay will be. - Responsibilities
What other responsibilities will your nanny have? Will they be expected to cook dinner, wash dishes, do laundry, walk the dog, or pick up the kids from school? Also, will your nanny need to be on call? Will they be expected to care for your children if you’re called into work? Additional responsibilities and being on call could increase the pay rate. - Number of Children
The number of children the nanny will care for will impact pay. The more children, typically the higher the pay. - Benefits and Incentives
As you determine your nanny’s hourly rate, you may want to consider benefits and incentives for your nanny. This will also help you attract and retain the best talent. Consider paid time off, paid holidays, health insurance (or health insurance stipend) and a retirement plan. Also, think about bonuses for excellent performance, annual cost of living increases, and reimbursement or increased pay for completing training or getting a degree. - Tax Obligations
When budgeting for your nanny’s pay, remember you have employer tax obligations on top of what you pay your nanny. Check out GTM Payroll Service’s easy-to-use tax calculator to help you figure this out. The tax calculator will also provide your nanny’s gross and net pay. Your nanny will be most interested in their net pay – or take-home pay. This is the amount in their paycheck after taxes – such as income tax, Medicare, and Social Security – are taken out. Their gross pay is their take-home pay plus the taxes that will be withheld. Make sure you and your candidate are clear about gross and net pay to avoid any confusion come pay day.
When you have agreed on compensation, put the hourly pay rate and other policies in a written work agreement.
Contact us for more information at (518) 348-0400.