You have decided a nanny would change your week. Then you started looking into the cost, and every answer was either “it depends” or a number from a different country. So how much does a nanny cost in Australia, really? Here are our actual rates, what sits inside them, and the one distinction that explains most of the confusion online.
That distinction is this. There are two completely different ways to have a nanny, and they are priced in completely different ways. Work out which one you want and the numbers stop being mysterious.
The two ways to have a nanny
Ongoing nannying through an agency. The nanny is our employee. You pay one hourly rate, we handle their wages, superannuation, tax, insurance and cover when they are sick. We offer this in Queensland, for families needing somewhere between 10 and 37 hours a week.
Permanent nanny placement. We recruit, screen and place a nanny, and then you employ her directly. You pay us a placement fee once, and after that you pay your nanny’s wage yourself as her employer. This one is nationwide.
Most of the wildly different figures you see quoted are simply people describing these two arrangements without saying which is which. If you are still weighing up whether you want a nanny at all, our comparison of a nanny versus a babysitter is the better place to start.
How much does a nanny cost through the agency?
Our ongoing nannying rates are the same as our casual babysitting rates, billed per hour and GST inclusive.
- 1 or 2 children. $56 per hour Monday to Saturday, $70 per hour Sunday.
- 3 children. $60 per hour Monday to Saturday, $72 per hour Sunday.
- 4 children. $65 per hour Monday to Saturday, $75 per hour Sunday.
- 5 children. $70 per hour Monday to Saturday, $77 per hour Sunday.
- Public holidays. $95 per hour for babysitting and nannying, any number of children.
There is a $500 non refundable recruitment fee at the start of an ongoing placement, which covers the search, the shortlisting and the coordination involved in finding the right person for your household rather than the next available person. If a nanny uses her own car to transport your children, a fuel allowance of $1.10 per kilometre applies.
A worked example
Say you want a nanny three days a week, eight hours a day, for two children. That is 24 hours at $56, so $1,344 a week. There is nothing further to pay. No superannuation to calculate, no payroll software, no leave accruals to track, no scramble when she is unwell.
What the hourly rate actually includes
An hourly figure only means something once you know what it covers, and this is where an agency rate and a private arrangement stop being comparable.
- Her wage, superannuation and tax. Handled by us. You never lodge anything.
- Insurance. She is covered as our employee while she is in your home.
- Screening already done. Eight stages before she ever meets you, including an in person interview, reference checks, a background check and our own training modules. Current CPR and First Aid and a valid Working with Children Check are conditions of employment.
- Cover when she cannot work. We do our best to send a replacement rather than leaving you to solve a Tuesday morning by yourself.
- Support and the app. Booking, scheduling, messaging and your stored family profile, plus a team you can call.
That last point is the one families underrate until the first time they need it. A private nanny who calls in sick leaves you with a problem. An agency nanny who calls in sick leaves us with a problem.
How much does a permanent nanny placement cost?
If you would rather employ a nanny directly and keep her long term, we recruit and place her for you. This service is available nationwide rather than Queensland only.
- $800 non refundable upfront recruitment fee, with the balance payable on successful placement.
- 10 to 20 hours a week: $2,800.
- 21 to 30 hours a week: $3,200.
- More than 30 hours a week: $3,500.
Those figures are our fee for the search, screening, shortlisting, reference checks and placement support. Your nanny’s ongoing wage is separate and paid by you. As a general guide, experienced nannies are currently seeking somewhere between $35.00 and $50.00 per hour, depending on the role. What moves that number is experience, the number and ages of the children, your location, the hours, the level of responsibility and whether household or family assistant duties are part of the job.
The part people forget to budget for
When you employ a nanny directly you become an employer, with everything that carries: wages, superannuation, tax withholding, an employment agreement, insurance and the required reporting. Some families manage this happily on their own. Others would rather not, which is why we work with a payroll provider who can set it all up and run it for you. We will walk you through the options and provide the templates either way, so nobody discovers their obligations three months in.
Is a nanny more expensive than a babysitter?
Per hour, no. Our nanny and babysitter rates are identical. What differs is the shape of the commitment. A casual babysitter is booked for a specific evening with a three hour minimum, while a nanny is an ongoing arrangement of 10 to 37 hours a week with the same person, which is what makes routines, school runs and a real relationship with your children possible.
The total is naturally higher because you are buying more hours, not a higher rate. For a breakdown of casual costs specifically, see our guide to babysitter costs on the Gold Coast.
Ways to bring the cost down
A few things genuinely help, and none of them involve compromising on who walks through your door.
- Look hard at the hours you actually need. Many families book a nanny for a full day and then realise the pressure sits in two blocks, early morning and after school. Paying for the pinch points rather than the whole day is often the single biggest saving.
- Consider a nanny share. Two families, one nanny, one set of children, and the hourly rate split between two households. It suits families with similar hours and children of similar ages, and we can talk you through whether yours is a good candidate.
- Keep it to Monday through Saturday where you can. Sunday and public holiday rates are meaningfully higher for good reason, so a Saturday evening costs less than the same booking on a Sunday.
- Fold other jobs into the same hours. A personal assistant with nanny capabilities is billed at the same rate and can do the washing, the groceries and the appointment booking during quiet hours. See personal assistant services for what that covers.
Every current rate is on our pricing page, which is the version to trust if you ever see an older number quoted anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nanny cost per hour in Australia?
Through The Care Collective, ongoing nannying starts at $56 per hour Monday to Saturday for one or two children, GST inclusive, with a $500 non refundable recruitment fee at the start of the placement. Sunday is $70 per hour and public holidays are $95 per hour.
Do I have to pay superannuation for a nanny?
Not with our ongoing nannying service, because the nanny is our employee and we handle her pay, superannuation and tax. If you take a permanent placement and employ her yourself, superannuation becomes your responsibility, and our payroll partner can manage it for you.
What is the minimum number of hours for a nanny?
Our ongoing nannying service runs from 10 to 37 hours a week. If you need less than that, casual babysitting with a three hour minimum is usually the better fit, and you can book the same carer regularly.
Do you place nannies outside Queensland?
Yes, through permanent nanny placement, which is a nationwide recruitment service. Ongoing nannying, casual babysitting, overnight care and our other in home services are Queensland based.
Let us work out the real number for your family
A quote is a five minute conversation, not a form. Tell us your hours, your children’s ages and which days actually hurt, and we will tell you what it costs and which arrangement fits.
Book now to get started, or get in touch and we will talk it through. We are on 0451 394 018, and there is more detail on our nannying service whenever you want a closer look.
