Other Personal Care and Service Workers

How to become a Nanny

Official title: Nannies

Also called: Family Assistant, Family Manager, Governess, House Manager, Household Manager, Nanny, Special Needs Nanny, Travel Nanny

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.

Main tasks

Instruct children in safe behavior, such as seeking adult assistance when crossing the street and avoiding contact with unsafe objects.
Remove hazards and develop appropriate boundaries and rules to create a safe environment for children.
Perform first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when required.
Instruct and assist children in the development of health and personal habits, such as eating, resting, and toilet behavior.
Regulate children's rest periods and nap schedules.
Teach and perform age-appropriate activities, such as lap play, reading, and arts and crafts, to encourage intellectual development of children.
Help prepare and serve nutritionally balanced meals and snacks for children.
Model appropriate social behaviors and encourage concern for others to cultivate development of interpersonal relationships and communication skills.

How to become one

Education and training requirements for childcare workers vary by setting, state, and employer. They range from no formal education to certification in early childhood education.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $34,980 a year The middle half earn $29,360 to $38,570.
About 1,010,300 people work in this job now, and about 990,400 are projected by 2035. (-2%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Nanny?

Education and training requirements for childcare workers vary by setting, state, and employer. They range from no formal education to certification in early childhood education.

How much does a Nanny earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $34,980 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $29,360 to $38,570.

Is a Nanny a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 1,010,300 people now and 990,400 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Nanny?

Usually not. Only 23% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Nanny?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.