Guide
Hiring a nanny: rates, contracts, and how to vet
A nanny is the most personal hire most families ever make. This guide walks through what to pay, what to put in writing, and how to tell in one interview whether someone is right for your home.
1. Define the job first
Write down the week before you talk to anyone: days, start and end times, who does pickups, whether cooking or laundry is included, and how often plans change. Most nanny placements fall apart over scope creep, not personality.
Hours & flexibility
Set core hours, plus how much notice you'll give for changes.
Children & ages
Number of kids, naps, school schedules, activities, special needs.
Household tasks
Kid laundry and meals are normal. Deep cleaning is a different job.
Driving
If they'll drive, decide whose car, mileage, and insurance up front.
2. Set pay you can sustain
Nannies are household employees, not contractors, in most situations. Plan for an hourly rate, overtime past 40 hours, and your share of employment taxes. Budget the total cost, not just the hourly number, so you aren't renegotiating in month two.
Rate goes up with experience, infant care, more than two children, driving, second-language instruction, and household duties. Guaranteed hours — paying the agreed week even when you need less — is the single strongest retention tool families have.
3. Vet properly
- Confirm identity and work eligibility.
- Run a criminal background check, and a driving record if they'll drive.
- Call two or three families they worked for directly — not character references.
- Ask each reference the same closing question: "Would you rehire them tomorrow?"
- Verify CPR and first aid, and set an expiration reminder.
On Ourli, identity, background, insurance, and reference checks show as verified badges on each profile, so you can see what's confirmed before you ever message someone.
4. Run a paid trial, then check in
Pay for a trial day and stay nearby but out of the way. Watch the handoff, transitions, and how they respond when the plan breaks. Then schedule a real check-in at two weeks and again at three months — most fixable problems surface in that window.
5. Put it in writing
Nanny agreement outline
- Names, start date, and position summary
- Schedule, guaranteed hours, and overtime rate
- Pay rate, pay dates, and tax withholding approach
- Paid time off, holidays, and sick policy
- Duties included — and duties explicitly not included
- Driving, car use, and mileage
- Confidentiality, screen time, and discipline expectations
- Review schedule, raise timing, and notice period for either side
Common questions
- How much does a nanny cost?
- Rates vary by market, hours, and number of children. In most metro areas families pay an hourly rate that rises with experience, extra children, driving, and household tasks. Ask candidates for their range early so you don't waste anyone's time.
- Should a nanny be paid hourly or on salary?
- Household employees are generally paid hourly with overtime after 40 hours in a week. Many families use guaranteed hours: you pay the agreed weekly hours even if you need less that week, which keeps a good nanny available.
- Do I need a nanny contract?
- Yes. A short written agreement covering hours, pay, guaranteed hours, paid time off, holidays, duties, driving, sick policy, and notice period prevents nearly every common conflict.
- What background checks should a nanny have?
- At minimum identity verification, a criminal background check, driving record if they'll drive your kids, and two or three reference calls with families they worked for directly.
- How long should a nanny trial period be?
- A paid trial day plus a two-to-four week check-in works well. Use the trial to watch handoffs, screen time, discipline style, and how they handle an unplanned change.
Ready to meet candidates?
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