Here’s the deal
- Nannies and babysitters in Germany earn an average of €18.25 gross per hour (quitt Household Help Report 2026), which is above the minimum wage of €13.90.
- An occasional babysitter is usually employed as a mini-job via the Haushaltsscheck, which incurs approximately 14.6% in contributions. On a rate of €18.25, that adds about €2.66/hr, for a total of roughly €20.91/hr.
- A nanny (regular, 15.2 hours/week on average) often exceeds the mini-job limit of €603 and becomes subject to social security contributions. These contributions then rise to around 21%, adding about €3.83/hr, for a total of roughly €22.08/hr.
- Tax: 80% of childcare costs are tax-deductible, up to €4,800 per child per year (§ 10 EStG).
There is little difference in the hourly rate between a nanny and a babysitter. The cost difference depends on two factors: how many hours someone works and the type of employment. Furthermore, childcare has its own tax regulations that often provide you with more benefits than the well-known § 35a. We break it all down for you.
What nannies and babysitters earn
On average, nannies and babysitters earn €18.25 gross per hour. This figure comes from the quitt Household Help Report 2026, based on a survey of 1,351 people and 1,935 employment contracts. This places childcare above the average for all household tasks (€17.93). The statutory minimum wage in 2026 is €13.90 per hour and also applies to private households.
Wages vary significantly by region (across all household tasks):
- Bavaria: €18.92
- Berlin: €18.58
- Hesse: €18.41
- Baden-Württemberg: €18.00
- North Rhine-Westphalia: €17.76
- Lower Saxony: €17.18
- Brandenburg: €16.93
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia: €16.90
- Hamburg: €16.59
- Schleswig-Holstein: €16.43
- Rhineland-Palatinate: €16.00
- Germany overall: €17.93
In terms of hourly rates, there is hardly any difference between a nanny and a babysitter. The distinction lies in the scope: a babysitter comes occasionally, for example in the evening. A nanny provides regular care, averaging 15.2 hours per week. This is exactly what determines the type of employment and, consequently, your costs.
How much does a babysitter cost?
A babysitter who works occasionally is almost always employed as a mini-jobber. As long as their earnings remain under €603 per month, you can register them via the Haushaltsscheck procedure managed by the Minijob-Zentrale, where you only pay around 14.6% in contributions. On €18.25, that is an additional €2.66 per hour. Therefore, a babysitter costs you around €20.91 per hour.
An example based on 3 hours per week:
- Net wage for the babysitter (3 hrs/week): approx. €237/month, approx. €2,847/year
- + Employer contributions (approx. 14.6%): approx. €35/month, approx. €416/year
- Total cost: approx. €272/month, approx. €3,263/year
- − Tax savings (80% deductible, ~30% tax rate): − €783/year
- Effective cost: approx. €2,480/year
For a mini-job, the net wage is equal to the gross wage because it is taxed at a flat rate. Your tax savings depend on your personal tax rate; here, we assume approximately 30%. How the childcare deduction works in detail is explained further down.
How much does a nanny cost?
A nanny works regularly, averaging 15.2 hours per week. At €18.25 per hour, that comes to around €1,202 per month. This exceeds the €603 mini-job limit, meaning she is employed subject to social security contributions. Employer contributions then rise to around 21% instead of 14.6%. On €18.25, that is an additional €3.83 per hour. Consequently, a nanny costs you around €22.08 per hour. For information on when a mini-job ends and a midi-job begins, see the post Mini-job or midi-job.
An example based on 15.2 hours per week:
- Gross wage for the nanny (15.2 hrs/week): approx. €1,202/month, approx. €14,400/year
- + Employer contributions (approx. 21%): approx. €252/month, approx. €3,020/year
- Total cost: approx. €1,454/month, approx. €17,450/year
- − Tax savings (max. €4,800 deductible, ~30% tax rate): − €1,440/year
- Effective cost: approx. €16,010/year
Because social security contributions and, depending on your tax bracket, income tax apply here, the nanny's gross and net pay differ more than with a mini-job. You can calculate the exact figures for your situation with the free wage cost calculator in 30 seconds.
How much do I get back through taxes?
Childcare has its own, often more generous rule than the well-known § 35a. You can deduct 80% of childcare costs as special expenses (Sonderausgaben), up to €4,800 per child per year. This is set out in § 10 EStG. The conditions: the child is under 14, you pay via bank transfer rather than cash, and you have an invoice.
One difference from § 35a is important. § 35a deducts 20% directly from your tax bill. Childcare costs, however, reduce your taxable income, so the actual saving depends on your tax rate. For pure childcare, the 80% rule is usually the better choice. If the nanny also does housework, that part can be deducted via § 35a.
To be specific: in the babysitter example above (€3,263 in costs), you deduct around €2,610. For the nanny, the costs exceed €6,000, so the maximum of €4,800 per child applies.
What does quitt take care of for me?
quitt handles the entire registration and administration process, whether it is for a mini-job babysitter or a nanny subject to social security. Payroll gets complex quickly, especially above the mini-job limit. You enter the key details, and quitt takes care of registration, payroll, and insurance. You remain the employer and decide whom you hire and what you pay.
Found someone? Start the registration and quitt handles the rest. You can see what the service costs on the pricing page. For what a cleaner costs, see How much does a cleaner cost?
Calculate your costs in 30 seconds
Our free wage cost calculator gives you an instant, no-obligation breakdown of the gross, net, and total employer costs for your nanny or babysitter.
