In 2026, an experienced nanny with five years’ experience working for a high-net-worth family in the US earns between $60,000 and $150,000 gross a year. Where the salary actually is in this bracket depends on the city, the type of role, and certifications.
We look at the numbers in different areas in this article, from Manhattan to Malibu. It’s all based on actual placements we have made and comes from our 2025/26 Household Staff Salaries Annual Report.
$60k-$150k
Typical salary range gross per year, 5 years’ experience, HNW and UHNW families.
96%
Morgan & Mallet placement success rate for our nannies.
Private nanny pay in the US, in one answer
A live-out nanny with five years’ experience, working for a wealthy family in the US, should earn between $60,000 and $120,000 gross a year, according to Morgan & Mallet’s 2025/26 Annual Report. In areas like Bel Air, the Hamptons and Manhattan, experienced nannies can make $150,000 and more. Travel and rota nanny roles can make even more than this.
I’m Laurine Mallet. Before I co-founded Morgan & Mallet in 2015, I worked as a nanny. I know this job from the inside, and I know the families who hire. From our own data here is what the US market actually pays in 2026.
Once you’ve read the article, set a budget and are clear on that, here’s how to hire a private nanny.
Method & scope
Ranges come from Morgan & Mallet placements in the US and our 2025/26 Household Staff Salaries Annual Report (analysis of thousands of candidates and placements, January 2024 to October 2025). Figures are gross annual salary in USD, full-time, before employer payroll taxes and benefits.
How much does a nanny earn in New York, Florida and California?
California pays the highest of the three, partly because of its daily overtime rules. Florida is lower, with no state income tax. New York fits somewhere in between, with strong demand in the city and the Hamptons.
The figures below are for an experienced nanny, five years of experience at least, working for a wealthy family.
Gross annual nanny salary by state · experienced live-out nanny, HNW families · US 2026 · Morgan & Mallet
| State | Gross / year (USD) | What moves the number |
|---|---|---|
| California | $70,000 – $130,000 | Daily overtime law, multi-staffed estates, entertainment families |
| New York | $70,000 – $125,000 | Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights, finance and city demand |
| Florida | $60,000 – $110,000 | No state income tax, fast-growing seasonal market |
Official benchmark · gross annual
Our 2025/26 Annual Report puts the US nanny at $60,000 to $120,000 gross a year, a US governess at $70,000 to $130,000, and a travelling nanny at up to $150,000. The city ranges below are at the top nationally, because the we serve the highest-paying households. Source: Morgan & Mallet 2025/26 Annual Report.
Which US city pays a nanny the most?
City matters more than state. A nanny in a Bel Air estate and a nanny in suburban Florida do the same job and earn very different money. Two reasons: how many UHNW households compete for staff, and how rare the right profile is.
Gross annual nanny salary by city / area · career nanny, 5+ years, HNW and UHNW families · US 2026 · Morgan & Mallet
| City / area | Gross / year (USD) | What pulls pay up |
|---|---|---|
| Bel Air, Los Angeles | $95,000 – $150,000 | UHNW estates, multi-staff households, heightened discretion |
| The Hamptons Seasonal | $95,000 – $150,000 | Estate roles, often live-in, summer surge from NYC families |
| Beverly Hills | $90,000 – $140,000 | Entertainment families, NDAs, security-aware households |
| Malibu | $90,000 – $140,000 | Beachfront estates, water safety, privacy |
| New York City (Manhattan) | $90,000 – $140,000 | Upper East Side, Tribeca, West Village; school prep, finance families |
| Palm Beach Seasonal | $85,000 – $135,000 | Snowbird families splitting time with the Northeast |
| Miami / Coral Gables | $80,000 – $125,000 | Fast-growing market, water safety emphasis, bilingual demand |
Bel Air and the Hamptons are at the top. These are estate roles, often with a house manager above and other staff alongside.
Miami is the fastest-growing market we cover, demand there is increasing fast.
In Europe and the US, it is not only about the money anymore. People want a private life, the full weekend off when the principal is away. The families who offer that, and pay at the top of the market, keep their staff for years.
Morgan Richez, co-founder of Morgan & Mallet
How much do live-in, night, and newborn nannies earn
The type of role changes everything. A nanny who flies with the family is not paid like one who goes home each night. For the different types, travel nanny, live-out nanny, live-in nanny and rota-nanny, see the typical salaries in the table below.
Effect of role type on gross annual salary, based on NYC / Los Angeles, 5 years’ experience.
| Role type | Gross / year (USD) | Premium vs live-out |
|---|---|---|
| Live-out (reference) | $90,000 – $140,000 | Base |
| Live-in (+ private quarters, meals) | $85,000 – $140,000 | Accommodation and often a vehicle on top |
| Travel nanny | $100,000 – $160,000 | +15 to 30% |
| Rota nanny | $120,000 – $200,000+ | +30 to 50%, paired coverage |
How does experience change a nanny's salary?
Experience is as important, if not more, than any other credential. A UHNW family will hire someone they trust with their children first.
Five years is the level where a nanny starts to become experienced and pay increases.
