How much does a nanny cost in Chiswick?
More than the hourly rate suggests. When you employ a nanny you pay their wages and the extras that come with being an employer: National Insurance, a pension, holiday and payroll. Here's what that adds up to in Chiswick in 2026, and how to bring it down.
The hourly rate
Nannytax, which runs payroll for thousands of nanny employers, puts the average full-time, live-out nanny in outer London at £21.73 an hour gross in 2025/26. Chiswick sits in outer London; inner London averaged £21.63. Rates go up with experience, qualifications, more children and extra duties such as housekeeping.
Nannies are usually quoted and paid by the hour or the year gross, meaning before their own tax and National Insurance. Agree a gross figure in writing, so it's clear who bears any change in tax rates. Whatever you agree, it must be at least the National Living Wage: £12.71 an hour from April 2026.
What you pay on top
Employer National Insurance
15% of your nanny's earnings above £5,000 a year, in 2026/27. Families employing a nanny generally can't claim Employment Allowance, which businesses use to reduce this bill.
Workplace pension
If your nanny earns more than £10,000 a year and is aged between 22 and State Pension age, you must enrol them in a workplace pension and pay in at least 3% of their qualifying earnings: their pay between £6,240 and £50,270 a year.
Holiday and sick pay
A nanny working five days a week is entitled to at least 28 days' paid holiday a year, which can include bank holidays. That's why nannies are paid for all 52 weeks. From April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay is due from the first day of illness.
Payroll
Most families use a nanny payroll service to run payslips, tax, National Insurance and the pension, for a yearly fee. It's worth comparing a few before you start.
Worked examples
All at 2026/27 employer rates, paid for 52 weeks, with a 3% employer pension. A nanny of your own on £22 an hour; a share paying the nanny £24 an hour, split equally between two families.
| Hours a week | Your own nanny | Half a share |
|---|---|---|
| Full time, 50 hours | £66,351 a year £1,276 a week | £35,879 a year £690 a week |
| Three days, 30 hours | £39,560 a year £761 a week | £21,152 a year £407 a week |
| School runs, 15 hours | £19,312 a year £371 a week | Rarely shared |
Each figure includes gross wages, employer National Insurance and pension, but not payroll fees, food, outings or travel. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
An estimate, not tax advice. A nanny payroll provider will confirm exact figures.
Ways to bring it down
Share with another family
Two families employing one nanny together usually pay the nanny a little more per hour, but each pays only part of it, and each gets its own £5,000 allowance before employer National Insurance starts. In the full-time example, each family pays about 46% less than for a nanny of its own. How a nanny share works.
Tax-Free Childcare
If your nanny is registered with Ofsted, you can pay through Tax-Free Childcare: the government adds £2 for every £8 you pay in, up to £2,000 per child a year. Both parents need to be working, and each must earn under £100,000.
Mix it with funded hours
Funded childcare hours can't be used for a nanny, but they can for a nursery or childminder. Some families use a nanny or a share for part of the week and funded hours for the rest. See how the options compare.
Halve the cost with a family nearby
Pairfold Chiswick helps you find a family close by with the same days and a child of a similar age. Free and anonymous.
Find a familySources
- Nannytax: 2026 nanny salary guide (outer and inner London hourly rates)
- Nannytax: 2026/27 tax year changes (employer National Insurance, National Living Wage, Statutory Sick Pay)
- GOV.UK: Automatic enrolment thresholds for 2026/27
- GOV.UK: Holiday entitlement
- Nannytax: Tax-Free Childcare for nannies
- Best Start in Life: how 30 hours childcare works