How Much Does a Nanny Cost in 2026? What the New Nannytax Salary Guide Tells Us

The 2026 Nannytax Salary Guide has just been published, and it's one we always look forward to at Smart Au Pairs & Nannies. Drawn from over 10,000 real payroll records, it's the most reliable snapshot we get of what families across the UK are actually paying their nannies — not what's advertised, not what's hoped for, but what's going through payroll.

This year's edition contains some genuinely striking findings, so here's our rundown of what's changed, what it means if you're hiring, and — importantly — how to read these figures sensibly.

The headline: the Home Counties have overtaken London

For the first time ever, it's now more expensive to hire a nanny in the Home Counties and outer London than in inner London.

Full-time, live-out nannies in the Home Counties and outer London now earn an average of £58,864 a year gross — that's £22.64 per hour, and a remarkable 27% increase on the previous year. Inner London nannies aren't far behind at £56,238 (£21.63 per hour), up 11%.

Why the shift? In our experience, it comes down to families moving out of the capital in search of space, while keeping demanding London careers and long commutes. Those families still need experienced, flexible childcare — and there simply aren't enough seasoned nannies in the commuter belt to go round. When demand outstrips supply, salaries rise, and quickly.

What about the rest of the UK?

Across the rest of the UK, the average gross rate is now £17.56 per hour, equating to £45,656 for a full-time role — up 11% on last year. Here in Scotland, the average sits at £16.52 per hour.

Salaries have risen right across the board, and the five-year picture is even more dramatic: nanny wages outside London have grown 58% since 2020/21, actually outpacing inner London over the same period.

A few other findings we found interesting

• 83% of families now agree a gross salary — up again this year. This is exactly what we recommend to every family: always agree gross, never net. It protects both you and your nanny.
• 90% of nannies are paid monthly, which has become the clear norm.
• 53% of nannies work part-time — a new statistic in this year's guide, and one that mirrors what we see every week. Part-time, wraparound and flexible roles are a huge and growing part of the market.

An important note on how to read these figures

Before you panic (or celebrate!), a word of caution from twenty years of doing this: these are averages, drawn from Nannytax's own payroll sample, and based specifically on a live-out nanny working 50 hours per week, shown as gross annual salaries.

Your role may look quite different. We have already seen a fair few comments on social media from families and nannies alike to say that their local rates reach no where near the quoted ranges.

Actual salaries vary considerably depending on:

• Location — even within a region, rates differ from town to town
• Experience and qualifications — a newly qualified nanny and a Norland-trained career nanny sit at very different points on the scale
• The role itself — hours, number of children, additional duties, sole charge, live-in versus live-out

So treat the guide as exactly that: a guide. It's an excellent benchmark for setting realistic expectations, but it's not a rule book, and it shouldn't replace a proper conversation about what your specific role is worth.

Thinking about hiring?

If you're weighing up a nanny, an au pair, or something in between, we're always happy to talk through what a realistic budget looks like for your family, your area and your hours — no obligation, just honest advice based on two decades of placements across London, the UK and Scotland.

Get in touch with us at smartaupairs.com — we'd love to help.

A little extra from us

And when you're ready to set up payroll for your nanny, use our exclusive discount code SMARTCHILDCARE20 with Nannytax to save on their payroll services. They'll take care of payslips, tax, National Insurance and pensions — so you can focus on the important bit: your family.

Source: Nannytax Salary Guide 2026, based on Nannytax payroll records for the 2025/26 tax year. Full details and methodology at nannytax.co.uk/nanny-salary-index.