Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a child care provider cost in Union City, NJ in 2026?

In Union City, NJ, the average child care provider earns about $18.74 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $750/week or $3,248/month. Most Union City families pay somewhere in the $15–$25/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$18.74/hr · Union City average

These numbers come from 170 live child care provider listings in Union City on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$750
$3,248
$38,979

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What drives the price

Most Union City families pay somewhere in the $15–$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 $18.75/hour, while the most experienced (6-10 yrs) charge around $21.82/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)$18.74
2 kids~$19.74
3+ kids~$20.74+

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$20.30/hr
Part-time10–25 hrs/week$19.11/hr
Live-inSet by family$21.11/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.

Live-in rates here run higher than live-out — uncommon, but typically reflects specialty demand for around-the-clock or live-in newborn care. The trade-off is space — you'll need a private bedroom and ideally a separate bathroom for the child care provider.

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

Union City runs above the U.S. average for child care provider rates, in line with most major metros.

Hiring child care in Union City, NJ typically costs about 3% less than the New Jersey average of $19/hour and 12% more than the United States average of $17/hour.

Average hourly child care rates compared across Union City, NJ and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Union City, NJ
Union City, NJ$19/hr
New Jersey$19/hr+3%
United States$17/hr-11%

Where Union City, NJ fits among nearby cities

The most expensive city for child care near Union City, NJ is Westfield at $20.87/hour; the least expensive is Elizabeth at $16.51/hour.

Below are the 10 most and 10 least expensive cities near Union City, NJ and how each compares to Union City, NJ's average of $18.74/hour.

Most expensive cities near Union City, NJ

Top 10 most expensive cities near Union City, NJ for hiring a child care provider, ranked by average hourly rate.
#City$/hrvs. Union City, NJ
1Westfield$20.87+11%
2Morristown$20.75+11%
3Princeton$20.46+9%
4Hoboken$20.11+7%
5Englewood$19.92+6%
6West Orange$19.37+3%
7Edgewater$18.90+1%
8Jersey City$18.60-1%
9Bloomfield$18.53-1%
10Newark$18.39-2%

Least expensive cities near Union City, NJ

Top 10 least expensive cities near Union City, NJ for hiring a child care provider, ranked by average hourly rate.
#City$/hrvs. Union City, NJ
1Elizabeth$16.51-12%
2East Orange$16.82-10%
3Trenton$16.97-9%
4Paterson$17.06-9%
5Edison$17.10-9%
6Clifton$17.19-8%
7Bayonne$17.30-8%
8Franklin Township$17.55-6%
9Union$17.65-6%
10Cherry Hill$17.67-6%

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 Union City, NJ

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 Union City, NJ

    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 Union City, NJ

170 active listings in Union City

Maria Jose V. - Seeking Work in Union City

Nanny Maria Jose

Union City, NJ
$18/hr
Full-time
5 years experience

A little bit about me

Hola! Mi nombre es Maria Jose tengo 34 años, soy Ecuatoriana y vine a este pais hace 4 años.. soy mamá de dos hermosos niños Isabela de 12 años y Frederick de 11 añitos.. Por experiencia propia puedo decir que un padre no puede confiar a sus hijos a cualquier persona, y estoy segura que cumplo con las cualidades en cuanto al cuidado , responsabilidad y amor en cuanto al trabajo mas importante que es cuidar a un bebé.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certification

First Aid
Merlin G. - Seeking Work in Union City

Nanny Merlin

Union City, NJ
$18/hr
Full-time
8 years experience

A little bit about me

Mi nombre es Merlína tengo 26 años tengo 8 años de experiencia cuidando niñ@s, soy madre de 2 niñas una de 6 y otra de 8, soy Dominicana. Vine hace 4 meses a Estado unidos.
Puedo trabajar tiempo completo

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Valeira B. - Seeking Work in Union City

Nanny Valeira

Union City, NJ
$18/hr
Full-time
5 years experience

A little bit about me

Hello, my name is Valeria Benítez, I am 21 years old and I have 5 years of experience taking care of children of different ages. I'm also a mom, so I understand very well the importance of providing a safe, affectionate and responsible environment for the little ones.I know how to cook, I can help with schoolwork and I have knowledge in first aid. I love interacting with children through educational games, crafts and outdoor activities.I am available every day whatever time I am willing to work in your house the family home If you are looking for a reliable, caring and responsible nanny, I would love to have the opportunity to talk. Thank you for your time!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Steve R. - Seeking Work in Union City

Nanny Steve

Union City, NJ
$19/hr
Full-time
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

My name is Steve Ramirez I am great with kids especially with infants and toddlers because although I may not have paid experience in being a nanny. Growing up I am the oldest of 4 in my family and my whole life was me babysitting my 3 younger siblings which by the time I did it I was 15 years old and they were two toddlers and one infant. So I know I have what it takes to work great with kids. Also, I have a drivers license in case I will need to get my clients children from school and other activities.
Magga V. - Seeking Work in Union City

Nanny Magga

Union City, NJ
$19/hr
Full-time
1 year experience

A little bit about me

Me gustan los niños, tengo experiencia en niños cuide mucho a mis sobrinos pequeños y a otros niños también los hago jugar y todo

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Shayli M. - Seeking Work in Union City

Nanny Shayli

Union City, NJ
$18/hr
Full-time
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hola mi nombre es Shayli, soy una mujer responsable y muy paciente, yo cuidaría de tu pequeñ@ muy bien.

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certification

First Aid
Verónica V. - Seeking Work in Union City

Nanny Verónica

Union City, NJ
$18/hr
Full-time
4 years experience

A little bit about me

Hello! I am Veronica, I was born in Colombia but I am Spanish, I have worked caring for children before, I can give references for my work.
I am fun, loving, active and patient,educated and responsible.
I talk spanish and english.
I going to take care your sons as mine, carefully.

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certification

First Aid
Joselin A. - Seeking Work in Union City

Nanny Joselin

Union City, NJ
$18/hr
Full-time
1 year experience

A little bit about me

I'm 33 years old .l like to keep home very clean.organize person and l like to prepare healthy meals.l like to do laundry.l very respectful person.and clean .my language is Spanish but l speak a little bit English a 60%
Michel M. - Seeking Work in Union City

Nanny Michel

Union City, NJ
$18/hr
Full-time
3 years experience

A little bit about me

Para presentarme brevemente, mi nombre es Michel Moncada y soy una persona responsable, honesta, comprometida con mi trabajo. Me encanta supervisar a los niños, desarrollar y mantener un entorno seguro y cariñoso, coordinar todo tipo de actividades diarias y realizar cualquier tarea doméstica que se requiera. Además, me apasionan los niños y disfruto profundamente pasando tiempo con ellos.
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