Last updated:
- 3,927 nannies in our candidate database
- 18,000+ applications reviewed for nanny jobs since 2022
- 52% of our nanny job ads in the US involve driving
- 38% of our nanny job ads in the US mention CPR or first aid
Morgan & Mallet, a luxury household staffing agency serving Chicago, places experienced, fully vetted nannies with high-net-worth (HNW) families. We help you hire a nanny in Chicago on a full-time, part-time, or live-in basis, including newborn specialists.
Our search covers the city, the North Shore, and the western suburbs.
Anyone who cares for your children deserves careful checking. Every nanny in our network has passed through our vetting process before you get the profile.
We have 3,927 nannies in our candidate database, part of more than 50,300 vetted candidates across all roles. That vetting is why 96% of our nanny placements succeed.
Call us at +1 (646) 965-2308 and our recruiters will talk through what your Chicago home needs.
Source: Morgan & Mallet candidate database, October 2026, and nanny job ads in the US and applications, 2022 to October 2026. See how we count.
How do I find a nanny in Chicago?
There are two ways to find a nanny in Chicago. You can search nanny sites and screen everyone yourself. Or you can work with a nanny agency in Chicago that does the interviewing and checking for you.
From the first call to a signed contract, our Chicago searches take four to six weeks.
Decide on the car early on. In our nanny job ads in the US that need driving, 24% want the nanny to bring their own car, and 24% have a family car for the job.
A consultation: We go through your children’s ages, the days you need covered, live-in or live-out, and things like whether the nanny is going to need to drive the family car.
If they do, we ask them about their driving experience, because a school drop-off in January on an unplowed street is different from driving on clear June mornings.
The first call we do with you is as much about you and your family as about the job. Our co-founder Laurine Mallet who used to be a nanny herself explains why our recruiters ask so many questions.
“When [a] recruiter [gets] a client’s request, we need to understand … the client’s … lifestyle, mindset. … We ask … a lot of question[s], because we need to understand exactly what is [their] personality, to know … what kind of candidate we can place.”
A shortlist: We then come back to you with a shortlist of vetted nannies. We look in Chicagoland first, so a nanny that has to move from elsewhere doesn’t delay back your chosen start date.
If the right nanny is out of state, we check if they have accommodation ready before you meet them, if you’re hiring for a live-out role.
We make sure that we keep the shortlist small. Our co-founder Morgan Richez says a long list means the brief needs to be looked at again.
“Usually … [it] is between three and five. And after six CVs, I told … my recruiter, ’We are not on the same page with the [client]. Something happened.
We need to sit down again and … talk about the … job description.’ … Three, that’s good … to compare.”
Interviews and trial days: After you interview the candidates you like, we arrange paid trial days during a normal week, so you know how the candidate acts with your children.
The first weeks with a new nanny can sometimes be the most difficult, especially for children who loved the last one. Our co-founder Laurine Mallet asks families not to judge too fast.
“At the beginning, when you look after children, it can be tough … even for a nanny, … to be … accepted by the children, it can be tough, and especially if they have been … looked [after] before by someone else. …
It’s not because the very first week[s] are not as expected [that] it means she doesn’t match at all. … We need to give her some time [to find her feet].”
A written agreement: Chicago law requires you to have a written agreement that covers the wage rate and the schedule. We can point you to an employment lawyer for the agreement, and help you get payroll set up.
Placement and follow-up: We check in every 10 days for the first three months, and every placement we make has a three-month guarantee.
The first months are crucial because they help decide whether a placement lasts or not. Our co-founder Laurine Mallet explains why we stay in touch with your nanny and with you.
“The very first months are really important and precious, because … the candidate need[s] to have support … but he’s not going to hear daily the client’s feedback, because he’s going to work in the client’s property. …
That’s why it’s really important to do this [follow-up] and to support the candidate every week, and the client also.”
If you are working out how to find a nanny in Chicago before a move, start the search four to six months ahead, as our 2025/26 Annual Report recommends. That way someone is ready the week you arrive.
Source: Morgan & Mallet nanny job ads, US, 2022 to 2026 (81 ads with full wording). See how we count.
What has every Chicago nanny been through before you meet them?
