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Career

Nannies

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Care for children in private households and provide support and expertise to parents in satisfying children's physical, emotional, intellectual, and social needs. Duties may include meal planning and preparation, laundry and clothing care, organization of play activities and outings, discipline, intellectual stimulation, language activities, and transportation.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Artistic: Creating, designing and expressing ideas through art, writing, music or performance.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $34,980 Median per year · $16.82/hr Most earn $24,260–$46,010

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Help develop or monitor family schedule.
  • Regulate children's rest periods and nap schedules.
  • Remove hazards and develop appropriate boundaries and rules to create a safe environment for children.
  • Shop for groceries, clothing, and other items needed for children's care.
  • Meet regularly with parents to discuss children's activities and development.
  • Observe children's behavior for irregularities, take temperature, transport children to doctor, or administer medications, as directed, to maintain children's health.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Numerous Job Openings

United States
2% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 150,300 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Child daycare services29.1%
  • Self-employed (their own business)24.2%
  • Private households16.7%
  • Elementary and secondary schools11.5%
  • Fitness and recreational sports centers2.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Nannies usually need a high school diploma and about 1 to 2 years of experience caring for children first, so this is reachable without a college degree. Most people build that experience through babysitting or childcare jobs before taking on a full nanny role.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish school and build a base in child development, health, and communication, which families look for when hiring.

  2. Childcare Worker

    1-2 years

    Work in a daycare, after-school program, or camp to learn child supervision, activity planning, and safety routines, and to build references.

  3. Nanny

    Ongoing

    Care for children in a family's home, planning meals, outings, and learning activities while supporting the parents' routines and rules.

Where it can lead

  1. Preschool Teacher

    2-5 years as a nanny or childcare worker of experience first

    Move into a classroom setting with a planned early learning curriculum; it usually requires a teaching certificate or similar training.

  2. Education and Childcare Administrator, Preschool and Daycare

    1-2 years in a teaching or leadership role, plus a bachelor's degree of experience first

    Manage a childcare center's staff, budget, families, and licensing, which takes a bachelor's degree and supervisory experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take child development or early childhood classesIf your school offers them, these teach how young children grow and learn, which is the core of nanny work.
  • Babysit for neighbors and family friendsReal hands-on experience with different ages builds skills and gives you your first references.
  • Get a first aid and CPR certificationMany families ask for this, and local community centers or hospitals often offer courses for teens.
  • Volunteer at a daycare, camp, or youth programYou'll practice group activities, routines, and discipline with supervision from experienced adults.
  • Join a club that works with kids, like a tutoring or mentoring groupIt shows families you're reliable and gives you a chance to lead activities and teach younger kids.

In college

  • Take child development, psychology, or education coursesThese classes explain how children think, feel, and learn, which helps you plan activities and handle behavior well.
  • Work a campus job or part-time childcare jobWorking at a campus daycare, camp, or as a regular babysitter builds the 1 to 2 years of experience employers usually want.
  • Keep your first aid and CPR certification currentRenewing it regularly shows families you take child safety seriously.
  • Pick up a summer job at a camp or youth programSummer work gives you structured experience running activities, outings, and routines for groups of kids.
  • Learn a second language or basic sign languageMany families value bilingual or language-rich care, and it can help you stand out in job searches.

Tips for getting started

  • Get a first aid and CPR certification through a local class; many families require it and it makes you a stronger candidate.
  • Babysit or help with younger relatives and neighbors now, and ask each family for a reference you can show future employers.
  • Keep a simple log of the children you have cared for, the ages, and the activities you ran, so you can describe your experience clearly in interviews.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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