Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a full-time nanny cost in St. Louis, MO in 2026?

In St. Louis, MO, the average full-time nanny earns about $18.55 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $742/week or $3,215/month. Most St. Louis families pay somewhere in the $14–$25/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$18.55/hr · St. Louis average

These numbers come from 101 live full-time nanny listings in St. Louis on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$742
$3,215
$38,584

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What drives the price

Most St. Louis families pay somewhere in the $14–$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 full-time 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)$18.55
2 kids~$19.55
3+ kids~$20.55+

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.

How do St. Louis full-time nanny rates compare to state and national averages?

St. Louis runs below the U.S. average for full-time nanny rates — a meaningful budget advantage for families looking here.

Hiring full-time nannies in St. Louis, MO typically costs about 4% more than the Missouri average of $18/hour and 5% less than the United States average of $20/hour.

Average hourly full-time nannies rates compared across St. Louis, MO and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. St. Louis, MO
St. Louis, MO$19/hr
Missouri$18/hr-4%
United States$20/hr+5%

Tips to find a great full-time nanny without overpaying

  • Be flexible on experience. Some of the best full-time nannies on the platform have 3–5 years on the job and charge meaningfully less than experienced full-time 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 full-time 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 full-time nanny in St. Louis, MO

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

  1. 01

    Browse full-time nanny profiles in St. Louis, MO

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

  2. 02

    Message the ones who look like a fit

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

  4. 04

    Hire your full-time nanny

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

Available full-time nannies in St. Louis, MO

101 active listings in St. Louis

Haley K. - Seeking Work in St. Louis

Nanny Haley

St. Louis, MO
$20 - $35/hr
Full-time
6 years experience

A little bit about me

Hello! I’m Haley :)
The most fulfilling part of my life is helping little ones learn and grow. I have over 6 years of childcare experience and would love to work as a team with you and your family!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Jessica F. - Seeking Work in St. Louis

Nanny Jessica

St. Louis, MO
$17 - $25/hr
Full-time
Part-time
3 years experience

A little bit about me

I'm a young nanny and childcare professional! I have worked as a teacher for infants/toddlers as well as prek-5th grade. I have a CPR/First Aid/ AED certification through the red cross. I have training through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. I am currently pursuing a degree in play therapy for children and adolescents

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Savannah S. - Seeking Work in St. Louis

Nanny Savannah

St. Louis, MO
$18/hr
Full-time
Part-time
6 years experience

A little bit about me

I am 18. I’m in college for nursing. I was a preschool teacher in high school. I like to hike on my free time.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certification

CPR
Damyanah I. - Seeking Work in St. Louis

Nanny Damyanah

St. Louis, MO
$20/hr
Full-time
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

My name is Damyanah , I am 20 years old.
I absolutely adore kids and just enjoy meeting new people and watching them grow along the journey. I have 2 older sisters on my mom’s side and I am the oldest of 8; 6 girls & 2 boys on my dad side. So it’s definitely nothing I don’t know I’m sure & even if I would love to learn things in new ways.

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certification

CPR
Tonya M. - Seeking Work in St. Louis

Nanny Tonya

St. Louis, MO
$18/hr
Full-time
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

Hi, my name is Tonya Manahan . I am 52. I’ve been in the child care nursing home hospice special need kids. I’ve been doing that over 20 some years and I enjoy working with them. I have a lot of fun. It’s just a good thing to be around people and kids with those knees.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Keevon C. - Seeking Work in St. Louis

Nanny Keevon

St. Louis, MO
$17.75/hr
Full-time
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

Hello there my name is Keevon Clark, I’m 39 years of age and I work for the St. Louis Cardinals, I’m a very experienced and energetic person when it comes to children, I love to help them learn new skills and learn about life in general.
I take care of my nieces and nephews and I love to have fun and help out however I can, when it comes to the kids they are our future and that may not seem like much now but teach them well and who knows what the future will bring them or have them become something positive and bright.
Mirela O. - Seeking Work in St. Louis

Nanny Mirela

St. Louis, MO
$19/hr
Full-time
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hi, I am 30 years old and I live in St. Louis. I love spending time with my family, dogs, and painting/creating textured art. I have a nephew and a niece that I absolutely adore, I love kids in general and can’t wait to have some of my own some day!

Have experience working with

Special Needs
Amy B. - Seeking Work in St. Louis

Nanny Amy

St. Louis, MO
$18/hr
Full-time
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

Former nanny of 3 children on the East coast, mom of a 23 yr old daughter. When she was born, I stayed home and had my own in-home daycare for the 1st 4 yrs of her life so I could be with her.
I'm currently a massage therapist full time, but would like to start doing that part time and be a nanny full time. I enjoy children and miss the innocence and viewing the world through the eyes of a child.
I personally have cats, but love dogs.
I'm active by working out daily, walking, and eating healthy. #75hard
Have some college credits in child psychology, as it was something I had wanted to explore when I was younger. I am now 54, and although my life took me in another direction, I'd like to get back to working with kids.
As far as cleaning and housework...I don't mind it at all. I'm actually a bit OCD.

Have experience working with

Infants

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Tomiwa A. - Seeking Work in St. Louis

Nanny Tomiwa

St. Louis, MO
$18/hr
Full-time
5 years experience

A little bit about me

Hello, just trying to be as upfront as possible. I have a 3 year old daughter (she’s registered to start school next year August) but until then I’m also in need of childcare and if it wouldn’t be fine to bring my daughter with me to work as a nanny for your kid(s) please let me know. Thank you!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
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