How Much Does a Nanny Cost? 2026 Rates by Schedule and City

Nanny Wages Across 44 Cities (2026)

A full-time nanny (40–50 hours/week) is the most expensive childcare option for a single child, but becomes competitive for families with two or more children since the hourly rate stays roughly the same. Each range below runs from the least to the most expensive of the 44 metros we track.

Nanny Cost per Week and Month by Schedule

Nannies are paid by the hour, so the schedule drives the bill. At Care.com's October 2026 national average of $22.26 an hour, here is what common schedules cost in wages, and with roughly 10% added for employer payroll taxes:

Days are 8 hours unless noted. The 50-hour week includes 10 hours of overtime at time and a half, which federal law requires for a live-out nanny. After-school care uses Care.com's lower national after-school rate. Local rates run from $18.63 an hour in Oklahoma City to $31.44 in the San Francisco Bay Area (city table below). For your exact employer cost, use the nanny tax calculator.

Nanny Cost by City: Most to Least Expensive

True Cost of Hiring a Nanny: Hidden Expenses

The wages above don't include employer obligations. Add these to get the true annual cost:

• FICA match (7.65%): about $2,960–$5,000/year on top of full-time wages
• Federal unemployment (FUTA): ~$42/year
• State unemployment: $300–$1,500/year depending on your state
• Workers' compensation: $300–$800/year (required in most states)
• Paid time off: 5–10 vacation days + 3–5 sick days (industry standard)
• Year-end bonus: 1–2 weeks' pay is customary
• Payroll service: $40–$75/month for nanny tax services

Rule of thumb: Add 15–20% to the base wage to estimate your true all-in cost.

What Changes What You'll Pay

• Number of children: nannies are paid per family, not per child. Our estimates add about 5% for each additional child, which is why a nanny gets more cost-effective with two or three kids.
• Live-in or live-out: a live-in nanny gets room and board and isn't owed federal overtime, though some states require it. A live-out nanny must be paid time and a half after 40 hours a week.
• Experience and duties: newborn experience, driving, a second language, or housework on top of childcare usually raise the rate.
• Guaranteed hours: many nanny agreements pay the scheduled hours every week even when you need fewer, so budget for the full schedule. See our nanny contract guide.
• Location: the hourly rate varies by about 70% between the cheapest and most expensive metros we track.

Paying a Nanny on the Books

Paying legally adds tax paperwork but also unlocks the tax breaks that make a nanny more affordable (rules from IRS Publication 926, 2026):

• $3,000 threshold: if you pay a nanny $3,000 or more in cash wages in 2026 ($3,100 in 2027), you owe 7.65% Social Security and Medicare tax and withhold the same from the nanny's pay.
• Unemployment taxes: federal unemployment tax applies once you pay $1,000 or more in a calendar quarter (usually about $42 a year), plus your state's unemployment tax.
• Paperwork: report it on Schedule H with your Form 1040 and give your nanny a W-2. For 2026 wages the W-2 is due February 1, 2027.
• Tax breaks: nanny wages count for a Dependent Care FSA (up to $7,500) and the Child and Dependent Care Credit, but only if you report them, because you need the nanny's Social Security number.

Our nanny taxes and payroll guide walks through each form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

Care.com Cost of Care: national and local nanny rates, October 2026 · IRS Publication 926 (2026): household employer thresholds and W-2 due date · U.S. Department of Labor Fact Sheet #79B: overtime for live-in and live-out domestic workers · how we build the estimates: methodology. Updated October 30, 2026.