Nannies earn a median of $34,980 per year ($16.82/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 2.0% through 2035, with about 150,300 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 39-9011
- Personal Care and Service
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Nanny in four numbers
- Median pay
- $34,980a year, or $16.82/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $24KTop 10% $46K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -2.0%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 150,3001,010,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251M
- Projected 2035990.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1M Projected 2035 990.4K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school4%
- High school60%
- Certificate8%
- Some college16%
- Associate's8%
- Bachelor's4%
Highest education held by nannies Segment Value Less than high school 4% High school 60% Certificate 8% Some college 16% Associate's 8% Bachelor's 4%
Also advertised as: Family Assistant, Family Manager, Governess, House Manager, Household Manager, Nanny.
Pay
How much do nannies make?
Nannies earn a median of $34,980 a year ($16.82 an hour, or about $2,920 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $24,260 and the top 10% more than $46,010 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is District of Columbia, with a median of $47,340. See Nanny salary in District of Columbia and every other state. By city, pay is highest around North Port ($52,690 average): salary in every city.
Every nanny in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$34,980
Middle half earn $29,360 to $38,570
- 10th
- $24,260
- 25th
- $29,360
- 75th
- $38,570
- 90th
- $46,010
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $24,260 |
| 25th | $29,360 |
| Median | $34,980 |
| 75th | $38,570 |
| 90th | $46,010 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $34,980
- Median hourly wage
- $16.82/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $35,030
- People employed
- 518,910
Versus all US occupations
At $34,980, Nannies earn 31% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $16,000 a year.
Versus personal care and service occupations
Inside the Personal Care and Service group, where the middle occupation pays $38,120, this is 8% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $46,010 or more while the bottom 10% earn $24,260, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 1% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $47,340, and still leads at $43,075 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay nannies the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $47,340 | $43,075 | 1,350 |
| 2Washington | $41,680 | $38,949 | 4,340 |
| 3Massachusetts | $40,900 | $38,674 | 13,140 |
| 4Colorado | $40,750 | $39,543 | 13,310 |
| 5California | $40,020 | $36,145 | 52,780 |
| 6Oregon | $38,650 | $37,393 | 5,240 |
| 7Vermont | $38,030 | $38,823 | N/A |
| 8New York | $37,590 | $34,831 | 44,020 |
| 9New Hampshire | $37,080 | $35,597 | 2,820 |
| 10Hawaii | $37,030 | $33,679 | 1,870 |
Job outlook
Is nanny a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -2.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Nannies | −2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Nannies to change -2.0% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 19,900 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 150,300 openings are projected each year, 14.9% of the 1,010,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Parents or guardians who work will continue to need the assistance of childcare workers. However, slowing birth rates will result in fewer young children requiring childcare. In addition, the increasing cost of childcare is expected to limit demand for these workers.
AI exposure: moderate
BLS places this occupation in its moderate relative AI exposure category, below the middle of the pack: some of the work overlaps with what AI can do, much of it does not.
Getting in
How to become a nanny
No state licenses a nanny. State child care licensing regulates programs and facilities, and care delivered in the child's own home is expressly exempt from it, which is why the honest framing is not "here is the licence" but "here is what employers and the law actually require". The parts that genuinely bind are federal employment law and tax law: the Fair Labor Standards Act's companionship exemption does not cover childcare, so a career nanny is entitled to the minimum wage, and the IRS treats a nanny as a household employee.
The credential path, step by step
- Expect a background check rather than a licence application
There is no board to apply to. California is the one state with a mandatory registration, and it is narrow: nannies and babysitters placed through an employment agency must be listed on the TrustLine registry, a Department of Justice fingerprint-based background check administered by the Department of Social Services, or be a current applicant. It is voluntary for direct private hires.
- Understand why no licence exists
State licensing attaches to the setting. California's Department of Social Services states that in-home care is legally license-exempt; New York's Office of Children and Family Services defines informal in-home child care as care provided in the child's own home and does not require it to be licensed or registered; Washington's Department of Children, Youth and Families treats non-relatives who provide care in the child's home as exempt from formal licensing standards.
- Get and keep pediatric first aid and CPR certification
This is the practical baseline rather than a legal one, and it is a hard prerequisite for the main voluntary credential: the International Nanny Association requires current First Aid and infant and child CPR certification before you may sit its credential exam.
- Know what the voluntary credentials are and are not
The INA Nanny Credential Exam is 75 multiple-choice questions in 75 minutes, proctored, with 75 percent to pass, and 2,000 hours of professional in-home childcare experience recommended rather than required. INA is explicit that passing does not confer certification and does not make you a Certified Nanny; it grants use of the INA Credentialed Nanny logo. Weigh other nanny credentials against that standard: some carry no recognised accreditation and require as little as 20 clock hours of training.