Everyone who makes your shortlist goes through a 90-minute interview, has their references verified, and has their career history and identity checked. The criminal background check starts once you have chosen your nanny, before their first day.
We ask candidates about their last three jobs and always speak to a former employer ourselves. Our co-founder Laurine Mallet explains what is different when a nanny has spent ten years with one family.
“We need to speak at least to one person. … We’ve got [rules] in the company … That’s [a] minimum [of] three last experiences. But let’s say you … meet a candidate, she’s [a] nanny.
She worked 10 years for the same [family], so she just [has] one reference. …
You can ask for the other references, even if she didn’t work in household staff, maybe as a chemist … as a teacher … because you can check the mindset.”
Some high-profile families have their own NDA, and we make sure your nanny understands it before they sign.
We make sure your nanny keeps any information about your family within the privacy of your home.
Some families bring their own confidentiality agreement, which has been drafted by their advisers. Our co-founder Laurine Mallet explains our part in it.
“If, for example, the principal has his own NDA, I’m going to read the NDA first of all. …
Usually they’ve got a team in order to write the NDA, so they don’t need us to read the NDA, but … they need us to make sure our staff understands the NDA.”
We test a candidate’s discretion in the interview to see whether the nanny shares anything personal about their previous employers. We also try to check their social media for posts about families they’ve worked for.
We look at the kind of things candidates share online. Co-founder Morgan Richez is clear about how far that goes.
“Sometimes we can check the social network as well. … We try to use it every time.
Of course this is not a must, but we try to use … this way … to check, just to make sure they are [discreet], … they [don’t] post … picture[s] about [the] previous property, … [or] the previous employer.”
38% of our nanny job ads in the US mention CPR or first aid. We ask for the original certificate and check it.
Asked which certificates employers find most valuable, our co-founder Laurine Mallet, who began her career as a nanny in London, mentions two for anyone caring for children.
“First aid and CPR, it’s much more for nannies, maternity nurse[s], also caregiver[s].”
Families usually meet three to five nannies. The shortlist pool stays small because about 25% of applicants pass our vetting process.
Each nanny job we advertise gets around 35 applications. Most of the work we do is in the time between those applications and the few nannies you actually meet.
Source: Morgan & Mallet candidate database and nanny job ads and applications, all markets, 2022 to October 2026. See how we count.
Full-time, part-time, live-in, or newborn: which nanny does your family in Chicago need?
27% of our nanny job ads in the US include a school-age child, and 21% mention after-school or afternoon hours. When there is a school-age child, 68% of the ads have driving needed.
Full-time live-out nanny: A full-time live-out nanny works set days in your home and goes home at night. It often means caring for a baby or toddler from morning to evening.
Part-time and after-school nanny: A part-time nanny covers the hours between school pickups and dinner for your child. Those after-school hours are mostly filled with activities across the city and suburbs, so most of these roles need a driver.
Live-in nanny: A live-in nanny lives in your family home in their own private room.
Live-out and live-in searches are a bit different. Co-founder Laurine Mallet explains why a live-in role widens the search.
“[With a live-out nanny], … [the] nanny needs to [live] around … the area of the client’s property. So first we are going to search for candidates nearby the property. …
On the other side, [with] a live-in nanny position, … the candidate is going to live inside the client’s property. So in this situation, we are much more open-minded regarding the list of candidates.”
Newborn care specialists and overnight nannies: A newborn care specialist looks after your baby’s first weeks and months, and an overnight nanny takes the night while you rest.
Nanny-housekeeper: This is a hybrid role where one person handles childcare and housework like cleaning, laundry, and cooking.
Bilingual nanny: A bilingual nanny speaks in a second language with your child daily, so they pick up the language. We match by language skills and experience, never on nationality.
The languages our nannies speak most of the time are English, French, Spanish and Arabic.
Traveling nanny: For families that frequently travel between homes or go on trips, a traveling nanny works according to your travel calendar instead of a fixed week.
Special needs nanny: A special needs nanny is trained and experienced in supporting children with a diagnosis or developmental needs. They coordinate with therapists and school staff for the child.
