Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a live-in nanny cost in Tennessee in 2026?

In Tennessee, the average live-in nanny earns about $15.43 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $617/week or $2,675/month. Rates across Tennessee fall in the $7–$25/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$15.43/hr · Tennessee average

These numbers come from 1,980 live live-in nanny listings in Tennessee on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$617
$2,675
$32,094

Find live-in nannies near you

What drives the price

Across Tennessee, live-in nannies rates fall in the $7–$25/hour range. Where a family lands depends on a handful of factors. Three of them drive most of the spread.


01

Experience

More experienced live-in nannys command higher rates. Entry-level (0-2 yrs) average $15.36/hour, while the most experienced (6-10 yrs) charge around $17.50/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)$15.43
2 kids~$16.43
3+ kids~$17.43+

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 live-in nanny rates

ArrangementTypical hoursAverage rate
Full-time35–50 hrs/week$16.32/hr
Part-time10–25 hrs/week$15.86/hr
Live-inSet by family$16.15/hr

Part-time and full-time hourly rates are similar here — short schedules don't always command a premium when full-time openings are easy to fill.

Live-in rates are close to live-out here — but the package usually still includes room and board, so the all-in cost can be lower than it appears. The trade-off is space — you'll need a private bedroom and ideally a separate bathroom for the live-in nanny.

Browse live-in nannies

How do Tennessee live-in nanny rates compare to the national average?

Tennessee runs below the U.S. average for live-in nanny rates — a meaningful budget advantage for families looking to hire here. Rates are tightest in larger cities and lowest in smaller towns and rural areas.

Hiring live-in nannies in Tennessee typically costs about 8% less than the United States average of $17/hour.

Average hourly live-in nannies rates compared across Tennessee and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Tennessee
Tennessee$15/hr
United States$17/hr+9%

Where live-in nannies cost most and least in Tennessee

6 cities have enough live-in nanny data to compare, with rates ranging from $13.81/hour in Clarksville to $19.48/hour in Nashville.

Below: how each compares to the Tennessee state average of $15.43/hour.

Nearby cities ranked by live-in nanny rate

6 cities in Tennessee ranked by average hourly live-in nanny rate, most to least expensive.
#City$/hrvs. Tennessee
1Nashville$19.48+26%
2Memphis$15.20-1%
3Murfreesboro$15.08-2%
4Knoxville$15.08-2%
5Chattanooga$14.92-3%
6Clarksville$13.81-10%
Most expensive nearby: Nashville ($19.48) Least expensive nearby: Clarksville ($13.81)

Tips to find a great live-in nanny without overpaying

  • Be flexible on experience. Some of the best live-in nannies on the platform have 3–5 years on the job and charge meaningfully less than experienced live-in nannies 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 live-in nannies 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 live-in nanny in Tennessee

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

  1. 01

    Browse live-in nanny profiles in Tennessee

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

  2. 02

    Message the ones who look like a fit

    Reach out to the live-in nannies 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 live-in nanny fits with your family in real time.

  4. 04

    Hire your live-in nanny

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

Find live-in nannies costs in your city

Related costs in Tennessee

Popular services in Tennessee

Start your journey towards finding your perfect live-in nanny

Get Started