- Settle the employment terms, because federal law is unusually specific here
The Fair Labor Standards Act regulations name nannies as domestic service employees, and 29 CFR 552.106 states that people who care for babies and young children without illnesses, injuries or disabilities are babysitters, not companions, so the companionship exemption is unavailable. 29 CFR 552.104(d) states that individuals who babysit as a full-time occupation are not employed on a casual basis. In practice a live-out nanny is entitled to the federal minimum wage and to overtime after 40 hours a week; a live-in nanny is entitled to the minimum wage, and only the family, never an agency, may be exempt from paying overtime.
- Expect to be paid as a household employee
IRS Publication 926 lists nannies among household workers and turns on control: the worker is an employee if the family controls not only what work is done but how it is done, and it does not matter whether the work is full time or part time or whether the worker was hired through an agency. For 2026, Social Security and Medicare taxes apply once cash wages reach $3,000 in the year, and federal unemployment tax applies once cash wages reach $1,000 in any calendar quarter. Federal income tax withholding is not required unless the employee asks and the employer agrees.
- Continuing education
Set by each state
There is no licence to renew. The credentials that exist set their own cycles, and CPR and first aid certifications expire on the issuing organisation's schedule, which is what most families and agencies actually track.
Licensing and state variation
Not a state license
No state issues a nanny licence, because state child care licensing regulates the program or facility rather than the individual, and care in the child's own home is exempt. What varies is the background-check requirement layered on top: California requires TrustLine registration for agency placements only. State minimum wage, overtime and domestic worker laws also vary and can be more generous than the federal floor, so the federal rules described here are a floor rather than the whole answer.
Who governs the credential
- US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (DOL WHD)
Administers the Fair Labor Standards Act rules for domestic service employment at 29 CFR part 552, which determine whether a nanny is owed the minimum wage and overtime.
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Publishes the Household Employer's Tax Guide, which classifies nannies as household employees and sets the annual wage thresholds at which Social Security, Medicare and federal unemployment taxes apply.
- International Nanny Association (INA)
A trade association that administers the voluntary INA Nanny Credential Exam. It states plainly that passing does not make the holder a certified nanny.
- California Department of Social Services, TrustLine Registry
Runs California's fingerprint-based background check registry, which is mandatory for nannies and babysitters placed through an employment agency and voluntary for private hires.
Credential detail for nannys is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- eCFR: 29 CFR part 552, Application of the Fair Labor Standards Act to domestic service · checked August 23, 2026
- DOL Wage and Hour Division: Direct care workers and domestic service · checked August 23, 2026
- IRS Publication 926, Household Employer's Tax Guide (for use in 2026) · checked August 23, 2026
- IRS Tax Topic 756: Employment taxes for household employees · checked August 23, 2026
- International Nanny Association: Credential Exams · checked August 23, 2026
- California Department of Social Services: In-Home Care (license-exempt) · checked August 23, 2026
- California Department of Social Services: TrustLine Registry · checked August 23, 2026
- New York Office of Children and Family Services: legally exempt child care · checked August 23, 2026
- Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families: Family, Friends and Neighbors care · checked August 23, 2026
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Childcare Workers · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Education and training requirements vary by setting, state, and employer. They range from no formal education to a certification in early childhood education.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as nannies.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)60%
- Some College Courses16%
- Post-Secondary Certificate8%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree8%
- Less than a High School Diploma4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 60% |
| Some College Courses | 16% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 8% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 8% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a nanny do?
Care for children in private households and provide support and expertise to parents in satisfying children's physical, emotional, intellectual, and social needs. Duties may include meal planning and preparation, laundry and clothing care, organization of play activities and outings, discipline, intellectual stimulation, language activities, and transportation.
Childcare workers attend to children's needs while helping to foster early development. They may help younger children prepare for kindergarten or assist older children with homework.
Day-to-day tasks
- Instruct children in safe behavior, such as seeking adult assistance when crossing the street and avoiding contact with unsafe objects.
- Remove hazards and develop appropriate boundaries and rules to create a safe environment for children.
- Instruct and assist children in the development of health and personal habits, such as eating, resting, and toilet behavior.
- Teach and perform age-appropriate activities, such as lap play, reading, and arts and crafts, to encourage intellectual development of children.
- Help prepare and serve nutritionally balanced meals and snacks for children.
- Model appropriate social behaviors and encourage concern for others to cultivate development of interpersonal relationships and communication skills.
- Organize and conduct age-appropriate recreational activities, such as games, arts and crafts, sports, walks, and play dates.
- Observe children's behavior for irregularities, take temperature, transport children to doctor, or administer medications, as directed, to maintain children's health.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Childcare workers’ schedules vary, and part-time work is common.