Nanny share: A nanny share is an arrangement where two families employ one nanny between them. Morgan & Mallet places nannies for individual families.
Source: Morgan & Mallet nanny job ads, US, 2022 to 2026, and our candidate database, October 2026. See how we count.
Where in Chicago do we place nannies?
Gold Coast and Streeterville
Families here live in high-rise apartments and Astor Street townhouses, often a short walk from private schools. Here, your nanny can walk your older children to school in the mornings and drive across town for swimming lessons in the afternoon.
We look for someone who has experience working in a managed building, so they already know how door access and service elevators work.
Lincoln Park, River North, and the West Loop
With younger families filling these neighborhoods, you need a nanny who can take your children to the park and zoo nearby. Parents here work long and unpredictable days, so the role often runs from breakfast through bedtime.
The North Shore
For lakefront homes in Winnetka, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Wilmette, Highland Park, and Lake Forest, homes often have room for a live-in nanny. There’s normally a lot of driving here for nannies.
School drop-offs, weekend activities, and icy January mornings become part of the nannies role here.
We check licenses and driving history before you see any profiles. The best placements here go for years, and the nanny becomes part of the family.
Hinsdale, Naperville, and the western suburbs
Families here have big homes and and busy calendars. Many roles here mix childcare with running the house. We help you choose the housekeeping and childcare split from the very beginning, because it makes a difference to which candidates fit your role.
One brief we worked on in the Chicago area shows how this works in practice. In 2024 a Naperville family asked us for a house manager and nanny, part-time or full-time.
The job was picking up their 12-year-old from school, homework help, keeping the house organized, laundry, groceries and snacks.
They wanted a valid driver’s license, ideally the nanny’s own car, and for the nanny to give a four to five year commitment to the job.
Barrington
Nannies in Barrington can work with housekeeper and grounds staff on quite large estates. Some families here plan for help with newborns and overnight care.
Some families also have a maternity nurse for the first few months with a daytime nanny who stays on afterward.
In homes that have a housekeeper and estate staff, the nanny becomes part of the team, not above it. Co-founder Laurine Mallet learned that as a nanny herself.
“In the past, I met nannies who felt like above the [house]keeper … But it’s just their feeling, because actually the [house]keeper … she’s at the same level. …
When I worked [for] the family … in the UK with the little ones, I’m sure if I … was … feeling above the housekeeper, my boss wouldn’t appreciate my attitude at all.”
Lake Geneva in summer
Families moving north to Lake Geneva for the summer often want their nanny to travel with them.
A live-out job in the city becomes a live-in job at the lake, and that makes changes to the hours, the days off, and the pay. We go through this with you at the consultation stage.
Summer homes do make a difference to the working day for everyone on staff. Our co-founder Morgan Richez describes a busy holiday week.
“If you’re going [to the south] of France for holidays, for example, …
in a busy time, of course the housekeeper, she’s going to make extra hours, or even the butler is going to make extra hours, because the people are on holidays.
They wake up at 8, they finish the parties at midnight, and you are going to make a lot of hours.”
Our search for nanny services covers the city and the suburbs. The same shortlist works whether you’re in your Gold Coast high-rise apartment or your house in Winnetka, so you don’t have to start over when you move across town.
Source: Morgan & Mallet job ads, Chicago area, 2024, and nanny job ads in the US, 2022 to 2026. See how we count.
How much does a nanny cost in Chicago in 2026?
A professional full-time nanny in the US earns $60,000 to $120,000 gross a year, according to Morgan & Mallet’s 2025/26 Household Staff Salaries Annual Report. For a 40-hour work week, the hourly nanny rate comes to about $29 to $58.
Since July 1, 2026, Chicago has put the minimum wage for nannies working in the city at $17.05 per hour.
| What you pay | Amount |
|---|---|
| Full-time professional nanny, a year (gross) | $60,000 to $120,000 |
| Hourly, for a 40-hour week | $29 to $58 |
| Three 10-hour days a week (gross) | $870 to $1,740 |
| Chicago minimum wage for nannies, from July 1, 2026 | $17.05 an hour |
Before deciding on a nanny salary in Chicago, parents usually ask us two things, the average hourly rate and how much a nanny costs for part of the week.
