Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated
How much does a nanny cost in Dover, DE in 2026?
In Dover, DE, the average nanny earns about $17.97 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $719/week or $3,115/month. Most Dover 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$17.97/hr · Dover average
These numbers come from 55 live nanny listings in Dover on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.
- Weekly
(40 hrs) - $719
- Monthly
- $3,115
- Annual
- $37,378
Find nannies near you
What drives the price
Most Dover 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
Experience is one of the biggest levers on a nanny's rate.
Nannies with 10+ years, or specialty skills like newborn care or multiple languages, typically command the highest hourly rates.
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
| 1 kid (baseline) | $17.97 |
|---|---|
| 2 kids | ~$18.97 |
| 3+ kids | ~$19.97+ |
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
| 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 nanny rates
| Arrangement | Typical hours | Average rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 35–50 hrs/week | $18.62/hr | See full-time rates → |
| Part-time | 10–25 hrs/week | $18.18/hr | See part-time rates → |
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.
How do Dover nanny rates compare to state and national averages?
Dover runs below the U.S. average for nanny rates — a meaningful budget advantage for families looking here.
Hiring nannies in Dover, DE typically costs about 4% less than the Delaware average of $19/hour and 7% less than the United States average of $19/hour.
| Area | Average hourly rate | vs. Dover, DE |
|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | $18/hr | — |
| Delaware | $19/hr | +5% |
| United States | $19/hr | +8% |
Where Dover, DE fits among nearby cities
8 nearby cities have enough nanny data to compare, with rates ranging from $17.97/hour in Dover to $19.57/hour in Newark.
Below: how each compares to the Dover, DE average of $17.97/hour — Dover, DE is highlighted at its true rank.
Nearby cities ranked by nanny rate
| # | City | $/hr | vs. Dover, DE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark | $19.57 | +9% | |
| 2 | Wilmington | $19.39 | +8% | |
| 3 | Bear | $19.31 | +7% | |
| 4 | Middletown | $18.98 | +6% | |
| 5 | New Castle | $18.69 | +4% | |
| 6 | Milford | $18.62 | +4% | |
| 7 | Millsboro | $18.54 | +3% | |
| 8 | Dover | $17.97 | — |
● Most expensive nearby: Newark ($19.57)● Least expensive nearby: Dover ($17.97)
Tips to find a great nanny without overpaying
- Be flexible on experience. Some of the best nannies on the platform have 3–5 years on the job and charge meaningfully less than experienced 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 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.
and enjoy flexible child care.
How families use Nanny Lane to find a nanny in Dover, DE
Nanny Lane is a marketplace built specifically for connecting families with nannies — no recruiters in the middle. Most families work through it like this:
- 01
Browse nanny profiles in Dover, DE
Filter by hourly rate, experience, languages, and availability.
- 02
Message the ones who look like a fit
Reach out to the nannies whose experience and rate match what you're looking for.
- 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 nanny fits with your family in real time.
- 04
Hire your nanny
If you'd rather not handle taxes and payroll yourself, our payroll team can take care of it.
Available nannies in Dover, DE
55 active listings in Dover
Nanny Aribeth
Nanny Aribeth
Dover, DE
$18/hr
Full-time
Part-time
< 1 year experience
A little bit about me
Hi my name is Aribeth and I am 21 years old. I am a very outgoing, hard worker, caring and kind person. I make sure when it comes to kids that they receive the best services because they deserve it. I worked with kids at my church making sure that they felt comfortable and safe around me. I’ve always had a passion when it came to helping others especially kids. Currently I work at autism Delaware as a Direct Support Professional helping the adults complete their jobs while keeping it and helping them teach independence when completing.
Have experience working with
Special Needs
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Nanny Ibraheem
Nanny Ibraheem
Dover, DE
$15 - $31/hr
Part-time
< 1 year experience
A little bit about me
I’m 17 years old, I have 7 siblings, 4 of which are younger than myself so I’d say even with no official paid childcare experience I am well versed in that field. I cook for my family daily as well as cleaning (when needed) I have a years worth of experience in the hospitality/retail industry employed as a hospitality assistant at High 5 hospitality/Buffalo Wild wings. I have no car as of yet but I do have reliable transportation to and from my residence to yours.
