How much does a nanny cost in Washington?
Reviewed September 2026 against the same data that powers Kindred's free calculators.
Families in Washington typically pay a nanny around $28 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 $63,652 per year, which works out to about $31 per hour all-in.
The typical hourly rate
$28 per hour is a regional benchmark for Washington, 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.
- What nannies actually earn in Seattle
- What nannies actually earn in Spokane
- What nannies actually earn in Tacoma
The full budget math, full time
Paying legally means payroll taxes on top of wages. For a 40-hour week in Washington at $28/hour:
- Gross wages: about $58,240 per year
- Employer payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare at 7.65%, federal and Washington unemployment tax): about $5,412 per year
- Total cost to your family: about $63,652 per year
How that compares with daycare in Washington
Center-based infant daycare in Washington runs around $18,900 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 Washington?
- Do nannies get overtime in Washington?
- 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.