Nanny sites publish lower hourly averages because they include the salary ranges of babysitters and new nannies. The range above is for experienced full-time private nanny roles.
Three 10-hour days a week comes to roughly $870 to $1,740 a week, gross.
A nanny’s pay is in that range depending on experience, newborn expertise, language skills, and whether they drive. Travel with the family, live-in or live-out, and how much evening and weekend coverage you need all make the figure different too.
Pay normally is based on experience, not a candidate’s background. Co-founder Laurine Mallet once turned down a potential client who saw it differently.
“’You are very expensive, and the salary also. I used to have a … candidate and she was very cheap.’ … I understood we shouldn’t sign, and I told her, ’…
I’m really sorry, but we don’t give … salary depending on the continent where [you] come from.’”
A live-in nanny earns within the same range, plus private quarters and meals. Outside of salary and accommodation packages, payroll taxes and workers’ compensation add to the cost of hiring a nanny.
Our employer of record service covers both, and the nanny salary guide takes you through the pay breakdown.
Source: Morgan & Mallet 2025/26 Household Staff Salaries Annual Report; the hourly and weekly figures are worked out from its US nanny range. See how we count.
What does Chicago law require when you employ a nanny?
In Chicago you need to give your nanny a written agreement which has in it the pay and schedule, and provide paid leave and paid sick leave.
Under Illinois law, once your nanny has worked 40 hours a week for 13 weeks, you need workers’ compensation insurance.
Written agreement: Since January 2022, the City of Chicago has given domestic workers the right to a written contract. The nanny contract has to be written in the nanny’s primary language, if they ask.
The City of Chicago has a free model contract to use as a reference.
Pay and overtime: The minimum wage is $17.05 an hour in Chicago. In Illinois, the minimum wage is $15.00, and $15.40 in Cook County towns that follow the county rate.
Live-out nannies earn one and a half times their regular rate for every hour over 40 hours a week. Live-in nannies in Illinois are generally not covered by overtime rules.
But they must be paid at least the minimum wage for every hour worked, according to the US Department of Labor.
Time off: Nannies are entitled to at least 24 hours in a row off each week. They also get a 20-minute meal break for every seven and a half hours worked.
Paid leave: Your nanny qualifies for paid leave in Chicago once they have worked at least 80 hours over a 120-day period.
After that, they earn one hour of paid leave and one hour of paid sick leave for every 35 hours worked, up to 40 hours of each a year.
Taxes: As a household employer, you pay the “nanny tax” which includes Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment taxes once wages pass the IRS and Illinois thresholds. IRS Publication 926 outlines the payment owed.
These are general guidelines rather than legal advice. Visit our Chicago page for the full set of rules.
Why Chicago families work with Morgan & Mallet
Morgan & Mallet was founded by Laurine Mallet, a former nanny, and Morgan Richez, a former butler. So our agency’s standard in making placements is set by people who have done the jobs themselves.
We match the personality of nannies to the way your home works.
Skills and experience are really important for our nannies first of all. Then fit with your household goes on to decide who you meet. Co-founder Laurine Mallet explains how our recruiters look at it.
“What we do … before … every recruitment is we try to analyze the attitude, personality of the candidate to make sure it can match with the family, because we know exactly which …
candidate will fit depending on the attitude, the character, the personality of the family. … It’s a feeling.”
Most of the problems we see start because nobody wrote expectations down. Our co-founder Morgan Richez’s advice to parents is this.
“The best advice … is to have a clear view about the expectation of the nanny, what she’s going to do and what the parents [are] going to do, … because sometimes there is some conflict, and …
the children can play with that. So it’s important to be on the same team. …
When you hire [her], [it] is important to include her and to have this, I would say, monthly discussion about the children, and … the expectation is really important from the beginning.”
The search for your Chicago nanny makes use of our whole network, including many nannies who have worked for families in London, Paris, and New York.
One search can staff the rest of your home too, including house managers, housekeepers, and private chefs.
Get in touch with our team at +1 (646) 965-2308 and start your search today.
Frequently asked questions
Call us on +1 (646) 965-2308 or tell us about your home and a recruiter will get back to you.
