Just as each family is unique, so are their child care needs. For some, an after-school babysitter or full-time nanny does the trick, but for others, particularly those with unpredictable schedules or who travel for work, a live-in nanny may be the best choice.
“A live-in nanny is not a typical job, as they sleep, entertain and eat under the same roof as their employers and the children in their care,” explains Lynn Ziefle, a career counselor at the Nanny Institute. “A live-out nanny aligns more with a traditional work [setup]. But even with that being the case, each situation is different.” She explains, “For some families, the work is limited to child care; for other families, the role may lean into a family assistant and include travel. It’s up to the family and nanny to clearly communicate, define and manage the position.”
“For some families, the work is limited to child care; for other families, the role may lean into a family assistant and include travel. It’s up to the family and nanny to clearly communicate, define and manage the position.”
—Lynn Ziefle, career counselor at the Nanny Institue
Trying to decide between a live-in vs live-out nanny? Here’s a breakdown of each.
Live-out nannies
Unlike babysitters, but similar to live-in nannies, live-out nannies generally are full-time household employees, working approximately 40-50 hours, five days a week. While live-out nannies don’t reside in the family’s home, they more or less take on the role of “caregiver in chief” when mom or dad aren’t there, providing a safe, enriching environment for the kids each day — and typically, this is done independently and without much instruction.
“Both live-out and live-in nannies are able to work autonomously and may have full responsibility in providing quality care for children,” says Elizabeth Malson, executive director of the U.S. Nanny Association.
“Both live-out and live-in nannies are able to work autonomously and may have full responsibility in providing quality care for children.”
—Elizabeth Malson, executive director of the U.S. Nanny Association
According to Malson, the care live-out nannies provide may include:
- Providing meals for the kids.
- Organizing activities.
- Taking the children on outings.
- Helping with homework.
- Transporting children to and from school, clubs, sports practices, playdates and other activities (typically with their own car).
Again, though, each employment situation is different for both live-in and live-out nannies. “Jobs may or may not include some household management and/or pet care duties,” says Ziefle. “If these are added, then the hourly rate is adjusted to compensate for the additional effort and workload.”
Additionally, all nannies, “whether they’re live-out or live-in should have CPR and first-aid certification,” adds Malson. A background check should be completed, as well.
Live-out nanny salary
When it comes to a live-out nanny’s salary, there are a number of factors that can affect the cost, but the Care.com 2024 Cost of Care Survey found that the average nanny caring for one child makes about $766 a week in the U.S., or about $19.15 per hour, based on a 40-hour workweek. To find a salary starting point, check out our babysitting rates calculator.
Live-in nannies
When it comes to the actual tasks live-in nannies do, they don’t differ much in comparison to those of live-out nannies’. However, there are a few key distinctions to take into account when considering a live-in nanny.
They live with you. Obvious from their title? Yes. But few families really “get it” until it’s their reality, according to Olivia Fountain, operations manager at the domestic staffing agency, Household Staffing. “Having a live-in nanny is a huge help for busy families,” she says. “But sometimes families don’t realize how much they’ll miss their privacy.”
“Live-in nannies inevitably will see or hear very personal and private exchanges within the family,” Ziefle adds. “Because of this, confidentiality on their part is key.”
Communication and boundaries need to be strong. “Live-in nannies don’t go home at the end of their shift so boundaries and strong communication skills need to be embraced,” Ziefle says. Also, as Malson points out, most kids don’t understand the concept of “being off the clock,” making it tricky to allot true down time for live-ins when they’re home but off the clock. Because of this, she notes, it’s important to “have a plan in place to support the nanny’s time off.”
“Live-in nannies don’t go home at the end of their shift so boundaries and strong communication skills need to be embraced.”
—Lynn Ziefle, career counselor at the Nanny Institue
You need to have the space. According to Malson, families considering a live-in nanny need to make sure they have a “safe, comfortable environment for an employee to both work and live.” So when weighing your child care options, ask yourself if you have the room in your home for another person to live; and if you do, is it acceptable?
You have more flexibility. While live-in nannies do have set work hours (they’re not “on call” 24/7), they offer more flexibility than a live-out nanny, notes Fountain. “If you need to unexpectedly run out and the nanny is there, you can ask them to watch the kids,” Fountain explains. “Generally, you can’t ask a live-out nanny to come over unexpectedly.”
That being said, if you’re asking a live-in nanny to work when they’re off the clock, they need to be paid. While most live-in nannies are not required to be paid overtime, they have to be paid for all their working hours. Learn more here about managing hours and overtime for a live-in nanny.
Balancing a busy or fluctuating work life is more manageable. For families who travel often for work or who have non-standard work hours, a live-in nanny can be a lifesaver when it comes to keeping the kids’ weekly routines consistent, notes Ziefle, who adds that live-in nannies can be a great choice for “military families, hospital workers and first responders,” as well as other families with non-traditional working hours or who abruptly get called away.
Live-in nanny salary
When it comes to pay for live-in nannies, again, there are a number of factors to consider, including location and experience, but Fountain, whose company generally works with high-income families, notes that many get paid between $25-30 an hour.
There’s generally no deduction for “room and board,” Fountain adds, as ultimately the main benefit of a live-in nanny is the convenience and flexibility they provide. That said, each situation and state have different agreements and rules when it comes to this. For instance, in Massachusetts, if a live-in nanny wants to live with a family — and it’s not an absolute requirement of the employer — the employer can charge $35 a week for room and board. In general, though, room and board doesn’t result in a pay deduction.
To get an idea of prices, check out child care rates in every U.S. state.
Other things to consider
When you’re hiring a professional nanny, ultimately, it’s between the two of you to agree upon the expectations and tasks. This is why, according to Ziefle, a work agreement (which also includes benefits like sick days and paid time off) is important.
“Clear and precise job descriptions and a work agreement create a strong foundation to help parents and nannies,” Ziefle says. “This is vital as the job description is created and negotiated by the family and nanny, sometimes with the help of human resources or other employment experts.”
“Nannies can be live-in and work part-time hours or be a live-out nanny who gets overtime,” she continues. “Each situation is unique, which is why laying everything out beforehand is crucial.”
