2018 Nanny Survey: Pay & Benefits

Hourly Pay

Respondents were asked for the total hourly rate their nanny is paid, not the per-child cost. Live-in nannies were not included in this question. Earlier in the survey we had asked parents whether they share their nanny with another family and if so, "How many children is the nanny usually caring for at once?" For parents who are not in a share, we asked them how many of their children the nanny cares for, including the nanny's own child if applicable. (View these questions here: Hours, Shares, and Number of Children.)

When the nanny was caring for four or more children, the ages of the children were likely to include a preschooler and/or a school-aged child, who presumably would be at school for part of the nanny's time. This may explain why the rate for 4 children is lower than the rate for 3. 

1. How much per hour is your nanny paid for one child?  

  • $20.45  (84 responses) (median=$20 high=$35 low=$10)

2. What is the total per hour your nanny is paid for 2 children?

  • ​$25.38 (167 responses) (median=$25 high=$52 low=$17)

3. What is the total per hour your nanny is paid for 3 children?  

  • $29.55  (9 responses) (median=$25 high=$50 low=$22)​

4. What is the total per hour your nanny is paid for 4+ children? 

  • $25.00  (5 responses) (median=$25 high=$30 low=$20)

Overtime

When asked earlier in the survey how many hours their nanny cares for their children, more than a third of respondents reported more than 40 hours a week. (See Hours, Shares, and Number of Children.) But only 24% of the parents whose nannies work more than 40 hours a week said they pay overtime.

5. If your nanny works for you more than 8 hours in a day, or more than 40 hours in a week, do you pay overtime?

ANSWER CHOICES–

RESPONSES–
My nanny has never worked for me more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week.

33.79%

74
No, I pay her regular rate.

27.40%

60
Yes, I pay overtime.

24.20%

53
No, because I pay a weekly or monthly salary.

14.61%

32
TOTAL 219

Overnight Nanny Rates

Most parents who responded have never hired a nanny to stay overnight. (Note live-in nannies weren't included in this question.)  There was a lot of variation in the responses; since we didn't ask how many children the nanny was caring for overnight, or how old they were, the higher rates may indicate younger children or more children. 

6. Have you ever paid a nanny to stay at your home with your child(ren) overnight while parents are away? 

ANSWER CHOICES–

RESPONSES–
–

No.

86.57%

187
–

Yes.

11.11%

24
–

No, but I have taken my child to the nanny's house for an overnight.

2.31%

5
–

No, because nanny lives with us and overnights are included in her salary.

0.00%

0
TOTAL

216

 

7. What was the total you paid the nanny for one night?

  • $223.12 per night on average (24 responses)

Median: $155

High: $500

Low: $50

Most popular rates: $150-160 (5 of these), $100-110 (4), $300-325 (4), $500 (4) 

Live-In Nannies

Only 3 respondents (of a total of 338) reported having a live-in nanny, so these results are not reliably representative of the going rates. Note parents who said they have an au pair were not included in the survey.

1. How many of your children does the live-in nanny care for?

  • one child (2 respondents) 

  • two children (1 respondent) 

2. How many hours per week, on average, does your live-in nanny provide childcare?

  • all 3 respondents said more than 40 hours per week

3. What is your nanny's weekly salary?

  • $370 (one child who is 18-24 months)
  • $700 (one child who is 6-12 months)
  • $800 (two children, both 18-24 months)

4. What accommodations do you provide for the nanny?

  • all 3 respondents answered "a private bedroom with a shared bath"

 

Most parents pay their nanny for sick days, holidays, and vacation.  Some parents commented that they pay their nanny when the family is away and also give her personal days (this was not on the survey.)  Additional benefits that parents mentioned in the comments include mileage, and help with medical premiums.
 

Paid Leave 

1. Do you give your nanny paid time off for federal holidays that fall on days she normally works for you?
  • 88% Yes  (193)
  • 12%  No (26)
2. Do you give your nanny paid time off when she is sick and can't care for your child?
  • 87%  Yes (114 said a specified number of days per year; 77 said as needed)
  • 13%  No  (28)
3. Do you give your nanny paid time off for vacation and/or personal days?
  • 86%  Yes (115 pay 2+ weeks, her choice; 44 pay when family is away; 29 pay 1 week, her choice)
  • 14%  No (31)

Bonuses 

4. Are you planning to give your nanny a year-end bonus this year?   Note "one week's pay" means the amount you typically pay the nanny for one week of childcare.
  • 76% Yes (86 = 1 week's pay; 42 = less than 1 week's pay; 37 = 2+ week's pay)
  • 19% No, but I plan to give a gift (42)
  • 5%  No (12)

Other Benefits

5. What other benefits do you provide besides those listed above? Check all that apply.
 
ANSWER CHOICES–
RESPONSES–
–
Some meals or access to family food
64.86%
96
–
An "allowance" of money to spend as nanny wishes while with the children
31.08%
46
–
Transportation subsidy (BART or Clipper card, gas money, etc.)
30.41%
45
–
Personal memberships (local museums, zoo, etc). that nanny can use when not with my child
27.03%
40
–
Use of a car
14.19%
21
–
Other benefits not listed above (please use the Comments section at the end of the survey to explain.)
10.81%
16
–
Use of a credit card or charge account
6.76%
10
–
Help with personal expenses
6.76%
10
–
Help with medical expenses
4.05%
6
–
Cell phone
1.35%
2
Total Respondents: 148  

 

 

Taxes & Withholdings

Note: Parents who hire a nanny to work in their homes are considered to be a household employer by the State.  A nanny is not a self-employed contractor (like a plumber or housekeeper is) because the parent/employer is setting the work hours and assigning tasks.  Household employers are required to register with the State of California and withhold SDI, worker's comp, etc. As an employer you are also required to report the nanny's earnings to the IRS.  The State publishes a Household Employer's Guide that explains these requirements. Many parents use a payroll service to handle this.
 
As in previous surveys, most respondents said they do not withhold/pay taxes and insurance, or report their nanny's earnings to the State or IRS. The most common reason for not reporting the nanny's income is because the nanny didn't want them to -- many parents commented that nanny is not legal to work in the US, is afraid of deportation, or doesn't want to be in a state/federal database. 
 
1. Do you pay or withhold any federal or state taxes or insurance for your nanny?
  • Yes 26% (64)
  • No  74% (184)
2. Do you plan to take the childcare deduction on your own income tax and/or use your employer's pre-tax withholding for childcare? 
  • Yes 39% (88)
  • No 61% (139)
3. Have you registered as a household employer with the State Employment Development Department (EDD)?
  • Yes 28% (64)
  • No  72% (163)
4. Do you report the wages you pay your nanny to the IRS and the State?
  • Yes 35% (79)
  • No 65% (148)
5. If you do not report your nanny's wages, what is the main reason why?
ANSWER CHOICES–
RESPONSES–
–
Nanny asked me not to report her wages.
42.21%
65
–
It's up to the nanny to report her wages.
19.48%
30
–
I didn't know it was a requirement or I don't know how to.
16.88%
26
–
Another reason not listed above (please use the Comments section at the end to tell us.)
13.64%
21
–
Nanny asked me to report only partial wages so she isn't disqualified from income-based programs.
5.19%
8
–
Nanny works for another family that reports her wages.
2.60%
4
–
Nanny works for an agency that takes care of that.
0.00%
0
TOTAL 154