Nanny timesheet calculator: overtime for live-out nannies
A family that hires a nanny is an employer under federal wage law. Live-out nannies are owed overtime after 40 hours a week; live-in nannies are not, but are still owed minimum wage for every hour. Here is a real week for a live-out nanny.
What matters for families employing a nanny
Live-out nannies: overtime after 40
Domestic service workers are covered by the FLSA. A nanny who does not live in your home is owed 1.5× the regular rate for hours over 40 in the workweek.
Live-in nannies: no federal overtime, but every hour paid
A nanny who lives in the household's home permanently or for extended periods and is employed by the household is exempt from federal overtime, but must receive at least minimum wage for all hours worked. Some states, such as California and New York, give live-in domestic workers overtime anyway.
School-day gaps
Before-school and after-school hours with free time in between are two pairs on the same day; the gap is unpaid only if the nanny is truly off duty.
Worked example
A live-out nanny with split school days and a Saturday evening, $22.00/hour, weekly overtime after 40 hours at 1.5×.
| Day | Shifts | Unpaid break | Worked | Regular | Overtime | Double time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 5 | 7:00 AM–9:00 AM, 2:30 PM–7:00 PM | 6:30 | 6:30 | School run + afternoon | |||
| Tue Oct 6 | 7:00 AM–6:30 PM | 30 min | 11:00 | 11:00 | Teacher day, kids home | ||
| Wed Oct 7 | 7:00 AM–9:00 AM, 2:30 PM–7:00 PM | 6:30 | 6:30 | ||||
| Thu Oct 8 | 7:00 AM–9:00 AM, 2:30 PM–7:30 PM | 7:00 | 7:00 | ||||
| Fri Oct 9 | 7:00 AM–6:00 PM | 30 min | 10:30 | 9:00 | 1:30 | School holiday | |
| Sat Oct 10 | 6:00 PM–11:30 PM | 5:30 | 0:00 | 5:30 | Date night | ||
| Sun Oct 11 | off |
How to set it up in Hoursprig
- Enter the nanny's hourly rate and the week.
- For split school days, add a morning pair and an afternoon pair.
- Keep weekly overtime on for a live-out nanny.
- Print the signable timesheet for both of you and keep a copy with your payroll records.
Limits
- Hoursprig does not calculate household employment taxes or withholding.
FAQ
Do nannies get overtime?
Live-out nannies do under federal law, after 40 hours in the workweek. Live-in nannies employed by the household do not under federal law, though some states require it.
Is babysitting on a weekend night part of the same week?
Yes, if it falls in the same workweek, it counts toward the 40 hours.
Can I pay a salary to avoid overtime?
A salary does not remove overtime for a non-exempt domestic worker; the regular rate is the weekly salary divided by the hours it is meant to cover.