How to hire a governess

How to hire a governess, step by step

Here's a step-by-step governess hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The governess hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A governess's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, governesses from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of governesses and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Governess	Description	Hourly rate
   Governess	Childcare 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	$14-37
   Family Nanny	A family nanny is primarily in charge of taking care of children while the parents are away. Their responsibilities typically depend on the children's age or habits... Show more	$11-28
   Nanny	Nannies 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:

   • Meal Preparation
   • Administer Medications
   • Child Care
   • Mathematics

   Responsibilities:

   • Construct a relationship with family and kids and also include appropriate discipline actions.
   • Work closely with parents to counsel and motivate child with ADHD.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your governess job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A governess salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, governesses' average salary in georgia is 50% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level governesses earn 61% less than senior-level governesses.
   • Certifications. A governess 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 governess's salary.

   Average governess salary

   $48,868yearly

   $23.49 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level governess salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

4. Writing a governess job description

   A job description for a governess role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a governess job description:

   Governess job description example

   LONG ISLAND, NY (\CANDIDATES LOCATED IN THE TRI-STATE AREA OR FL ONLY)- Stay-at-home first-time mom 30 miles from Manhattan seeks a FULLL-TIME GOVERNESS for her almost 1-year-old son. Ideal hours are from 7am-7pm Monday-Friday but they are also open to an 8am-6pm schedule if preferred by the governess. Occasional weekend help is appreciated but not required. Position can be LIVE IN or LIVE OUT. Their preference is for live-in Monday-Friday; however, they are open to a full-time live-in or live-out governess.
   
   They have two homes on Long Island; one is in Oyster Bay and the other in East Islip. They primarily reside in their East Islip home but spend weekends and summers in Oyster Bay. Living accommodations in their East Islip residence include a private floor for the governess including a bedroom, bathroom, living space, etc. A private bedroom and bathroom are provided in the Oyster Bay home as well. The family also has a home in Florida that they visit 1-2 times per year and possibly Europe, and would love for their governess to join! Private living accommodations are provided in their Florida home as well.
   
   Mom works from home part-time and is looking for someone to support her in caring for her son and keeping her home running like a well-oiled machine. She seeks a governess who is proactive and takes initiative. A self-starter who is always two steps ahead! The ideal candidate is organized, stable, and a team player. Someone who is loving, gentle, and brings peace and calmness to their home. No drama! They seek a true professional who is ideally college educated and is educationally and developmentally focused on their son. Someone who not only provide complete care for him, but also serve as a teacher, teaching their son numbers, alphabet, reading and helping him achieve key milestones. This person is more than a babysitter and can make a positive influence on their child's learning and development. A background in Montessori is a plus!
   
   Duties are primarily focused on the care and education of their son; however, they would appreciate some basic help keeping their home neat and tidy throughout the day (wiping counters, picking up toys, taking inventory/stocking baby items, helping mom bring groceries in, etc.). They have a housekeeper, so no heavy cleaning! Must be a mindful and tidy housemate. A family car is provided for use while on the job. Must have a clean driving record! They have pools at their homes and seek a water- and safety-conscious candidate!
   
   Benefits include paid sick days, holidays, and vacation. Pay is open depending on experience. Start date is ASAP!
   Qualifications 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. Incentives Paid sick days, holidays and vacation. Targeted Annual Gross Salary (Min) USD $30.00/Hr. Targeted Annual Gross Salary (Max) USD $40.00/Hr. Number of Hours Per Week 50-60

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find governesses for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any governesses they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level governesses with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your governess job on Zippia to find and recruit governess candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting governesses requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 governess

   Once you've found the governess candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new governess first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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