Some nannies now earn over $100K a year—here’s what it takes to get one of those jobs

If you’re looking for a lucrative gig and enjoy working with children, you may want to consider becoming a nanny.

In certain areas of the country— like New York, Los Angeles and other major metropolitan areas — nannies can earn six-figure salaries. In addition to living in the right place, nannies for wealthy families must often offer specialized skills to command top-tier pay.

“We’ve seen a lot of requests for Mandarin and French speakers in the nanny role,” Keith Greenhouse, chief executive of the household staffing company Pavillion Agency, told CNN. “Lately more than ever people want someone who is tech-savvy and nannies who can move into a family assistant role.”

Happy family of three, mother, son and daughter sitting on a bench in the afternoon in the city park and are holding a tablet, a beautiful spring weather, the sun is shining

Some families specifically want nannies with college degrees and backgrounds in child development. High-earning nannies should expect to work long hours, and they can forget about days spent watching cartoons or letting the kids entertain themselves with their toys. Instead, these nannies are expected to engage children in educational and stimulating activities.

Nannies who specialize in newborn care also command higher salaries. Marly Higgins Driskell has an official title of credentialed “master newborn care specialist,” and her fees start at $35 an hour to help condition babies to sleep through the night. She works in Houston and specializes in high-order multiples like triplets, quadruplets and quintuplets.

Pretty woman holding a newborn baby in her arms

Great pay is not the only benefit for these cream-of-the-crop nannies. They also experience perks like travel and meals.

“Private travel is pretty great,” Catherine, a nanny working in Bedford, New York, told Swaay of her $140,000-a-year job. “It’s hard to go back to flying commercial when you’re used to having a jet all to yourself. I’ve seen more places than I ever would have been able to on my own, and in the most amazing ways.” She has also lived in villas, on a horse farm, and on a yacht.

“Also, getting to eat meals prepared by the amazing household chefs is a huge perk!” she added.

However, according to Payscale, a typical salary for private childcare at home is between $20,761 and $42,907. So keep in mind that nannies who earn upwards of $100,000 are not the norm.