Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a child care provider cost in Panama City, FL in 2026?

In Panama City, FL, the average child care provider earns about $17.78 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $711/week or $3,082/month. Most Panama City families pay somewhere in the $13–$25/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$17.78/hr · Panama City average

These numbers come from 77 live child care provider listings in Panama City on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$711
$3,082
$36,982

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What drives the price

Most Panama City families pay somewhere in the $13–$25/hour range. Where a given family lands depends on a handful of factors. Three of them drive most of the spread.


01

Experience

More experienced child care providers command higher rates. Entry-level (0-2 yrs) average $16.58/hour, while the most experienced (3-5 yrs) charge around $17.99/hour.
Avg hourly rate by years of experience

02

Number of kids

One child is the baseline. Each additional child usually adds $1–$2/hour. Twins and infants tend toward the high end.
+$1 to $2/hour per additional child
Hourly rate by number of kids
1 kid (baseline)$17.78
2 kids~$18.78
3+ kids~$19.78+

03

Hours & schedule

Standard weekday daytime hours are easiest to staff. Early mornings, evenings, weekends, and last-minute coverage all push rates up.
10–20%premium for off-hours coverage
Hourly rate adjustment by schedule
Weekday 9–5 (standard)
Evening/weekend+$2–4/hr
Last-minute+$3–5/hr

Also factor in: live-in vs. live-out · household duties beyond childcare · driving · cooking · travel.

Full-time, part-time, and live-in child care provider rates

ArrangementTypical hoursAverage rate
Full-time35–50 hrs/week$18.20/hr
Part-time10–25 hrs/week$17.54/hr

Part-time runs slightly lower per hour than full-time here, which often means strong full-time demand supports higher rates for committed schedules.

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How do Panama City child care provider rates compare to state and national averages?

Panama City runs below the U.S. average for child care provider rates — a meaningful budget advantage for families looking here.

Hiring child care in Panama City, FL typically costs about 4% less than the Florida average of $19/hour and 6% less than the United States average of $19/hour.

Average hourly child care rates compared across Panama City, FL and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Panama City, FL
Panama City, FL$18/hr
Florida$19/hr+4%
United States$19/hr+7%

Where Panama City, FL fits among nearby cities

10 nearby cities have enough child care provider data to compare, with rates ranging from $16.14/hour in Tallahassee to $21.09/hour in West Palm Beach.

Below: how each compares to the Panama City, FL average of $17.78/hour.

Nearby cities ranked by child care provider rate

10 cities near Panama City, FL ranked by average hourly child care provider rate, most to least expensive.
#City$/hrvs. Panama City, FL
1West Palm Beach$21.09+19%
2Boca Raton$20.86+17%
3Naples$20.81+17%
4Miami$20.42+15%
5Tampa$19.42+9%
6Fort Myers$18.82+6%
7Orlando$18.48+4%
8Jacksonville$17.79
9Kissimmee$17.64-1%
10Tallahassee$16.14-9%
Most expensive nearby: West Palm Beach ($21.09) Least expensive nearby: Tallahassee ($16.14)

Tips to find a great child care provider without overpaying

  • Be flexible on experience. Some of the best child care on the platform have 3–5 years on the job and charge meaningfully less than experienced child care with 10+ years. References matter more than years.
  • Consider a share. If your kids are similar ages and you live near another family, a share is the single biggest cost reduction available without compromising on care.
  • Be specific about hours upfront. Most child care will take a slightly lower rate for a guaranteed steady schedule than for a higher-rate, unpredictable one.
  • Bundle benefits thoughtfully. Two weeks PTO, a health stipend, transit passes, education assistance, or an annual raise commitment can help close the gap with families offering a higher hourly rate.
  • Match rate to responsibilities. A higher rate often makes sense once you add cooking, errands, or driving. Don't compare apples to oranges across listings.

How to reduce nanny costs?

Split the cost of a nanny with another family
and enjoy flexible child care.
Learn more about nanny sharing

How families use Nanny Lane to find a child care provider in Panama City, FL

Nanny Lane is a marketplace built specifically for connecting families with child care — no recruiters in the middle. Most families work through it like this:

  1. 01

    Browse child care provider profiles in Panama City, FL

    Filter by hourly rate, experience, languages, and availability.

