Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated
How much does a full-time nanny cost in 2026?
Across United States, the average full-time nanny earns about $19.66 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $786/week or $3,408/month. Most rates fall in the $7–$30/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.
These numbers come from 68,665 live full-time nanny listings on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.
- Weekly
(40 hrs) - $786
- Monthly
- $3,408
- Annual
- $40,893
Find full-time nannies near you
What drives the price
Nationally, full-time nannies rates fall in the $7–$30/hour range. Where a family lands depends on a handful of factors. Three of them drive most of the spread.
Experience
Number of kids
| 1 kid (baseline) | $19.66 |
|---|---|
| 2 kids | ~$20.66 |
| 3+ kids | ~$21.66+ |
Hours & 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 full-time nanny rates
| Arrangement | Typical hours | Average rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 35–50 hrs/week | $20.26/hr | See full-time rates → |
| Part-time | 10–25 hrs/week | $20.65/hr | See part-time rates → |
| Live-in | Set by family | $19.88/hr | See live-in 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.
Live-in rates are close to live-out here — but the package usually still includes room and board, so the all-in cost can be lower than it appears. The trade-off is space — you'll need a private bedroom and ideally a separate bathroom for the full-time nanny.
Where full-time nannies cost the most and the least
Across the U.S., full-time nannies rates range from $14.76 per hour in Fayetteville to $28.42 per hour in San Francisco, depending on the city.
Below are the 10 most and 10 least expensive cities for full-time nannies in the U.S. and how each compares to the national average of $19.66/hour.
Most expensive cities
| # | City | $/hr | vs. U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $28.42 | +45% | |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $26.85 | +37% | |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $26.33 | +34% | |
| 4 | Stamford, CT | $25.87 | +32% | |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $25.62 | +30% | |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $25.53 | +30% | |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $25.19 | +28% | |
| 8 | New York, NY | $24.48 | +25% | |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $24.30 | +24% | |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $24.25 | +23% |
Least expensive cities
| # | City | $/hr | vs. U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville, NC | $14.76 | -25% | |
| 2 | El Paso, TX | $14.80 | -25% | |
| 3 | Lubbock, TX | $14.83 | -25% | |
| 4 | Mobile, AL | $15.47 | -21% | |
| 5 | Wichita, KS | $16.12 | -18% | |
| 6 | Clarksville, TN | $16.15 | -18% | |
| 7 | Tulsa, OK | $16.23 | -17% | |
| 8 | Fort Wayne, IN | $16.34 | -17% | |
| 9 | Baton Rouge, LA | $16.52 | -16% | |
| 10 | Oklahoma City, OK | $16.59 | -16% |
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?
and enjoy flexible child care.
How families use Nanny Lane to find a full-time nanny
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:
- 01
Browse full-time nanny profiles
Filter by hourly rate, experience, languages, and availability.
- 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.
- 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.
- 04
Hire your full-time nanny
If you'd rather not handle taxes and payroll yourself, our payroll team can take care of it.