How to Increase Your Nanny Rate: The Inside Scoop on Strategies That Can Help You Earn More
Want to earn more as a nanny or babysitter? (It’s 2026, how can you not?) There’s more to increasing your rate than simply putting in another year on the job.
The strongest nanny candidates build experience strategically, add valuable skills, and look for families who actually need what they have to offer, and as a long-time nanny agency who loves our nannies, a strong nanny candidate is exactly what we want to help make you.
If you want to command a higher nanny rate, start thinking about what makes your particular childcare experience valuable. We’ve gathered a few ways to level up – let’s dive in.
1. Add nanny skills that families value
One of the clearest ways to grow your nanny career is to expand what you can confidently offer a family.
CPR and First Aid certification should be high on the list.
From there, think about where you want your childcare career to go. These skills can all make your resume stand out:
Early childhood education
Special-needs experience
Tutoring
Montessori knowledge
Swimming and water safety experience/training
Additional language skills
If you love working with babies, you might pursue newborn-specific training, sleep education, or eventually become a Newborn Care Specialist (NCS).
And be smart about the skills you add to your toolbelt. Choose training that makes you genuinely better at the kind of work you want to do.
Not sure where to start? Check out our Top nanny trainings to advance your career. And if newborns are your niche (what we officially refer to as baby sparkly eyes), read our guide to becoming a Newborn Care Specialist.
2. Build the right kind of experience
Training matters, but there’s no substitute for actually doing the job.
The more childcare situations you’ve successfully handled, the more you can bring to your next position. Experience with different ages, multiple children, infants, school pickups, homework help, travel, busy schedules, or children with specific needs can all broaden the jobs you’re qualified to take.
If you’re newer to nannying and haven’t quite built up this skillset, temporary babysitting jobs can be a great way to build this experience. Working temp gigs in different neighborhoods, with different ages and different family routines, can help you become a much more adaptable caregiver before you pursue your next long-term position.
Psst. Big-city experience is a skill, too
If you want to nanny in New York City, knowing how to care for children in New York City can be particularly valuable. We hear this from families all the time who want to make sure their sitter or nanny is city-savvy enough to navigate the city with kids in a way that is safe, fun, and brings them where they need to go on time.
Can you get two kids, a stroller, and a scooter onto the subway? Navigate a crowded crosswalk while keeping everyone safe? Plan a rainy-day outing on the Upper West Side? Get from school in Park Slope to an after-school activity in Dumbo without being late?
These might not come with certificates, but they’re real skills.
If you’re new to the city, the same advice applies as our advice to newer childcare professionals above. Temporary or short term babysitting gigs (like through our Always On program or through short term jobs) can help experienced nannies and sitters from out of town build that Big City Muscle that’ll have families calling them back.
3. Turn what you already know into a specialty
Here’s a big one most eager nanny candidates don’t think about. Before signing up for another class, take inventory of the skills you already have.
Maybe you speak Spanish or French. Maybe you were a math tutor in college. Perhaps you’ve taught theater, coached soccer, worked at a summer camp, cared for twins, or spent years working with newborns.
Those aren’t random extras. They can be part of your professional nanny profile.
Think about how your experience translates into something useful for a family. A former drama teacher might be fantastic for a creative, performance-loving child. A strong swimmer could be a great match for a family that spends summers at the pool or in the Hamptons. A bilingual nanny may be particularly attractive to parents hoping to reinforce another language at home.
Your experience becomes more valuable when you can clearly explain how it benefits the children in your care.
4. Be smart about your nanny job search
And that leads us into point number 4, which may blow your mind a little: having an in-demand skill only helps your earning potential if you find a family that values it.
If you speak Mandarin, actively look for positions requesting Mandarin. If you have substantial newborn experience, prioritize families expecting a baby or hiring for infant care. If you have teaching or tutoring experience, look closely at jobs asking for homework support or educational enrichment.
Don’t try to be the perfect nanny for every family. Look for the positions where your particular resume makes you an especially strong match. That’ll give you the higher rate right off the bat – and a super satisfied family – without you having to do anything different at all!
Build your rate by building your value (and by joining an agency!)
Increasing your nanny rate doesn’t happen overnight. But every new skill, strong reference, successful job, and specialized area of experience gives you more to bring to your next position. And every position that describes you to a T becomes a match made in nanny heaven.
And when it’s time for your next job search, consider looking through an agency (by which we mean, consider looking through an agency like Smart Sitting!). Working with an agency is often a great way to up your rates, because a reputable agency will be able to advocate for you and educate families about the latest industry standards for rates, benefits, and bonuses.
That’s not just a smarter way to earn a higher rate. It’s a smarter way to build a nanny career.
If you’re ready to take that smart step, apply to work with us here at SmartSitting (it’s in the name, after all!). Click the button below, tell us about yourself, your experience, and your ideal positions, and if we think you’d be a great match with one of our families, we’ll be in touch!
Ps. For more tips and tricks on leveling up in your nanny career, sign up for our newsletter!