Gross annual salary by experience, based on NYC / Los Angeles, live-out
| Experience | Gross / year (USD) | Profile |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 2 years | $50,000 – $70,000 | Entry level, first references |
| 3 – 5 years | $70,000 – $100,000 | Confirmed, fully independent |
| 6 – 10 years | $90,000 – $130,000 | Senior, verifiable UHNW references |
| 10+ years / governess | $120,000 – $180,000+ | Career nanny, often multilingual, governess level |
I placed a governess who did not have the perfect resume on paper. But in the interview, her discretion was remarkable. I introduced her to a very important client. She stayed five years. The right profile is never just the line on the CV.
Laurine Mallet, co-founder of Morgan & Mallet
Which certifications raise a nanny's salary in the US?
CPR and first aid are expected. Beyond that, a degree in early childhood education or a specialized method can be useful.
Effect of certification on gross annual salary · nanny with 5 years’ experience, US
| Certification | Gross / year (USD) | What it signals |
|---|---|---|
| CPR and pediatric first aid (baseline) | $70,000 – $100,000 | Expected on every HNW placement |
| CDA or associate degree in early childhood education | $80,000 – $120,000 | Formal training, structured care |
| Bachelor's degree or Montessori / Waldorf certified | $90,000 – $140,000 | 73% of our nannies are trained in a specialized method |
| Norland trained / newborn care specialist / governess | $120,000 – $180,000+ | Elite profile, academic and multilingual |
Languages add a premium as well. 68% of our nannies speak more than one language, and families who want Spanish, Mandarin or French immersion pay a premium for it.
A bilingual nanny who can prepare a child for an international school is one of the hardest profiles to find.
What does a nanny really cost a family?
Gross salary is only part of the bill. A US family employing a nanny will end up paying well above the headline figure.
Household employees are W-2, not 1099. A nanny is an employee, not a contractor. The family needs an EIN and files the nanny tax on Schedule H. Misclassifying as 1099 is the most common and most expensive mistake.
Employer payroll taxes. Roughly 10% on top of gross for Social Security, Medicare and unemployment, plus workers’ compensation, which is required for household employees in New York and California.
Overtime and guaranteed hours. Live-out nannies earn overtime after 40 hours a week under the federal rule. California adds daily overtime after 8 hours. New York’s Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights sets overtime and one day of rest a week.
Benefits. At the UHNW level, expect a health insurance contribution, paid time off, and often a car or housing for live-in roles.
Confidentiality premium. NDAs add 15 to 20% to base pay on the most sensitive placements, common in Beverly Hills and Bel Air.
We start every placement with a clean contract, because most disputes start when pay terms aren’t clear from the beginning.
See IRS Publication 926 for the household employer rules, and the New York Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights.
Disputes are traced back to unclear pay terms more often than to personality. A written wage structure removes the tension before it starts.
Eric Rios, recruiter at Morgan & Mallet
How do you set the right salary to hire?
A low offer does not attract the right people. A market offer, with a clear contract, brings the best candidates and keeps them.
The attraction for a candidate is not only money. When I can tell a candidate that the family is kind, responsive and respectful, that goes a long way.
The best nannies choose the family as much as the family chooses them.
Our job is to line up three things: your expectations, the real market in your city, and the profile available.
To begin the process see our hiring a nanny in the US page and we will match you with the right nanny for you.
Frequently asked questions about US nanny salaries
How much does a nanny with 5 years' experience earn in the US?
A nanny with five years’ experience working for a wealthy family earns $60,000 to $120,000 gross a year, according to Morgan & Mallet’s 2025/26 Annual Report.
Which US city pays a nanny the most?
Bel Air and the Hamptons pay highest, with experienced career nannies earning $95,000 to $150,000 gross a year, according to Morgan & Mallet placement data.
Beverly Hills, Malibu and Manhattan follow at $90,000 to $140,000.
How much does a nanny earn in New York vs California vs Florida?
California pays highest, $70,000 to $130,000 gross a year for an experienced nanny, partly because of its daily overtime law. New York follows at $70,000 to $125,000. Florida is lower at $60,000 to $110,000, with no state income tax.
Is a nanny a W-2 employee or a 1099 contractor in the US?
A household nanny is a W-2 employee, not a 1099 contractor. The family needs an EIN, withholds taxes, and files the nanny tax on Schedule H. Workers’ compensation is required for household employees in New York and California. See IRS Publication 926 for the rules.
What does a nanny really cost a family beyond salary?
Expect roughly 10% on top of gross for employer payroll taxes, plus workers’ compensation, overtime, paid time off, and often a health insurance contribution. NDAs add 15 to 20% on the most sensitive placements. Live-in roles usually include private quarters and sometimes a vehicle.
What certifications should a luxury nanny have?
CPR and pediatric first aid are expected. A CDA, a degree in early childhood education, or Montessori and Waldorf training raise pay. 73% of nannies placed by Morgan & Mallet are trained in a specialized method, and Norland-trained or newborn care specialists command the top of the market.
Looking for a nanny for your family in New York, Florida or California, or want to know whether your offer matches the market?
Our US team handles salary, contract and selection. Phone: +1 917 843 5691