  2. 02

    Message the ones who look like a fit

    Reach out to the child care whose experience and rate match what you're looking for.

  3. 03

    Schedule a phone call, then a paid trial day

    Trial days feel awkward at first — that's normal. They're the best way to see how a child care provider fits with your family in real time.

  4. 04

    Hire your child care provider

    If you'd rather not handle taxes and payroll yourself, our payroll team can take care of it.

Available child care in Panama City, FL

77 active listings in Panama City

Brianna W. - Seeking Work in Panama City

Nanny Brianna

Panama City, FL
$17/hr
Part-time
2 years experience

A little bit about me

Hey everyone ! I’ve been a nanny in the Lynn haven -pcb area a little over a year coming into 2 ! I was CPR, first aid , and a certified lifeguard I just have not went back to get my recertifications!
I’d love to get a chance to chat ! ❤️

Have experience working with

Infants
Nancy F. - Seeking Work in Panama City

Nanny Nancy

Panama City, FL
$18/hr
Part-time
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

I am 69 years old, been retired from Insurance title agent for about 10 years. During this time, my love for watching babies at church, grew to me watching several that are grown now . Looking to share this love with another child. I raised my grandson after the death of his mom and dad when he was 6. He now is 21 @ college . My nickname is Grancy, short for grandma Nancy.

Have experience working with

Infants
Chloee B. - Seeking Work in Panama City

Nanny Chloee

Panama City, FL
$18/hr
Full-time
1 year experience

A little bit about me

hello, my name is chloee bacon I am a 20 yr old looking to help out a family with childcare, I do have experience with children and childcare and currently watch peoples kids time to time, i’m looking for a family that needs me every week from set times.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Kimala W. - Seeking Work in Panama City

Nanny Kimala

Panama City, FL
$17/hr
Full-time
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

My name is Kimala Wong. I don’t have years of paid experience with childcare but I have 13 years of personal experience with my own child. I have a passion for children and their wellbeing.

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Caylyn G. - Seeking Work in Panama City

Nanny Caylyn

Panama City, FL
$18/hr
Part-time
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hello! My name is Caylyn and I’m looking for families to babysit for!! I am 17 years old and am enrolled at Gulf Coast State College in the fall.
I am CPR/AED certified and have embraced any and all childcare/ pet care opportunities available, typically ages 3+ (all ages are welcome).
I am looking for families who need an occasional sitter for date nights— sick days— or as a backup nanny for their primary sitter/nanny OR as a pet sitter.
I have super flexible/open availability and my rates start around $18 an hour for children under the age of 8 and can increase or decrease depending on how long I am needed, age/maturity of children, and the number of kids.
As for pets, I’m willing to stay overnight or do drop in visits, and the rate for that is dependent entirely on the pet and its needs, and we can discuss that further.
Feel free to reach out with any additional questions! I have plenty of client referrals, so thanks in advance!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Korie M. - Seeking Work in Panama City

Nanny Korie

Panama City, FL
$17/hr
Full-time
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hi! My name is Korie Miller I’m 18 years old and looking for a nannying job I won’t be able to start until may because that’s when I get back from college. I have younger siblings and cousins so I have experience babysitting.
Annika E. - Seeking Work in Panama City

Nanny Annika

Panama City, FL
$18/hr
Part-time
4 years experience

A little bit about me

I am active duty Air Force and I have been a nanny for 4 years as well as volunteer in the Florida state big brother/big sister program. I recently moved to Florida looking for another job.

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
KiSherri B. - Seeking Work in Panama City

Nanny KiSherri

Panama City, FL
$18/hr
Part-time
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

Education in early childcare and elementary education and have been working in schools in many different states for over 20 years. Loving, engaging, and a desire for teaching. Working with children to help build a firm foundation for education is my passion.

Have experience working with

Infants

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Shaday P. - Seeking Work in Panama City

Nanny Shaday

Panama City, FL
$17/hr
Full-time
5 years experience

A little bit about me

Hello, my name is Shaday Peynado I’m 22 years old. I’m currently looking for a full time nanny/ In house nanny position. I’ve been working with kids at a daycare/childcare center for over 5 years now. I have experienced with ages from 8months to 5 years. I would love to step outside my comfort zone and work with families one on one.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
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