Free Tool
A nanny share is when two or three families employ the same nanny to care for their children together. Each family pays a share of the nanny's hourly rate (often 60-75% of the solo rate), so the nanny earns more per hour while each family pays less than full-rate solo nanny care.
Plan a nanny share between 2 or 3 families. Compare even, hours-based, kids-based, and hybrid splits, add a tax and benefits uplift, and see how much each family saves vs a solo nanny.
Hiring a solo nanny instead? Try the Nanny Pay Calculator.
Build a fair, repeatable nanny share split that both families feel good about.
Step 1
Enter the nanny's negotiated share hourly rate and the total hours per week she works.
Step 2
Enter the number of kids and weekly hours for each family in the share. Most shares are 2 families, but 3-family shares exist too.
Step 3
Even split is most common. Asymmetric arrangements often use hours-based or hybrid splits to keep things fair.
Step 4
Apply an uplift for nanny taxes, paid time off, mileage, and other employer costs (typically 10-15%).
Step 5
See your weekly, monthly, and annual cost per family and how much each family saves vs hiring a solo nanny.
Costs are gross household pay including a tax and benefits uplift. Each family is its own household employer for their portion of the nanny's pay.
Total nanny share cost
$40.00/hr × 40 hrs/week, plus a 12% tax and benefits uplift.
Your share rate is 1.60x the nanny's solo rate of $25.00/hr. That's in the typical 1.4x-1.6x nanny share range.
Using the even split method.
Saves $11,648/year (20%) vs hiring a solo nanny at $25.00/hr for 40 hours per week.
Saves $11,648/year (20%) vs hiring a solo nanny at $25.00/hr for 40 hours per week.
More free planning tools for parents and household employers.
Common questions about nanny shares, costs, and splitting pay between families.
A nanny share is an arrangement where two (sometimes three) families employ the same nanny to care for both sets of children at the same time. The nanny earns a higher hourly rate than a solo nanny role, while each family pays less than they would for a private nanny. Most shares are hosted at one family's home or alternate between homes weekly.
A typical nanny share rate is around 60-75% of the nanny's solo hourly rate per family. So if a solo nanny would earn $25/hr, a 2-family share might pay her $35-$40/hr total ($17.50-$20 per family). Each family typically saves 25-40% versus hiring a solo nanny while the nanny earns 1.4-1.6x her solo rate.
The three most common methods are: (1) even split, where each family pays the same regardless of kids or hours, (2) split by hours used, which is fair when one family uses the nanny more than the other, and (3) hybrid, where half the cost is by hours used and half by number of kids. Even splits are most common when both families have similar usage; hours-based splits are common in asymmetric arrangements.
Often yes, especially in higher-cost markets. In cities like New York, San Francisco, Boston, and DC, full-time daycare can run $2,500-$3,500 per month for one infant. A 2-family nanny share at $40/hr total split evenly comes out to about $3,460 per family per month for 40 hours, but for 2+ kids per family the share usually beats daycare on cost while offering 1:1 or 2:1 attention.
Yes - in a nanny share each family is a household employer for their portion of the nanny's pay and is responsible for their share of payroll taxes (Social Security, Medicare, federal/state unemployment). Many shares use a single payroll service (HomePay, Poppins, GTM) that handles the split. The nanny gets one paycheck but each family files their own Schedule H and W-2.
Most nanny shares are 2 families with 2-4 kids total. Three-family shares (often called nanny clubs or nanny pods) exist but require very experienced nannies, ideally not all infants, and an organized rotation. Many states limit the number of unrelated children one caregiver can watch in a private home before it becomes regulated childcare - check your state law.
Ready to find a great nanny for your share? Visit the main Sitter Rank homepage.