Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a nanny cost in Waltham, MA in 2026?

In Waltham, MA, the average nanny earns about $25.02 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $1,001/week or $4,337/month. Most Waltham families pay somewhere in the $15–$33/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$25.02/hr · Waltham average

These numbers come from 55 live nanny listings in Waltham on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$1,001
$4,337
$52,042

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What drives the price

Most Waltham families pay somewhere in the $15–$33/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
Hourly rate by number of kids
1 kid (baseline)$25.02
2 kids~$26.02
3+ kids~$27.02+

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 nanny rates

ArrangementTypical hoursAverage rate
Full-time35–50 hrs/week$25.93/hr
Part-time10–25 hrs/week$25.79/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.

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How do Waltham nanny rates compare to state and national averages?

Waltham is one of the more expensive nanny markets in the country.

Hiring nannies in Waltham, MA typically costs about 6% more than the Massachusetts average of $24/hour and 29% more than the United States average of $19/hour.

Average hourly nannies rates compared across Waltham, MA and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Waltham, MA
Waltham, MA$25/hr—
Massachusetts$24/hr-6%
United States$19/hr-22%

Where Waltham, MA fits among nearby cities

The most expensive city for nannies near Waltham, MA is Boston at $24.88/hour; the least expensive is Fall River at $18.80/hour.

Below are the 6 most and 6 least expensive cities near Waltham, MA and how each compares to Waltham, MA's average of $25.02/hour.

Most expensive cities near Waltham, MA

Top 6 most expensive cities near Waltham, MA for hiring a nanny, ranked by average hourly rate.
#City$/hrvs. Waltham, MA
1Boston$24.88-1%
2Framingham$23.69-5%
3Salem$23.62-6%
4Revere$23.61-6%
5Nantucket$23.41-6%
6Plymouth$23.30-7%

Least expensive cities near Waltham, MA

Top 6 least expensive cities near Waltham, MA for hiring a nanny, ranked by average hourly rate.
#City$/hrvs. Waltham, MA
1Fall River$18.80-25%
2Springfield$19.11-24%
3New Bedford$19.69-21%
4Brockton$20.90-16%
5Worcester$21.69-13%
6Lowell$21.98-12%

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.
Learn more about nanny sharing

How families use Nanny Lane to find a nanny in Waltham, MA

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

  1. 01

    Browse nanny profiles in Waltham, MA

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

  2. 02

    Message the ones who look like a fit

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

  4. 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 Waltham, MA

55 active listings in Waltham

Sabrina M. - Seeking Work in Waltham

Nanny Sabrina

Waltham, MA
$25/hr
Full-time
4 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! I’m Sabrina, I’m 18 years old, and I have experience working at multiple daycares. What makes me different is that I genuinely know how to connect with kids. I have younger siblings who love superheroes, Barbie, games, and their favorite shows, so I know how to have real conversations with kids and come up with activities they’ll actually enjoy. I’m caring, patient, responsible, and love making kids feel comfortable while having fun!

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Maya A. - Seeking Work in Waltham

Nanny Maya

Waltham, MA
$25/hr
Part-time
6 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! I'm Maya and I'm a rising Senior at Fordham University. I'm an enthusiastic and attentive babysitter and willing to do anything (that's safe) such as sports , games, and crafts!

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Alejandra M. - Seeking Work in Waltham

Nanny Alejandra

Waltham, MA
$25/hr
Full-time
8 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi my name is Alejandra I am from Mexico I love to work with kids I ve been working for a lot of years with couple of families with first family of 4 kids I worked for 7 years with second family I worked for 10 years and with that the family that work for righ now IVe been almost 4 years.so I have a lot of experience I am very hard working and honest I am very punctual as wel

Have experience working with

Infants

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Jade S. - Seeking Work in Waltham

Nanny Jade

Waltham, MA
$24/hr
Part-time
5 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi my name is Jade! I’m a fun, loving, energetic experienced person who loves to take care of kids. I’m currently taking early education to get my degree in teaching, I love to be outside and running around with the kids as much as possible. Taking care of kids has always been the highlight of my life and I hope that I can bring joy to your child and even your family while I am working for you.

Have experience working with

Infants

Certification

First Aid
Natasha C. - Seeking Work in Waltham

Nanny Natasha

Waltham, MA
$25/hr
Full-time
Part-time
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

HI! My name is Natasha and I'm 36 years old. I have 14+years of paid experience with childcare and children of all ages . I am very flexible and willing to work weekends if needed . I'm open to part time and full time . I have amazing references and i go above and beyond for families i work for.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Ashley N. - Seeking Work in Waltham

Nanny Ashley

Waltham, MA
$25/hr
Part-time
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

I am a mother of a 4 year old and have been a nanny for over 10 years. I have lots of experience with household tasks and children of all ages.

Have experience working with

Infants
Emilia R. - Seeking Work in Waltham

Nanny Emilia

Waltham, MA
$25/hr
Full-time
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

Hi I'm your experienced super nanny Emilia. I have been helping families take care of their children for over 20 years I'm very passionate about the kids I will take care of your children like an extension of my own so you don't have to worry about anything I have a lot of references you can talk to and have a feel of who I am so please reach out to me anytime and let me help you take care of your little ones.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certification

CPR
Elizabeth M. - Seeking Work in Waltham

Nanny Elizabeth

Waltham, MA
$26/hr
Part-time
4 years experience

A little bit about me

my name is Elizabeth I love kids I think its because I have 3 older sisters and they gave me 11 nieces and nephews I took care of a lot of them and watched them grow up . I am 19 years old and been looking for a nanny job I always worked retail but deep down I know I always wanted to work with kids. I am currently in community college so im looking for a part time sat Fridays and Mondays 9am-4pm

Have experience working with

Infants
Geysel N. - Seeking Work in Waltham

Nanny Geysel

Waltham, MA
$25/hr
Part-time
1 year experience

A little bit about me

I’m a very friendly, loving, sincere, playful and honest person :)

Have experience working with

Infants

Certification

First Aid
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