Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a nanny cost in Brookings, SD in 2026?

In Brookings, SD, the average nanny earns about $14.59 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $584/week or $2,529/month. Most Brookings families pay somewhere in the $12–$20/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$14.59/hr · Brookings average

These numbers come from 152 live nanny listings in Brookings on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$584
$2,529
$30,347

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What drives the price

Most Brookings families pay somewhere in the $12–$20/hour range. Where a given family lands depends on a handful of factors. Three of them drive most of the spread.


01

Experience

Experience doesn't make a noticeable difference to nanny rates in Brookings, SD. Entry-level (0-2 yrs) average $14.58/hour, and the most experienced (3-5 yrs) come in at a similar $15.23/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)$14.59
2 kids~$15.59
3+ kids~$16.59+

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$15.87/hr
Part-time10–25 hrs/week$14.43/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 Brookings nanny rates compare to state and national averages?

Brookings runs below the U.S. average for nanny rates — a meaningful budget advantage for families looking here.

Hiring nannies in Brookings, SD typically costs about 3% less than the South Dakota average of $15/hour and 13% less than the United States average of $17/hour.

Average hourly nannies rates compared across Brookings, SD and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Brookings, SD
Brookings, SD$15/hr
South Dakota$15/hr+3%
United States$17/hr+15%

Where Brookings, SD fits among nearby cities

7 nearby cities have enough nanny data to compare, with rates ranging from $13.64/hour in Watertown to $15.92/hour in Spearfish.

Below: how each compares to the Brookings, SD average of $14.59/hour — Brookings, SD is highlighted at its true rank.

Nearby cities ranked by nanny rate

7 cities near Brookings, SD ranked by average hourly nanny rate, most to least expensive.
#City$/hrvs. Brookings, SD
1Spearfish$15.92+9%
2Yankton$15.86+9%
3Sioux Falls$15.47+6%
4Rapid City$15.09+3%
5Aberdeen$14.62
Brookings$14.59
7Watertown$13.64-7%
Most expensive nearby: Spearfish ($15.92) Least expensive nearby: Watertown ($13.64)

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 Brookings, SD

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 Brookings, SD

    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 Brookings, SD

152 active listings in Brookings

Heather N. - Seeking Work in Brookings

Nanny Heather

Brookings, SD
$15 - $20/hr
Full-time
Part-time
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

I am a mother of 4, ages from 25 to 11. Love children and their wanting to learn and experience new things. I love outdoors and crafts. I find children to be fun and exciting to be around. Keeping a fun and upbeat experience is needed.

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certification

CPR
Kaelyn B. - Seeking Work in Brookings

Nanny Kaelyn

Brookings, SD
$14/hr
Part-time
4 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi, my name is Kaelyn, or KK is fine, and I love children. I attend college here at SDSU, majoring in business marketing. I was a previous nanny for three boys, ages 1-7, and often helped with any babysitting jobs that needed assistance. I was a nanny for over four years. I would be more than happy to help you out as a nanny, just need to work it around my schedule, which shouldn't be a big problem! :)

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Gillyan W. - Seeking Work in Brookings

Nanny Gillyan

Brookings, SD
$15/hr
Part-time
5 years experience

A little bit about me

Hello! I have worked as a teachers assistant for 6 years ages 2-12. I have also worked with several special needs children for about a year. I also worked in a daycare setting with infants! I am trustful, charismatic, outgoing, and always up for an adventure!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Hannah B. - Seeking Work in Brookings

Nanny Hannah

Brookings, SD
$14/hr
Part-time
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hello! My name is Hannah Barrett. I am a Sophomore in college at SDSU majoring in Early Childhood Education. I have absolutely loved kids and would enjoy it so much if I could watch them for a few hours to get to know their personalities, be a small part of their day, and gain the one-on-one experience that I would need for my future classroom. Some fun fact about me as well are: I play the keyboard and ukulele; my favorite food in pasta, I love the color pink, I drive a VW bug, and I have a pet corgi!

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Ally M. - Seeking Work in Brookings

Nanny Ally

Brookings, SD
$20 - $25/hr
Full-time
3 years experience

A little bit about me

My name is Ally and I am looking to be a nanny for the summer! I recently just graduated from SDSU with a degree in Elementary Education. I will begin my first year of teaching in August!

Have experience working with

Infants

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
M E. - Seeking Work in Brookings

Nanny M

Brookings, SD
$15/hr
Part-time
4 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! I'm well experienced with children 2 months to 15yrs old. The oldest of 7. Have babysat for 4 plus years for other families and my own siblings for 10. I am very familiar with allergies such as celiac(gluten), dairy and egg as my siblings have these. My home however will not be celiac friendly as I have gluten in my diet. I love walks, eating, coloring and reading.

For babysitting/nannying it will be an in-house day care. It'll be in my apartment. 2 spots are left our of 4. I prefer to keep the amount small.

Have experience working with

Infants
Madiline R. - Seeking Work in Brookings

Nanny Madiline

Brookings, SD
$15/hr
Full-time
6 years experience

A little bit about me

My name is Madiline , I am 33 years old I have 3 kids of my own 12,8 and an almost 2 year old. I started off as babysitting since I was a teen and eventually went on to be a nanny. One thing about me that kids are drawn to me no matter where I go. I always wanted to be a teacher because I always wanted to work with kids. I’ve also worked with disabled kids and it was a great experience. Just looking for work while doing something I love and that’s being there for kids

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Bobbie R. - Seeking Work in Brookings

Nanny Bobbie

Brookings, SD
$15/hr
Part-time
7 years experience

A little bit about me

Hello,
My name is Bobbie Roseth. I’m a senior here at SDSU, and I grew up on a farm/ranch in western SD. Being much older than my siblings I was sort of a built in babysitter, haha! I have a lot of experience whether it be with my younger siblings and cousins or the neighbor kids down the road. I would love to babysit your kiddo!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Amelia C. - Seeking Work in Brookings

Nanny Amelia

Brookings, SD
$15/hr
Part-time
2 years experience

A little bit about me

Hello! My name is Amelia and I am a high school senior. I've worked a lot with kids and I enjoy making people smile. I love being outside and being active just as much as I love staying inside and watching a movie.

Certification

CPR
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