New York nanny & household employment guide
Everything a family or nanny needs to know about household employment law in New York: overtime, payroll taxes, and workers' compensation. This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice.
Overtime rules in New York
- Live-out overtime begins after 40 hours/week.
- Live-in overtime begins after 44 hours/week.
- Overtime multiplier: 1.5x.
New York's Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights requires 1.5x after 40 hours for live-out workers and 1.5x after 44 hours for live-ins.
Primary source: New York Department of Labor.
Payroll taxes in New York
Federal (applies everywhere): Social Security 6.2% and Medicare 1.45% from both employer and employee, plus FUTA at 0.6% on the first $7,000 (employer only).
New York state taxes:
- State unemployment (SUTA, employer): 4.10% on the first $12,800 of wages.
- State income tax (employee, estimated effective): ~5.50%.
- Other state employee taxes (SDI / paid leave): 0.50%.
State disability / paid leave: NY DBL/PFL: ~0.5% paid by employee.
Workers' compensation in New York
Required under New York's Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights for any household employee working 40+ hours/week or living in.
Primary source: New York household employer resource.
Put it in writing
Once you have the rules straight, document the terms. The free Kindred offer letter generator builds a professional nanny offer letter covering pay, overtime, PTO, and duties. See also the nanny tax calculator and take-home pay calculator.
Hiring in New York? Post a job free on Kindred or see what nannies earn.