Have experience working with
Special Needs
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Nanny Anye
Nanny Anye
Dover, DE
$17/hr
Part-time
1 year experience
A little bit about me
Hi there! I’m a 19-year-old Early Childhood Education major at Delaware State University with a passion for working with kids. I’ve babysat my younger cousins and nieces for years, tutored 3rd graders at South Dover Elementary, and I’m currently a college intern at a summer program for 2nd–6th graders. I’m responsible, energetic, and excited to bring my love of child development into your home!
Nanny Callie
Nanny Callie
Dover, DE
$17/hr
Part-time
< 1 year experience
A little bit about me
i love children and seeing each of their interests. i am very very calm at all times and in stressful situations. im very patient and understanding. im very clear about situations and honest. right now im a sophomore going into my junior year of highschool. although i am 16 i have a lot of experience with children. i have 6 siblings and a lot of cousins. ever since i was 6 or 7 ive always loved spending time with kids. i’ve babysat my younger sibling my whole life. i ahve experiences of with children of ages 0-14. i am very trustworthy and reliable and i will do anything in my power to keep your family and children safe 💖
Have experience working with
Special Needs
Nanny Marayah
Nanny Marayah
Dover, DE
$18/hr
Full-time
Part-time
4 years experience
A little bit about me
Hi my name Is Marayah. I am 19 years old and graduated from Polytech Highschool while studying early childhood education. I’ve been working and observing kids for about 4 years. I love helping out and very excited to be support to a family. I am CPR certified. I also hold my para certification and have plenty of experience with any age group. I also hold my lead teacher certification in early childhood education.
Have experience working with
Infants
Special Needs
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Nanny Ally
Nanny Ally
Dover, DE
$20 - $25/hr
Full-time
8 years experience
A little bit about me
Hi, I’m Ally! I’m 24 years old and have a reliable vehicle for transportation. I’m an outgoing, caring, and understanding person who’s always had a deep love for children. With seven years of childcare experience, I’ve learned how important it is to create a safe, nurturing, and joyful environment where kids can learn, grow, and feel truly loved.
Have experience working with
Infants
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Recent reference
"Ally was our nanny for our 4-5 month old. She had integrity and professionalism. She was always on time. When I was working from home, she respected the need for privacy. She was able to take our baby for strolls in the neighborhood, and I could trust her.
She was playful and talkative with our baby during their awake periods and was able to handle the nap periods. As a first time parent I was confident that my baby was safe with Ally. Ally respected our family values and was able to do cloth diapering, bottle feeds, and interact with our baby in a playful way.
I highly recommend working with Ally."
- Valerie
Nanny Leah
Nanny Leah
Dover, DE
$21 - $40/hr
Full-time
6 years experience
A little bit about me
Hello there, I’m Leah! I have about 6 years of childcare experience! I’ve worked with infants to 4 year olds! My preference is infants but can work with multiple ages! I look forward to working with your family!
Have experience working with
Infants
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Nanny Hergine
Nanny Hergine
Dover, DE
$18/hr
Full-time
3 years experience
A little bit about me
i’ve been a nanny for my family for the past two years and i started to grow an interest in being a nanny after taking early childhood for 3 years in high school and earning my certificate i love helping people and their families nurture and help raise their kids
Have experience working with
Special Needs
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Nanny Kamille
Nanny Kamille
Dover, DE
$18 - $30/hr
Full-time
Part-time
3 years experience
A little bit about me
Hello, my name is Kamille. I’m 24 years old. I would be great fit for the job because I’m great with kids especially young kids. I have been in TAG classes throughout elementary and middle school, AP and honors classes during high school, all while being a varsity track athlete, with my own freelance business. I have just acquired my bachelors degree in biology. I want to be a pediatric surgeon one day so I love working with kids, I’m smart, athletic, can cook, bake, clean, and I drive. I have experience watching my sister, and other family members and family friends. For the past couple years I have been getting more experience with younger children from my boyfriend’s family, I was also their nanny for a whole summer. I am about to start grad school in august and would love to chat with you more
Have experience working with
Infants