Do nannies get overtime in Minnesota?
Reviewed September 2026 against the same data that powers Kindred's free calculators.
Yes. In Minnesota, a live-out nanny earns time and a half after 48 hours in a week. Live-in nannies are exempt from the overtime premium under federal law, though every hour worked must still be paid.
The rule in detail
Minnesota state law requires 1.5x after 48 hours weekly. Federal FLSA still applies at 40 hours for workers covered by it (most nannies).
Overtime applies to hourly household employees regardless of how you found each other or whether anything is in writing. A salary does not make a nanny exempt; the law treats nannies as non-exempt hourly workers.
- Live-out nannies: time and a half after 48 hours in a week
- Live-in nannies: exempt from the overtime premium under federal law, but every hour worked must still be paid at least at the regular rate
What a typical overtime week costs
Say your nanny earns $28/hour (a common Minnesota rate) and works 53 hours one week. You would owe $1,344 for the first 48 hours plus $210 for the 5 overtime hours at time and a half, $1,554 total. Budgeting guaranteed hours plus a small overtime buffer avoids surprises on both sides.
Related
- How much does a nanny cost in Minnesota?
- What nanny taxes do I pay in Minnesota?
- Full Minnesota household employment guide
This page is a plain-English summary for planning, not tax or legal advice. Rates and thresholds change; confirm current figures with the IRS, your state agency, or a payroll professional before filing.