Occupation · SOC 39-9011.01
Nannies
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.
Median wage
$32,050
$22,900–$44,560
Projected growth
-2.9%
Declining
Annual openings
-2,920
per year
Employed (US)
520,180
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
656 mapped
Core skills
Social PerceptivenessMonitoringActive ListeningSpeakingService OrientationPersuasionJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingTime ManagementCoordinationComplex Problem SolvingLearning StrategiesInstructingWritingReading ComprehensionNegotiationActive LearningSystems EvaluationManagement of Personnel ResourcesSystems AnalysisManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesTechnology DesignQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringOperations AnalysisOperation and ControlScienceMathematicsTroubleshootingRepairingProgrammingInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
English LanguageCustomer and Personal ServicePsychologyPublic Safety and SecurityEducation and TrainingSociology and AnthropologyTransportationMedicine and DentistryFood ProductionCommunications and MediaTherapy and CounselingTelecommunicationsPhilosophy and TheologyMathematicsGeographyFine ArtsForeign LanguageHistory and ArcheologyBiologyPersonnel and Human ResourcesComputers and ElectronicsAdministration and ManagementLaw and GovernmentChemistryAdministrativePhysicsEconomics and AccountingDesignEngineering and TechnologyMechanicalProduction and ProcessingSales and MarketingBuilding and Construction
Technology & tools
Educational softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordScheduling softwareWeb browser software
Representative tasks
Assisting and Caring for OthersEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsScheduling Work and ActivitiesCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesThinking CreativelyGetting InformationOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersCoaching and Developing OthersTraining and Teaching OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsDocumenting/Recording InformationCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsProcessing InformationInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationAnalyzing Data or InformationSelling or Influencing OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesWorking with ComputersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentControlling Machines and ProcessesStaffing Organizational Units
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Basic safety rules for street crossing and hazardous objects — communicate clearly to children under direct supervisor guidance in a private household setting.Common household hazards — identify and report to the supervising parent or caregiver during an initial home walkthrough.First aid kit contents and basic emergency protocols — locate and describe under the direction of a certified trainer or employing family.Structured mealtime routines — assist in preparing and serving simple, nutritionally balanced snacks for children following a parent-provided meal plan.Rest and nap schedules — follow a written schedule provided by parents to regulate children's sleep periods during the workday.Age-appropriate lap play and simple picture-book reading — participate alongside children under parental instruction to support early intellectual development.Polite greetings and turn-taking behaviors — model basic social courtesies for children in everyday household interactions.Children's daily hygiene tasks — assist with handwashing, tooth-brushing, and dressing following step-by-step instructions from the employing family.Calendar and scheduling software — use to review daily care schedules and appointment reminders as set up by the employing family.Oral instructions from parents and supervisors — listen actively and restate key care directives to confirm understanding before beginning a shift.
developing
Safe play boundaries and age-appropriate household rules — establish and consistently enforce with reduced parental oversight in a family home environment.Physical and emotional warning signs in children — monitor throughout the day and flag concerns to parents using clear spoken or written updates.CPR and basic first aid procedures — perform with confidence when required in a residential setting, maintaining current certification independently.Healthy eating habits and toilet-training routines — guide children through daily practice using encouragement and age-appropriate explanation.Rest schedules across multiple children of different ages — coordinate and adjust flexibly to meet individual sleep needs during a standard care day.Arts-and-crafts projects and structured reading activities — plan and lead independently to promote language and creative development in preschool-aged children.Nutritionally balanced meals — prepare and serve for children following household dietary preferences and any documented allergy requirements.Conflict resolution and sharing behaviors — coach children through peer disagreements using calm redirection and consistent modeling of respectful communication.Incident and daily-activity logs — compose using word processing software to keep parents accurately informed of the child's progress and any concerns.Time across multiple care responsibilities — manage using scheduling software to ensure meals, activities, naps, and pickups run on time each day.
proficient
Comprehensive home safety assessment — conduct autonomously, removing hazards and restructuring physical boundaries to protect children of varying developmental stages.Children's behavioral and developmental patterns — analyze over time to distinguish typical milestones from signs that may warrant professional consultation.Emergency response including CPR — execute decisively for infants, toddlers, or school-age children in high-pressure residential situations without supervisory backup.Individualized health and personal-habit development plans — design and implement for each child based on observed needs, age, and family values.Multi-age nap and quiet-rest routines — orchestrate independently in a household with siblings of different ages, maintaining each child's developmental schedule.Enrichment curriculum incorporating reading, sensory play, and problem-solving activities — develop and deliver to stimulate intellectual growth across diverse developmental levels.Weekly meal and snack menus — plan, shop for, and prepare to meet nutritional guidelines and family dietary requirements with minimal parental direction.Pro-social communication skills and empathy — model and coach consistently across varied daily situations to build children's interpersonal competence over the long term.Internet and computer-based training resources — evaluate and integrate into activity planning to support children's learning objectives and parent-approved screen-time goals.Complex care challenges such as behavioral regressions or dietary resistance — resolve using critical thinking and evidence-informed strategies adapted to the child's specific context.
advanced
Household childcare safety standards and protocols — develop comprehensively and lead the employing family in implementing across all physical and social environments.Long-term developmental progress of each child in care — assess and document systematically, providing families with evidence-based guidance on next steps and professional referrals.Emergency preparedness plans for the household — design, train other caregivers on, and periodically rehearse to ensure readiness for medical or safety crises.Tailored developmental programs addressing nutrition, hygiene, emotional regulation, and social skills — architect and guide families in sustaining beyond the direct care relationship.Sleep hygiene best practices and individualized rest frameworks — advise the employing family on and refine across developmental transitions from infancy through school age.Intellectually stimulating activity sequences aligned with early-childhood learning principles — curate and mentor less experienced caregivers in delivering within family and community settings.Family nutrition strategy — lead by developing rotating menus, establishing grocery routines, and coaching parents on balanced meal preparation for growing children.Positive behavioral environment across the full household — establish as a trusted authority by setting consistent expectations, modeling integrity, and guiding family communication norms.Nanny or childcare team onboarding and mentorship — lead by sharing professional knowledge, demonstrating best practices, and providing constructive feedback in a multi-caregiver household.Professional development resources and industry standards — evaluate and communicate to the employing family and peer caregivers to continuously raise the quality of care in the home.
Also known as
16 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Baby SitterBabysitterCare AttendantChild Care AideChild Care ProfessionalChild Care SpecialistFamily AssistantFamily ManagerGovernessHouse ManagerHousehold ManagerIn-Home Care ProviderIn-Home CaregiverNannySpecial Needs NannyTravel Nanny