Nanny cost calculator - Bay Area

See your real number before your search begins

Most families budget for an hourly rate. The true cost of a nanny in San Francisco includes employer taxes, California overtime law, and guaranteed hours across 52 weeks. This tool gives you the full picture.

10+ years

California-specific

Trusted by families

Placing nannies in the Bay Area

Taxes, overtime, and law built in

SF, East Bay, Marin, Peninsula, South Bay

Bay Area nanny rates

What families are actually paying right now

Professional nannies in San Francisco and the Bay Area typically earn between $35 and $50 per hour gross. These rates reflect vetted, experienced candidates placed through a professional agency, not self-listed profiles.

Full-time nanny

$35 to $50+/hr

Live-out, 40 hrs/week. Most common arrangement through The Nanny Tribe.

Live-in nanny

$35 to $50+/hr

A different California overtime threshold applies. Room and board are discussed separately.

Part-time nanny

$35 to $45+/hr

Often higher per hour than full-time. Minimum 20 hrs/week is recommended for stability.

Nanny share

$22 to $30/hr per family

Shared cost, one dedicated caregiver. Each family is a separate legal employer.

Rota nanny

$45 to $65+/hr

Rotational schedule, 7 or 14 days on/off. Rate is per active hour during rotation.

Newborn care specialist

$50 to $75+/hr

Overnight, round-the-clock, or daytime contracts. Certified NCS candidates command the higher end.

Nanny cost calculator

Your true cost as a California employer

Enter your numbers below. California overtime law, employer payroll taxes, and the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights are applied automatically.

Location
Number of children
Hourly rate
$35/hr
Guaranteed hours per week
40 hrs
What will your nanny primarily do?
Focus on the children
Children plus household tasks
Will your nanny live with you?
No — they come and go
Yes — live-in
Your estimated costs
Nanny's weekly gross
—
annual: —
Your weekly employer taxes
—
annual: —
Your true weekly cost
—
annual: —
Regular hours pay—
Overtime pay$0
Nanny's gross weekly wages—
Social Security — employer share (6.2%)—
Medicare — employer share (1.45%)—
Federal unemployment — FUTA (0.6%)—
State unemployment — SUI—
CA employment training tax (0.1%)—
Total weekly employer cost—
Rota nannies and newborn care specialists: 24-hour and extended-shift arrangements involve California sleep time rules, on-call hour calculations, and rotation-specific overtime structures that vary by need. This calculator is not designed for those arrangements. Contact us for a precise breakdown.
These figures are estimates only and are not guaranteed. Actual costs vary based on your payroll provider, filing history, local minimum wage ordinances, and working arrangement. FUTA shown at the net 0.6% rate assuming California's standard credit. SUI shown at California's new employer rate of 3.4%. Overtime thresholds are based on California's Domestic Worker Bill of Rights (AB 241) and Wage Order No. 15, sourced from the CA Department of Industrial Relations. This is not tax or legal advice. For accurate employer filings, we recommend consulting a licensed household payroll provider.
Building a competitive offer
Building a competitive employment package
A strong offer is what attracts the right nanny in this market and keeps her. The Nanny Tribe helps every family build an employment package that is competitive, clear from day one, and tailored to your household.
Guaranteed Hours
Two Weeks Paid Vacation
California Paid Sick Leave
Health Stipend
Mileage Reimbursement
Annual Bonus
Your search starts with a conversation. We will walk you through every piece of it.
Schedule a discovery call
Why The Nanny Tribe
A search built around your actual budget
Every family we work with gets a clear picture of cost before the search begins. No surprises, no sticker shock mid-search, and no settling for the wrong candidate because the budget was off from the start.
01
California-specific expertise
Most national cost tools are built on federal averages. Every number here reflects California law, Bay Area market rates, and the real employer obligations families face in this state.
02
Every candidate vetted before you see them
Background check, driving record, personal interview, reference calls, CPR certification confirmed on file. The work is done before any name reaches your inbox.
03
Built for complex arrangements
Full-time, part-time, live-in, rota, newborn care. The Nanny Tribe has placed every type of arrangement in the Bay Area for over ten years. We know what a competitive offer looks like at your budget.
Why The Nanny Tribe
A search built around your actual budget
Every family we work with gets a clear picture of cost before the search begins. No surprises, no sticker shock mid-search, and no settling for the wrong candidate because the budget was off from the start.
01
California-specific expertise
Most national cost tools are built on federal averages. Every number here reflects California law, Bay Area market rates, and the real employer obligations families face in this state.
02
Every candidate vetted before you see them
Background check, driving record, personal interview, reference calls, CPR certification confirmed on file. The work is done before any name reaches your inbox.
03
Built for complex arrangements
Full-time, part-time, live-in, rota, newborn care. The Nanny Tribe has placed every type of arrangement in the Bay Area for over ten years. We know what a competitive offer looks like at your budget.

Common questions

What families ask before their search begins

Can I pay my nanny off the books?

No. California law requires household employers to pay legally and withhold appropriate taxes. Paying under the table constitutes tax evasion and exposes families to significant financial and legal penalties. The Nanny Tribe works exclusively with families committed to legal employment.

Do I need insurance to hire a nanny in California?

Workers' compensation insurance is required for household employees in California. Most homeowner policies do not cover household employees. We recommend confirming your coverage before your nanny's first day.

Why are Bay Area nanny rates so much higher than what I see online?

Most national averages are pulled from self-listed platforms and reflect a wide range of experience levels. The rates here reflect vetted, experienced candidates placed through a professional agency in one of the highest cost-of-living markets in the country.

What does guaranteed hours mean?

Guaranteed hours means your nanny is paid for those hours whether or not you use them. It is a standard part of a professional nanny employment package in California and protects both parties when schedules change.

How do I know if I can afford a nanny?

Use the calculator above to build your true weekly and annual cost. Then schedule a discovery call with us. We will walk you through what a competitive employment package looks like at your budget and whether there is a strong candidate market at your rate.

Other Services

Explore our full range of nanny services

Full-time nannies
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Part-time nannies
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Newborn specialists
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Family assistants
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Vetting services
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Start Your Nanny Search

Your search starts with a conversation.

We will walk you through cost, employment package, candidate expectations, and timeline. Schedule a discovery call, and we handle everything from there.

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