Childcare centers usually are open year round, with long hours so that parents or guardians can drop off and pick up their children before and after work. Some centers employ full-time and part-time staff with staggered shifts to cover the entire day.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantLittle or no dealing with customers or the public.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where nannies work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Child daycare services29%
- Self-employed workers24%
- Private households17%
- Elementary and secondary schools; local9%
- Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Child daycare services | 29% |
| Self-employed workers | 24% |
| Private households | 17% |
| Elementary and secondary schools; local | 9% |
| Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations | 8% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.9
- Monitoring3.9
- Speaking3.8
- Critical Thinking3.6
- Learning Strategies3.3
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Writing3.0
- Active Learning3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.3 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Writing | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Service Orientation3.8
- Persuasion3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Coordination3.5
- Time Management3.5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Instructing3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Service Orientation | 3.8 |
| Persuasion | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Coordination | 3.5 |
| Time Management | 3.5 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 |
| Instructing | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Computer based training software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a nanny?
Women make up 93.2% of nannies, against 47.1% of all employed people: a female-dominated occupation.
20.9% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs.
The median worker is 36.0 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 93.2%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 36.0All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 20.9%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 1,106,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of nannies | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 93.2% | 47.1% |
| White | 70.8% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 16.8% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 6.4% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 28.3% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 20.9% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 31.6% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a nanny?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Nanny |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 6 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules.
- Social6.3
- Artistic3.5
- Conventional3.3
- Realistic2.9
- Enterprising2.7
- Investigative2.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Nanny
O*NET related occupations
- Personal Care and Service
- Healthcare Support
- Healthcare Support
- Educational Instruction and Library
Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education
$38,140median a year
Most earn $29K to $61K
+4.5%Associate's - Community and Social Service
- Management
Education and Childcare Administrator, Preschool and Daycare
$59,300median a year
Most earn $39K to $98K
−3.1%Bachelor's
More personal care and service careers
Median annual pay, with nannies highlighted
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$47,160
- Concierge$38,950
- Tour Guide and Escort$38,120
- Hairstylist$35,790
- Manicurist and Pedicurist$35,760
- Animal Caretaker$35,360
- Childcare Worker$34,980
- Nanny$34,980
- Gambling Dealer$34,320
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor | $47,160 |
| Concierge | $38,950 |
| Tour Guide and Escort | $38,120 |
| Hairstylist | $35,790 |
| Manicurist and Pedicurist | $35,760 |
| Animal Caretaker | $35,360 |
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 |
| Nanny | $34,980 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Questions
Nanny: frequently asked questions
How much do nannies make?
Nannies earn a median of $34,980 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 31% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $16.82/hr. The middle half earn between $29,360 and $38,570. The top 10% earn $46,010 or more.
How much do nannies make an hour?
The median hourly wage for nannies is $16.82 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $34,980 annual median works out to about $2,920 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a nanny?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of nannies earn less than $24,260 a year and the bottom quarter less than $29,360 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Which states pay nannies the most?
The highest state medians for Nannies are District of Columbia ($47,340), Washington ($41,680), Massachusetts ($40,900) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of nanny earns the most?
BLS does not split nannies' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $46,010, against a median of $34,980 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are District of Columbia ($47,340), Washington ($41,680), Massachusetts ($40,900).
Do you need a degree to become a nanny?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Nannies. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 60.0% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
How long does it take to become a nanny?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for nannies is a high school diploma or equivalent. Once hired, BLS lists short-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing some preparation.
Is nanny a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 2.0% over 2025–2035, a loss of 19,900 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 150,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a nanny do?
Childcare workers attend to children's needs while helping to foster early development. A core O*NET task: instruct children in safe behavior, such as seeking adult assistance when crossing the street and avoiding contact with unsafe objects. Employers most often ask for Spreadsheet software, Word processing software.
Do nannies work 40 hours a week?
Most work more than 40. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 80% of nannies usually work more than 40 hours a week, 20% work exactly 40 and 0% work fewer. 92% say their schedule is regular and 8% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a nanny?
O*NET scores Nannies highest on the Social, Artistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESFJ, ESFP, ENFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
Do you need a license to work as a nanny?
Not a state license. No state issues a nanny licence, because state child care licensing regulates the program or facility rather than the individual, and care in the child's own home is exempt. What varies is the background-check requirement layered on top: California requires TrustLine registration for agency placements only. State minimum wage, overtime and domestic worker laws also vary and can be more generous than the federal floor, so the federal rules described here are a floor rather than the whole answer.
What percentage of nannies are women?
Women make up 93.2% of nannies, against 47.1% of all employed people: a female-dominated occupation. 20.9% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs. The median worker is 36.0 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.