If you're looking to hire a nanny, understanding the intricacies of nanny salaries in London can feel overwhelming and daunting at first. As you start the journey to find the right nanny for your family, knowing how much you may be expected to pay your nanny is key to making an informed hiring decision. A nanny’s salary not only reflects her experience but also her educational background and specific qualifications, which can significantly influence her approach to childcare.
From degree-educated nanny governesses to those trained in holistic philosophies like Montessori or Waldorf, the salary you pay can vary widely. By understanding the relationship between salary and qualifications, you can get a better idea of what you’re willing to invest to hire the right nanny who aligns with your family's values and meets your children's needs.
This article helps you navigate the complexities of nanny salaries as you think about finding a nanny who's the perfect fit for your family's unique dynamics.
Types of nannies
When thinking about hiring the right nanny for your family, it's important to first consider the various types of nannies available, as their qualifications, philosophies, and level of experience can impact their roles and salary expectations.
Traditional childcare-qualified nannies
Traditional childcare-qualified nannies usually hold industry-standard certifications, such as CACHE Level 3 or NVQ qualifications, which give them the necessary skills to care for children. On average, these nannies earn a gross salary that can range between £40,000 and £60,000 annually, or more, depending on the hours worked, the experience of the nanny, and specific job duties.
Live-in and live-out nannies
Both live-in and live-out traditional nannies can provide excellent care, but their salaries might differ based on living arrangements and additional responsibilities.
Currently, a full-time live-out nanny will take home approximately £20-25 gross per hour which works out roughly between £15-18 net per hour. However, this figure can be higher or lower depending on the nanny’s experience. For example, if your nanny worked 50 hours a week, she could earn anything between £52,000-£65,000+ gross per year.
Live-in nannies usually want to take home a weekly salary of £500-700 net per week. But this could be lower or higher depending on experience. Since the family provides accommodation and food, live-in salaries tend to be lower, unless you hire a live-in nanny Monday to Friday, and she still has to pay her own accommodation costs on top when she goes home at the weekend. So, it varies depending on the circumstances.
If you want to find out more about the difference between net and gross salaries or read about annual salary increases for your nanny, head over to the blog post Everything You Need to Know About Working with a Nanny in London.
Governess-style nannies
Governess-style nannies often come with sophisticated qualifications, including a degree in early childhood or specific training in educational methodologies. They are usually qualified educators who are employed to work with school-age children in a private household and they don't work with babies.
A governess-style nanny can be live-in or live-out, and typically they won't be responsible for as many domestic duties, but the focus is on educating the children. The salary range is usually higher from £50,000 to £80,000 gross per year depending on their level of experience. Some of these nannies can work as live-in nannies, providing round-the-clock educational assistance in a home setting, but can also live out.
Holistic-style nannies
Holistic-style nannies adopt educational philosophies such as Montessori, Steiner, and Waldorf, which focus on a gentle, child-led approach. These nannies prioritise creating nurturing environments that focus on emotional and social development while allowing children the freedom to explore their interests.
Montessori nannies focus on child-centred open-ended play and learning based on respect. This sought-after method focuses on the senses, allowing children to experience how things smell, touch, taste, and hear, and to make their own choices.
The Steiner method emphasises the importance of imagination and creativity in learning, making it an attractive option for families who are looking for a more natural and experiential form of education.
Specialised knowledge can come with competitive gross salary expectations, typically between £45,000 and £60,000+ gross per year. As with other types, salaries for holistic-style nannies may vary depending on whether they are live-in or live-out.
Night and maternity nannies
Night nannies or maternity nannies are specifically trained to support families during the early weeks and months after the birth of a child. They typically work overnight to help new parents get much-needed rest, providing essential care for the newborn, including feeding, breastfeeding support, changing, and helping to establish structures or routines if and when parents are ready. Maternity nannies may also assist with household tasks related to the baby’s care and provide emotional support for new parents.
This role is usually for a short-term period, typically between 2-6 months - either 24 hours for five days a week or approximately five nights per week. Some candidates will work for 24 hours for six or seven days for the first week, or six or seven nights per week when parents come home from the hospital. Others will start after a month or two when parents need some support with sleep routines or troubleshooting.
