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How to hire a family nanny

Family nanny hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring family nannies in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a family nanny is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per family nanny on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 167,172 family nannies in the US, and there are currently 136,280 job openings in this field.
  • Wayne, PA, has the highest demand for family nannies, with 7 job openings.

How to hire a family nanny, step by step

To hire a family nanny, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a family nanny, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step family nanny hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a family nanny job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new family nanny
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your family nanny job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a family nanny for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a family nanny to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a family nanny that fits the bill.

    Here's a comparison of family nanny salaries for various roles:

    Type of Family NannyDescriptionHourly rate
    Family NannyChildcare workers provide care for children when parents and other family members are unavailable. They attend to children’s basic needs, such as bathing and feeding... Show more$11-28
    Baby SitterA Baby Sitter is responsible for the welfare and safety of children while their parents or guardian are away. The tasks will vary on the age, behavior, or needs of the children... Show more$10-21
    NannyNannies are family employees who are primarily responsible for taking care of children in the family's house. They are usually tapped to take care of the kids while the parents are at work or away on vacation... Show more$12-29
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • CPR
    • Kids
    • Art Projects
    • Caregiver
    • Meal Prep
    • Child Care
    • Household Chores
    • Light Housework
    • Transport Children
    • Mathematics
    • Medical Appointments
    • Administer Medications
    • Discipline Programs
    • Healthy Meals
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Spend multiple weekends caring for kids when parents are on work trips.
    • Watch the children, make meals, help the kids with homework, transport to various extra-curricular activity
    • Generate nutritional meals addressing food allergies and meeting nutritional needs.
    • Generate nutritional meals addressing food allergies and meeting nutritional needs.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your family nanny job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A family nanny salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, family nannies' average salary in georgia is 47% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level family nannies earn 59% less than senior-level family nannies.
    • Certifications. A family nanny with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a family nanny's salary.

    Average family nanny salary

    $37,809yearly

    $18.18 hourly rate

    Entry-level family nanny salary
    $24,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 27, 2026
  4. Writing a family nanny job description

    A family nanny job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a family nanny job description:

    Family nanny job description example

    GREENWICH, CT (LOCAL CANDIDATES ONLY) - Amazing family seeking a FULL-TIME LIVE-OUT NANNY to partner with the parents and Au Pair to balance care of their 2 children (3.5-year-old boy, 2-year-old girl). The hours would be Tuesday - Friday, 12 pm - 7 pm, and Sunday 9 am - 7 pm. The candidate will need to be partnering with the SAHM while the dad is working and commuting to/from the city. There are 2 dogs in the home that do not need much care. The Au Pair helps the family in the morning, so balancing care in the afternoon is the main focus of the nanny. Their oldest son is most likely gifted and is highly intelligent and loves intellectual stimulation. The family travels and would need a nanny who is comfortable with swimming with the children. The perfect candidate is a career nanny who will plan activities for the kids and not just turn the tv on, seeking a self-starter. Duties include kids' laundry, light cleaning, running errands, creating stimulating activities, keeping the children engaged, and driving the kids to and from activities. A family car is provided during working hours. This family needs a nanny that is well-rounded and can help the family consistently set boundaries for their children and support the parents.

    The candidate would need to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Must be up to date on all vaccinations (tdpap, flu, Covid, MMR). The candidate needs to have a passport or willingness to get one. Start date is 12/1. Pay is $30-35/hr.
    BA/BS college degree | AA in related field of study

    CPR/First Aid Certification (renew as needed)

    Ability to make a one-year commitment unless applying for a temporary position

    A passion for working with children

    Two+ years childcare experience

    Excellent work and personal references

    U.S. driver's license (this does not apply to NYC residents)

    Complete Stop the Silence Training upon Membership

    Fluent in English/Bilingual a plus

    Competent swimmer

    Non-smoker

    Willing to go through extensive Background Check

    Must be Live-Scanned and registered with Trustline if CA resident

    Willingness to show proof of immunizations

    No-cell phone driving signed guarantee

    Must be eligible to work in the U.S.

    USD $30.00/Hr.

    USD $35.00/Hr.

    40

    ID: 2022-2894

    External Company Name: The Nanny League, Inc.

    Street: 1 Greenwich
  5. Post your job

    To find the right family nanny for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with family nannies they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit family nannies who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your family nanny job on Zippia to find and recruit family nanny candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with family nanny candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new family nanny

    Once you've selected the best family nanny candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new family nanny. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a family nanny?

Before you start to hire family nannies, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire family nannies pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $37,809 per year for a family nanny, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for family nannies in the US typically range between $11 and $28 an hour.

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