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When it comes to hiring a live-in nanny, there are a number of things to consider. First and foremost, you need to decide if having a live-in nanny is right for your family. After that (and after finding the right person), you need to determine an acceptable live-in nanny salary. But spoiler alert: The latter decision shouldn’t be all that difficult, as the cost of a live-in nanny doesn’t differ much from the cost of a live-out nanny.
“Whatever the market rate is for live-out nannies in your area, you can expect to pay the same, or a few dollars more per hour, for a live-in nanny,” says Michelle LaRowe, lead educator at Global Nanny Training. “And like live-out nannies, live-in nannies must be paid an hourly rate at or above minimum wage, though most nannies expect far more.”
Key takeaways
- Live-in nannies typically earn about the same — or slightly more — per hour than live-out nannies, with rates influenced by experience, duties and local market demand. In many major U.S. cities, current hourly rates range roughly from the high teens to the high twenties.
- Families shouldn’t expect major savings from offering room and board, as most nannies do not accept significant deductions and, in some states, such deductions are restricted or illegal. In practice, live-in nannies often command a premium due to their added flexibility and reliability.
- Live-in nannies must be paid for every hour worked, though overtime rules vary by state, making it essential to understand local labor laws when budgeting. Families are also responsible for payroll taxes and may face additional costs such as higher utilities, food or providing a car or cell phone.
“Whatever the market rate is for live-out nannies in your area, you can expect to pay the same, or a few dollars more per hour, for a live-in nanny.”
— Michelle LaRowe, nanny educator
From taxes to overtime, here’s everything you need to know about live-in nanny costs.
How much should I pay a live-in nanny?
The cost of a live-in nanny is on par with the cost of a live-out nanny — or, as LaRowe says, a few dollars more per hour. While a number of factors will influence a live-in or live-out nanny’s rate (more on this shortly), Olivia Fountain, operations manager at the domestic staffing agency, Household Staffing, notes that the live-in nannies who are placed through their company generally make between $25-$30 an hour, with their working hours generally being from around 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The company places nannies nationally, but it’s worth noting they generally work with higher-income families.
To get a better idea of what live-in nannies in your area are asking, use our Cost of Care Calculator. As a quick example, as of February 3, 2025, the average posted cost of a live-in nanny in Brooklyn, New York is about $24.62 an hour, while the average posted cost of a live-in nanny in San Antonio, Texas is around $18.43.
Here are some examples of the posted live-in nanny prices based on location, according to recent Care.com data.
Current posted live-in nanny rates in top U.S. cities*
| City, State | Hourly Nanny Rate |
| Atlanta, Georgia | $21.80/hr |
| Brooklyn, New York | $24.62/hr |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | $20.54/hr |
| Chicago, Illinois | $22.46/hr |
| Denver, Colorado | $23.88/hr |
| Orlando, Florida | $20.07/hr |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | $21.26/hr |
| Phoenix, Arizona | $20.73/hr |
| Portland, Oregon | $22.47/hr |
| San Antonio, Texas | $18.43/hr |
| San Diego, California | $24.43/hr |
| San Francisco, California | $28.95/hr |
| Seattle, Washington | $26.93/hr |
| Washington, DC | $23.64/hr |
Other factors that can influence the cost of live-in nanny services (live-in or live-out) are:
- Years of experience.
- Number of kids.
- Ages of kids.
- Expected duties.
Live-in vs. live-out nanny cost: How they compare
A live-in nanny salary may be on par with a live-out’s, but there are a few differences to keep in mind. For one, in addition to their salary, you’re including “room and board” (which means you need a clean, safe, suitable place for them to live). While, technically, you can deduct a small amount for this, LaRowe notes that “most nannies will not look favorably on essentially paying a family for employment” — and in some places and instances, it’s illegal.
In Massachusetts, for example, employers are not allowed to deduct room and board from a household employee if the job requires them to live in your home. If the nanny wants to live in your home, but is not required, you can deduct $35 (at most) a week.
“Many people are under the impression that live-in nannies earn less than their live-out counterparts — this simply is not true,” explains LaRowe. “Live-in nannies are typically paid a premium because of the flexibility and reliability they bring to the table. While it is often assumed that by deducting room and board, parents can save by hiring a live-in nanny, in practice, that just isn’t the case.”
“Many people are under the impression that live-in nannies earn less than their live-out counterparts — this simply is not true. Live-in nannies are typically paid a premium because of the flexibility and reliability they bring to the table.”
— Michelle LaRowe
Each situation is different, but other expenses that may accompany a live-in nanny are:
- Food.
- Cell phone.
- Higher utility bills.
- Car.
- Worker’s compensation insurance coverage.
Are live-in nannies paid overtime?
Live-in nannies must be paid for every hour worked — “including times they are not allowed to leave the home or are on call,” according to LaRowe — but in most states, due to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), live-in nannies are not entitled to overtime pay.
“However,” LaRowe adds, “in some states, live-in nannies are entitled to overtime if they exceed a set number of hours per day or week.”
For instance, in Hawaii , live-in employees are to be paid overtime for anything over 40 hours a week, whereas in New York, live-in nannies are to be paid overtime if they work over 44 hours in a week.
Other states have their own live-in nanny overtime rules, as well. To find the most up-to-date information, check out our list of nanny tax and payroll requirements by state.
What are live-in nanny work hours?
Live-in nanny hours are generally the same as live-out nanny hours. While a live-in nanny undoubtedly offers more convenience than a live-out, they’re not “on 24 hours a day,” notes Fountain. Each family and live-in nanny need to decide what works best for them and put it in their nanny contract.
Fountain also notes that, generally, live-in nannies don’t get up with babies during the night, as their tasks are more aligned with a live-out nanny than a night nanny.
Do I pay live-in nanny taxes?
Yes! Families are required to withhold taxes from household employees that earn over $2,800 in a year, in addition to paying household employment taxes of their own. If taking care of taxes and payroll feels like a daunting task to you, consider having Care.com HomePay take care of everything for you.
