Check back for full results and a slide deck in the coming months
The Nanny Survey provides data on pay rates and responsibilities for nannies that helps ALL parents in Brooklyn in the process of hiring. By providing this data to the community, we aim to uplift families and domestic workers alike by helping parents be the best and fairest employers they can be.
IMPORTANT:
- Park Slope Parents reports the data as fairly and accurately as possible. Each family needs to make its own decision about hiring a nanny and paying a nanny. Length of tenure, number of children, responsibilities, and hours worked all factor into these data.
- There are several laws governing the employment of domestic workers (nannies, housecleaners, home care workers). Park Slope Parents has summarized these and provided links below to make it easier for employers. Paying a nanny a living wage and providing employment protections is the right thing to do.
- PSP recognizes that some families pay on a guaranteed weekly pay basis and others on an hourly basis. To normalize the data across all situations, we developed hourly rates based on typical hours worked for those families who pay a salary. NOTE: Employers are legally required to report and pay by the hour for domestic workers and pay overtime for hours worked over forty.
- Through the summary tables provided in this report, we try to show both the wide variation (sometimes a spread of more than $10 per hour between the lowest and highest hourly rate) in the market as well as the “typical” market rates paid to nannies.
- Pay rates vary depending on a wide variety of factors, including some not obvious in these data (e.g., how demanding the employer is, responsibilities, nanny’s ability to be flexible with hours, etc.). We know paying at the lower end of the range when hiring someone can feel right because you want to have room to group pay, but it can be hard financially and emotionally for the nanny to feel like they need to start over (lower) with each family. Take these perspectives into consideration when hiring a nanny.
- Rates do NOT reflect Nanny Shares, where a nanny takes care of kids from 2 families at the same time.
2025 Hourly Pay Rates by Number of Children & On/Off the Books
2025 Hourly Pay Rates by Hours Worked
METHODOLOGY AND DEFINITIONS
The findings are representative of 742 employers surveyed March-June 2025 through a SurveyMonkey online survey.
Average: Shows the overall market tendency and is influenced by high and low data points as well as skewed data.
Median (50th percentile): Shows the middle data point, outliers at the top and bottom end of the distribution are less emphasized.
Percentiles: Shows the proportion of data points that fall above and below this point (e.g., 10th percentile show the point at which 10% of the data fall below and 90% of the data fall above).
TIME OFF
- The majority of employers pay their nanny for 52 weeks a year regardless of how much time the nanny receives off.
- The average number of agreed-upon days off 2 weeks, while the reported number of days is commonly much higher than that. As mentioned above, the nanny is paid for 52 weeks/year even if the agreed upon time off is 2 weeks.
- Two out of 3 employers (67%) let their nanny schedule time off at the nanny's discretion (something which PSP advocates.)
RAISES & BONUSES:
- The most common first-year annual increase is $1 per hour, with 57% giving this amount. 29% give between $1-$2.
- Giving end-of-year (in December) bonuses continues to be standard, with 1 week's pay being the most common amount given.
- The average bump in pay when a second child arrives is $2 per hour.
Reminders:
- Data includes nannies paid on and off the books.
- Rates do NOT reflect Nanny Shares, where a nanny takes care of kids from 2 families at the same time.
STEPS TO HIRING A NANNY ON PSP:
Step 1: WHAT do I want, WHAT can I expect and WHAT will it cost me?
Step 2: WHERE can you find Mary Poppins?
Step 3: WHO is it going to be?
Step 4: HOW can we seal the deal?
Step 5: HOW can I make this a great working relationship?
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS SURROUNDING HIRING A NANNY:
These laws apply to all domestic workers, regardless of whether they are paid on or off the books or their eligibility to work in the U.S.
- New York Domestic Workers Bill of Rights This bill spells out mandatory overtime compensation over 40 hours, paid time off, and more.
- Wage Theft Protection Act This act requires new employers to provide written documentation of their wage rates at time of hire (including nannies paid off the books) and current employers notification by 2/1/2012.
- Unemployment Eligibility Workers paid on and off the books are eligible to file for unemployment benefits even if they have not paid taxes on their income.
- Worker's Compensation and Insurance A nanny who works 40 or more hours per week for the same employer must be covered by workers’ compensation insurance and disability benefits.
- Paid Family Leave (including protection from discrimination, prenatal leave, and job-protected paid time off.
- NYC's Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law. Domestic workers with must be provided 40 hours a year of paid sick days and be given time off for getting COVID vaccinations for themselves and their children.
HELPING YOUR NANNY FIND A NEW JOB:
- Here's information to help your nanny find a new job.
- Requirements for posting on Park Slope Parents
- How to End the Nanny Relationship Positively
INFORMATION FOR NANNIES:
PSP offers tips for nannies including where they can look for a job and post about their availability, as well as resources about the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, information about negotiating their next position, and other great resources.
Disclaimer: This post has been written for educational purposes only by Park Slope Parents and is not meant to be legal advice and should not be construed as legal advice or be relied upon. The post may contain errors, inaccuracies and/or omissions. We recommend checking with a professional for specific advice.
WORK AGREEMENT:
Learn more and download the Sample Nanny Work Agreement
ON THE BOOKS INFORMATION:
PSP Guide to Paying On The Books
NANNY SHARE INFORMATION:
The PSP Guide to a Successful Nanny Share
NOT A MEMBER OF PARK SLOPE PARENTS? You're missing out!
If you're a parent in Brooklyn (almost half of all PSP members live outside Park Slope), Join Park Slope Parents today!
Disclaimer: This post has been written for educational purposes only by Park Slope Parents and is not meant to be legal advice and should not be construed as legal advice or be relied upon. The post may contain errors, inaccuracies and/or omissions. We recommend checking with a professional for specific advice.
