How much is a live-in nanny in NYC?
A live-in salary for a nanny takes different things into account than for a live-out nanny.
New York is a busy market for nannies. There are full-time, long-term nannies, short-term regular nannies, babysitters, nanny/housekeepers, and more. But there’s one position that may be trickier to hire than others: the live-in nanny.
What goes into an NYC live-in nanny’s salary?
Live-in nannies in NYC typically work full-time and earn a regular salary. Their responsibilities are that of a full-time nanny, and while they do live in the family’s home, they still have a schedule and get paid for hours worked. The upside to having a live-in nanny is the flexibility it affords, but it also means someone is living in your home, with all that entails.
Live-in nannies earn a salary for hours worked. When they are on the clock, they are earning money, even if they are “in their own home” and the child is napping, for instance. When they are in charge of your child, they are on the clock.
Live-in nannies earn overtime (1.5x) for any hours worked over 44 hours/week. This is slightly different than live-out nannies, who legally earn overtime for any hours worked over 40 hours/week.
Work shifts that include your nanny’s sleeping time
You are allowed to ask your nanny to work a 24-hour shift, for instance if you are traveling. If this is part of your regular commitments, a live-in nanny may be a great solution to make this as smooth as possible for your children.
If your nanny is in charge of the children on a 24-hour schedule (which assumes the children will be sleeping overnight), you can deduct 8 hours from the compensation under the assumption that the nanny is able to sleep during this time.
Lodging is not compensation for work
One important thing to note is that covering your nanny’s housing does not replace a salary. Providing housing makes it more convenient for you because your nanny is available on a completely different level than someone who lives out.
You also never have to worry about the nanny traveling to your home in inclement weather or when the subway shuts down. Additionally, some live-in nannies still have other housing where they go on their days off.
Some families have a separate apartment entirely for their nanny. This may be an excellent arrangement where the nanny has essentially zero commute time and can still offer the flexibility of a live-in caregiver, but the family and nanny do not have to mix their personal lives and common spaces quite as much. This arrangement still does not take the place of a salary.
Live-in nannies vs. au pairs
One group of caregivers that live in the home are au pairs. Au pairs are foreign candidates in a language exchange program, who come to stay with a family, usually for a year, and help out with the kids.
They do not work as many hours as a full-time nanny, are typically less experienced, and are also not compensated as a full-time professional. In this case, room and board are considered part of the compensation.
The host family, in return, are also responsible for letting the au pair get to know the culture and country in which they live and are a sort of intermediary parent-employer hybrid.
Live-in nanny salaries in NYC
Live-in nanny salaries in New York are rarely lower than salaries for live-out nannies. You can expect to pay about the same per hour for a live-in nanny.
In 2023, the average hourly nanny rate is $30-35, depending on the requirements of the role and the candidate’s background and experience. As with any full-time job, the position should also include paid time off, sick days, health care benefits, etc.
Need help hiring your family’s ideal nanny?
If you are looking to hire a nanny and want to know what will be the best solution for you — contact us. We have connected hundreds of families with their dream full-time nanny, and we know the ins and outs of nanny placement in NYC. We can help you every step of the way, so that you can easily find the setup that works for you.
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