How much does a nanny cost in the District of Columbia?
Reviewed September 2026 against the same data that powers Kindred's free calculators.
Families in the District of Columbia typically pay a nanny around $32 per hour in wages. Once you add the employer payroll taxes you owe on those wages, a full-time nanny (40 hours a week) costs roughly $72,110 per year, which works out to about $35 per hour all-in.
The typical hourly rate
$32 per hour is a regional benchmark for the District of Columbia, drawn from national childcare cost data adjusted for local cost of living. Your actual rate moves with experience (a veteran infant specialist earns well above a first-year nanny), the number of children, extra duties like cooking or driving, and whether you offer guaranteed hours and paid time off.
The full budget math, full time
Paying legally means payroll taxes on top of wages. For a 40-hour week in the District of Columbia at $32/hour:
- Gross wages: about $66,560 per year
- Employer payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare at 7.65%, federal and District of Columbia unemployment tax): about $5,550 per year
- Total cost to your family: about $72,110 per year
How that compares with daycare in District of Columbia
Center-based infant daycare in the District of Columbia runs around $23,100 per year per child. A nanny costs more for one child, but the gap narrows fast with two or more kids because a nanny's rate rises only modestly per additional child while daycare charges per seat. A nanny share, where two families split one nanny, usually lands between the two.
Related
- What nanny taxes do I pay in District of Columbia?
- Do nannies get overtime in District of Columbia?
- How much should I pay my nanny?
- Post a job free on Kindred
Figures are regional planning benchmarks, not quotes. Real rates depend on experience, duties, schedule, and your local market.