What is the average hourly rate for a nanny in Chicago?
Experienced full-time nannies earn about $29 to $58 an hour for a 40-hour week (see the cost section). Nanny websites show a lower average rate since they include babysitters and new nannies’ rates.
The minimum legal wage for a nanny in Chicago is $17.05 an hour.
How much does a live-in nanny cost in Chicago?
A live-in nanny earns within the same range as a live-out nanny. The private accommodation and meals come on top of the salary.
Live-in nannies in Illinois are generally not entitled to overtime but have to be paid at least the minimum wage for every hour worked.
How much does a nanny cost three days a week?
Three 10-hour days a week at a professional rate is roughly $870 to $1,740 gross a week. This range is calculated based on the annual salary range of $60,000 to $120,000 for a full-time nanny.
Part-time roles often go toward the higher end of the hourly range because fewer hours tend to make the position more difficult to fill.
Do I need a written contract for my nanny in Chicago?
Yes, the City of Chicago has made it mandatory for employers to give a written agreement for domestic workers since January 2022. It must have pay and schedule in it.
If your nanny asks for it in their primary language, you must provide it that way. The City has also published a free model contract you can use as a reference.
Do I have to pay nanny tax in Illinois?
Yes, once your nanny’s wages pass the IRS and Illinois thresholds. As a household employer, you pay Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment taxes.
Workers’ compensation has to be covered as well once your nanny has worked 40 hours a week for 13 weeks. Most families run this through a payroll service.
What are the red flags when hiring a nanny?
Employment gaps that the candidate does not explain, references who turn out to be friends rather than former employees, and hesitation over a background check are a few red flags to watch for.
Having a trial day with the nanny also shows the candidate’s practical experience with children. Oversharing about previous families is another warning sign.
A nanny who tells you about their last employer’s private life will tell the next family about yours.
A candidate who gossips about a former employer will gossip about you. Co-founder Morgan Richez, a former butler, treats it as a red flag in any household role.
“If you are a new butler and you come to me and you [tell me] details … about the previous employer, for example about …
the relationship he used to have with his wife, or this kind of thing, for me, this is a big red flag. You are not the good candidate for this industry. You must be discreet.”
How do I choose between nanny agencies in Chicago?
Searches for the best nanny agency in Chicago mostly have review rankings, so look at how the agency works instead.
Any Chicago nanny agency should be able to tell you how they screen candidates and how long the interview actually takes. Ask whether references are spoken to directly or accepted in writing.
Also ask about after-placement support like check-ins and replacement guarantees.
Ask any agency how many profiles you will see. Co-founder Morgan Richez says a pile of CVs is not a service.
“I saw some competitors, they send 20, 25 CVs to the clients. … [Families come] to me, ’Oh, I used to work with this company in [the]
UK and they … sent me 25 CVs.’ And I say, ’You are happy about that? So you don’t need to use an agency. You can post a job on [a job board] and you will get the same thing.’ …
If you use an agency, [it] is to select the candidate, and not to send you 25 CVs.”
Do you place nannies on the North Shore and in the western suburbs?
Yes, we place nannies in Winnetka, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Wilmette, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Hinsdale, Naperville, and Barrington, as well as throughout the city. Suburban roles usually involve driving, so we verify licenses and driving history.
Call us on +1 (646) 965-2308 or tell us about your home and a recruiter will get back to you.
Looking for nanny jobs in Chicago? See our current nanny jobs.
New York
office address
260 Madison Avenue, 8th floor, 10016, New York, NY - United States
phone
+1 (646)965-2308
opening hours
Monday - Thursday : 9AM - 6PM
Friday : 9AM - 5PM
Saturday & Sunday : Closed
Miami
office address
1555 NE 121st Street, Suite 104, North Miami, FL 33161, United States
phone
+1 305 710 3380
opening hours
Monday - Thursday : 9AM - 6PM
Friday : 9AM - 5PM
Saturday & Sunday : Closed
Los Angeles
office address
895 Dove St, Newport Beach, CA 92660, United States
phone
+1 305 710 3380
opening hours
Monday - Thursday : 9AM - 6PM
Friday : 9AM - 5PM
Saturday & Sunday : Closed