Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a nanny cost in Cookeville, TN in 2026?

In Cookeville, TN, the average nanny earns about $13.02 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $521/week or $2,257/month. Most Cookeville families pay somewhere in the $7–$20/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$13.02/hr · Cookeville average

These numbers come from 153 live nanny listings in Cookeville on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$521
$2,257
$27,082

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What drives the price

Most Cookeville families pay somewhere in the $7–$20/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 nannys command higher rates. Entry-level (0-2 yrs) average $12.51/hour, while the most experienced (6-10 yrs) charge around $15.50/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)$13.02
2 kids~$14.02
3+ kids~$15.02+

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$14.26/hr
Part-time10–25 hrs/week$12.88/hr
Live-inSet by family$15.41/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 nanny.

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

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

Hiring nannies in Cookeville, TN typically costs about 16% less than the Tennessee average of $15/hour and 22% less than the United States average of $17/hour.

Average hourly nannies rates compared across Cookeville, TN and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Cookeville, TN
Cookeville, TN$13/hr
Tennessee$15/hr+19%
United States$17/hr+29%

Where Cookeville, TN fits among nearby cities

The most expensive city for nannies near Cookeville, TN is Franklin at $18.58/hour; the least expensive is Johnson City at $12.44/hour.

Below are the 9 most and 9 least expensive cities near Cookeville, TN and how each compares to Cookeville, TN's average of $13.02/hour.

Most expensive cities near Cookeville, TN

Top 9 most expensive cities near Cookeville, TN for hiring a nanny, ranked by average hourly rate.
#City$/hrvs. Cookeville, TN
1Franklin$18.58+43%
2Brentwood$18.43+42%
3Mt. Juliet$17.57+35%
4Nashville$17.45+34%
5Gallatin$17.14+32%
6Spring Hill$16.25+25%
7Hendersonville$15.11+16%
8Knoxville$15.10+16%
9Lebanon$14.48+11%

Least expensive cities near Cookeville, TN

Top 9 least expensive cities near Cookeville, TN for hiring a nanny, ranked by average hourly rate.
#City$/hrvs. Cookeville, TN
1Johnson City$12.44-4%
2Jackson$12.53-4%
3Clarksville$12.93-1%
4Cleveland$13.03
5Columbia$13.97+7%
6Maryville$13.98+7%
7Murfreesboro$14.03+8%
8Chattanooga$14.20+9%
9Memphis$14.27+10%

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 Cookeville, TN

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 Cookeville, TN

    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 Cookeville, TN

153 active listings in Cookeville

Ada H. - Seeking Work in Cookeville

Nanny Ada

Cookeville, TN
$13/hr
Part-time
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hi my name is Ada, i am 19 years old! I am a second semester freshman at Tennessee Tech university. I am from Murfreesboro. I have 3 nephews and 1 niece that is all under the age of 7 years old that i take care of sometimes. I used to play softball for a recreational league but i aged out. I have a big heart and would love to help out with your kids!

Have experience working with

Special Needs
Emmalise R. - Seeking Work in Cookeville

Nanny Emmalise

Cookeville, TN
$14/hr
Full-time
3 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! I am a current Tech student looking to baby sit your children. I have worked in the school system and have worked/helped operate a summer day camp the past two summers. I would love to work with your kiddos!

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certification

CPR
Bailey S. - Seeking Work in Cookeville

Nanny Bailey

Cookeville, TN
$14/hr
Part-time
3 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi my name is Bailey Simpson! I’m currently attending Tennessee Tech University and majoring in Elementary Education. I am 21 years old. I have worked at a daycare in town for close to 3 years. The first year I floated with all age groups, but the past two I have been in the infant room working with infants from 8 weeks-16 months! When I’m not working I love to be with my friends playing pickle ball or finding some kind of creative outlet!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Emmie V. - Seeking Work in Cookeville

Nanny Emmie

Cookeville, TN
$14/hr
Full-time
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hi Im Emmie, Im 18 years old and Im the oldest out of 3. I helped raised my siblings from a young age and I’ve been around kids my whole life. I live with dogs, cats, chickens and ferrets so im also good with animals. Im currently working in fast food but I want to get out of that soon

Have experience working with

Special Needs
Allison B. - Seeking Work in Cookeville

Nanny Allison

Cookeville, TN
$13/hr
Part-time
3 years experience

A little bit about me

I’m 20 years old with 3 years of experience professionally. I also have a 4 month old niece that I care for often. I love kids and I’m just looking for a bit of extra cash. I don’t work so I have open availability as of right now!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Sky P. - Seeking Work in Cookeville

Nanny Sky

Cookeville, TN
$13/hr
Full-time
4 years experience

A little bit about me

Hello! I moved here from Australia in 2021 and I’m looking for a job. I am a college student and I’m amazing with children, I basically raised my sister so this isn’t my first rodeo. I love to cook and bake. I know basic safety for your kiddos and always love to keep you updated with everything!

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Courtney J. - Seeking Work in Cookeville

Nanny Courtney

Cookeville, TN
$12.50/hr
Part-time
5 years experience

A little bit about me

I’m a 30 year old mom of 2 boys (4 and 7) looking to watch children to supplement my income while I earn my medical billing certification. I love working with children, did early childhood education classes in high school and was able to volunteer in the preschool classes. I have years of experience babysitting children from newborn-15 years. I enjoy arts and crafts, cooking, sensory projects, science experiments, and the outdoors. I got my CPR certification while doing medical assisting classes, and am able to provide references.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certification

CPR
Katie H. - Seeking Work in Cookeville

Nanny Katie

Cookeville, TN
$14/hr
Part-time
3 years experience

A little bit about me

I am a Senior honor student at TN Tech . I’m majoring in education and will receive my degree in grades 6-12th in May of this year! I’m creative, fun, responsible and kind. I have worked at a daycare for the past 3 years, but need something a little more flexible since I am currently doing my student teaching. I have experience with children ranging in age from 1 month to 6 years. I also have experience with children grades 6-12 and can assist with homework when needed.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Annabelle P. - Seeking Work in Cookeville

Nanny Annabelle

Cookeville, TN
$13/hr
Full-time
1 year experience

A little bit about me

I have experience nannying two kids for 4 days a week for the past year and a half that were 4 and 11 years old but their mom recently got married so no longer needed my services.
I have had multiple odds and ends jobs for babysitting and such for the past 5 years. I am very creative and am very good at keeping kids occupied instead of watching tv. I can cook just about anything if I have a recipe to follow! I have my own car it’s a four door jeep but if you’d feel more comfortable I have access to a ford SUV also.

Have experience working with

Infants

Certification

CPR
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