How Much Does a Live Nanny Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$34,980
Live-in nannies in the U.S. earn a median of $34,980 a year, or $16.82 an hour. Half of live-in nannies earn more than $34,980 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $46,010.
Pay percentiles for live-in nannies
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $11.66 | $24,260 |
| 25th | $14.12 | $29,360 |
| 50th (median) | $16.82 | $34,980 |
| 75th | $18.55 | $38,570 |
| 90th | $22.12 | $46,010 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Childcare Workers (SOC 39-9011). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for live-in nannies
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $47,340 | $22.76 | +35% |
| Washington | $41,680 | $20.04 | +19% |
| Massachusetts | $40,900 | $19.66 | +17% |
| Colorado | $40,750 | $19.59 | +16% |
| California | $40,020 | $19.24 | +14% |
| Oregon | $38,650 | $18.58 | +10% |
| Vermont | $38,030 | $18.29 | +9% |
| New York | $37,590 | $18.07 | +7% |
| New Hampshire | $37,080 | $17.83 | +6% |
| Hawaii | $37,030 | $17.80 | +6% |
| United States | $34,980 | $16.82 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many live-in nannies are there?
BLS counts about 518,910 live-in nannies employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Childcare Workers”. The most jobs are in California (52,780), New York (44,020) and Texas (34,160).
The mean (average) annual wage is $35,030, higher than the median of $34,980.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $2,915
- Biweekly
- $1,345
- Weekly
- $673
- Daily (8 hours)
- $135
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do live-in nannies make an hour?
The median hourly wage for live-in nannies is $16.82. The middle 50% earn between $14.12 and $18.55 an hour.
Which state pays live-in nannies the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for live-in nannies at $47,340, +35% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for live-in nannies?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of live-in nannies earn less than $24,260 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.