Due to their specialised skills in newborn care and the demanding hours they often work, maternity nannies (self-employed) will charge between £275-500 per 24 hours and £20-25 per hour for nights. This is based on their level of experience and qualifications.
Rota nannies
Rota nannies operate on a rotating schedule (typically one week on and one week off), providing around-the-clock care for children either alone or in coordination with other nannies. This arrangement is ideal for families who want constant supervision plus weekend cover, often due to demanding work schedules or multiple children.
Rota nannies are highly skilled and typically attract higher gross salaries, often ranging from £60,000 to £80,000 plus annually, reflecting their experience and the intensity of the work involved. We've seen higher salaries if a lot of travel and flexibility are required, for example.
Salary variations based on qualification and philosophy
Different qualifications and levels of experience have a direct influence on nanny salaries. Those with advanced degrees or specialised training will expect higher rates because of their expertise and experience. For example, a nanny governess with a degree in education or child development may charge more than a nanny with standard childcare qualifications.
Nannies who have a specialised type of childcare degree or qualification such as Montessori, Waldorf, or Steiner may demand a higher salary due to being more niche and unique in what they can offer in terms of their childcare philosophy. However, usually, the level of experience is also indicative of the nanny's salary. A higher salary will be expected if the role is more demanding with:
Unusual or long hours.
Multiple children.
Flexibility in hours needed if parents travel for work or if travel is needed regularly with the family.
Specific language requirements or SEN requirements.
These are just some examples, as so many different factors contribute to salaries being offered. Salaries are also higher in certain parts of London and internationally.
Integrating salary and nanny approaches with family values
At Homebodies, we have nannies who represent each of the above styles and approaches. Choosing the right nanny for you means looking for someone who aligns with your personality, requirements, and values. We find this is key for building a strong partnership between a family and their nanny to create an environment where your child can thrive.
Think of it this way - you can't fit a round peg in a square hole! It'll never work. If the nanny’s approach doesn’t align with your parenting style (whether you lean towards a structured environment or a more child-led philosophy) it can lead to confusion and inconsistency. More disciplined, structured, or strict nannies don't tend to be very child-led. Their approach to how they speak to the child, how they respond when they cry, or how they enforce boundaries may be different. The wrong fit could disrupt your child's routines and limit their development, so it's important you find someone who naturally fits with what you're looking for.
Our vision at Homebodies is to find the best calibre nannies who match your specific needs. That's why we mainly focus on full-time roles, so we can attract the best high-quality candidates who will be loyal, reliable, experienced, trustworthy, dependable, and stay long-term. Our thorough and personalised approach to the nanny hiring process has achieved amazing success over the years. It's our secret formula and what makes us stand out from other nanny agencies in London!
Understanding additional benefits and costs
When hiring a nanny, it's important you understand the full compensation package. While salary is an important aspect, you may also need to take into account any additional perks as well as the overall investment involved.
Many families offer their nannies a range of benefits beyond the base salary. These might include additional paid holidays and paid sick leave, for example. Some families also choose to contribute to continuing education or training opportunities for their nanny to improve her qualifications and show commitment to professional growth.
Opportunities for further development include courses in early childhood education or other professional development courses. We have also partnered with The London School of Childcare Studies and can offer discounts to both clients and nannies who want to sign up with our special discount code (you can contact us for more details). Doing this is a win-win as it's great for the nanny but can also improve the level of care your children receive. In the long run, this benefits your family as well.
Other ways to add to your nanny's compensation package are:
Flexible working hours.
Providing the nanny with her own car to use to get to and from work.
Some families may offer to cover travel expenses if the nanny has to commute, or they might accommodate a flexible schedule that fits both the family's needs and the nanny's personal commitments.
Adding these benefits to your nanny's contract can help you attract higher-quality and better-suited candidates.
If you want to find out more about negotiating salary and terms with your nanny, head over to the blog post How to Choose the Perfect Nanny for Your Family.
Find your perfect nanny with Homebodies
Having a good understanding of what may impact a nanny's salary will help you make sure you find a professional who aligns with your family's values and childcare philosophies. If you want our help in simplifying this process so you can make a more informed, confident, and quicker hiring decision, get in touch, and let's discuss how we can help.
If you're interested, you can also find out more about our contract services and payroll services, allowing us to support you with the final stages of hiring your nanny.
Comments