Research Summary. After extensive research conducted by the Zippia data science team, we have compiled the latest data on nanny salaries across different states in the United States for 2026:
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Massachusetts boasts the highest nanny salary at $56,385.
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Florida has the lowest nanny salary at $32,542.
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The national average salary for nannies stands at $40,262.
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The national hourly wage for nannies is $19.36.
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
In 2026, salary continues to be the leading factor influencing job choices among individuals across various demographics—especially for nannies. Many prospective nannies wonder, “How much do nannies earn in my area?”
While several variables determine individual salaries, there is robust data available regarding average salaries for nannies by state, segmented by experience level. Although specific city salaries may vary from state averages, these figures provide a useful benchmark for what nannies can expect to earn.
Massachusetts remains the state with the highest salary for nannies.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for nanny salaries:
Let’s delve into the complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Nannies By State
| Rank | State | Average Nanny Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $56,385 | $38,000 | $81,000 |
| 2 | Vermont | $55,596 | $39,000 | $78,000 |
| 3 | Washington | $54,374 | $43,000 | $67,000 |
| 4 | California | $53,369 | $38,000 | $74,000 |
| 5 | Maine | $52,552 | $37,000 | $74,000 |
| 6 | Colorado | $51,094 | $37,000 | $69,000 |
| 7 | Alaska | $50,866 | $45,000 | $56,000 |
| 8 | Oregon | $50,131 | $39,000 | $64,000 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $49,337 | $37,000 | $64,000 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $49,091 | $37,000 | $64,000 |
| 11 | Arizona | $47,518 | $33,000 | $66,000 |
| 12 | New York | $47,389 | $32,000 | $69,000 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $46,181 | $32,000 | $66,000 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $45,608 | $30,000 | $67,000 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $45,539 | $31,000 | $66,000 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $44,981 | $38,000 | $52,000 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $44,910 | $30,000 | $65,000 |
| 18 | Michigan | $43,543 | $31,000 | $60,000 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $43,421 | $35,000 | $53,000 |
| 20 | Idaho | $43,085 | $33,000 | $55,000 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $42,844 | $31,000 | $57,000 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $42,823 | $31,000 | $57,000 |
| 23 | Maryland | $42,626 | $28,000 | $63,000 |
| 24 | Montana | $41,934 | $33,000 | $52,000 |
| 25 | Missouri | $41,854 | $30,000 | $58,000 |
| 26 | Nevada | $41,704 | $30,000 | $57,000 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $41,616 | $28,000 | $61,000 |
| 28 | Utah | $41,099 | $30,000 | $54,000 |
| 29 | Ohio | $40,952 | $28,000 | $58,000 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $40,684 | $31,000 | $53,000 |
| 31 | Delaware | $40,536 | $27,000 | $60,000 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $40,238 | $26,000 | $60,000 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $39,787 | $28,000 | $56,000 |
| 34 | Iowa | $39,759 | $29,000 | $53,000 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $39,497 | $28,000 | $55,000 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $39,462 | $27,000 | $56,000 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $39,277 | $27,000 | $56,000 |
| 38 | Virginia | $39,209 | $26,000 | $58,000 |
| 39 | Texas | $39,183 | $27,000 | $56,000 |
| 40 | Illinois | $39,099 | $28,000 | $53,000 |
| 41 | Kansas | $39,012 | $28,000 | $53,000 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $38,606 | $26,000 | $56,000 |
| 43 | Indiana | $37,938 | $27,000 | $53,000 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $37,814 | $27,000 | $52,000 |
| 45 | Alabama | $36,130 | $24,000 | $53,000 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $35,844 | $24,000 | $53,000 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $35,805 | $23,000 | $53,000 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $35,788 | $24,000 | $52,000 |
| 49 | Georgia | $32,817 | $22,000 | $48,000 |
| 50 | Florida | $32,542 | $20,000 | $51,000 |
Methodology: Nanny Salary By State
To gain insight into nanny compensation across states, Zippia has aggregated data from various reliable sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Foreign Labor Certification (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This data is supplemented with actual salary listings from job postings. The data science team then calculates a weighted average based on these inputs to derive the average pay for nannies by state.
We compiled the average annual salary data for nannies to rank each state based on their average compensation.
Nanny Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for nannies?
The highest-paid state for nannies is Massachusetts, offering an average salary of $56,385 per year.
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What city pays nannies the most?
Boston, MA tops the list, compensating nannies with an average salary of $56,396 per year.
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What is the worst state for nannies?
The state offering the lowest salary for nannies is Florida, with an average salary of $32,542 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
