Daycare vs. Nanny in Seattle, WA: The Full Cost Picture
Daycare center care in Seattle, WA averages $1,740/month for toddlers. A full-time nanny costs $4,820/month including employer payroll taxes. The gap for one child is roughly $3,080/month — $36,960/year. With two toddlers in daycare ($3,480/month), a single nanny at $4,820/month costs $1,340/month more.
For most families with one child, a daycare center in Seattle, WA costs less. Full-time infant center care runs $1,980/month. A live-out nanny costs $4,820/month once you account for employer payroll taxes. That gap compounds over a year to $34,080.
The break-even shifts with two children. Two toddler daycare spots in Seattle, WA total $3,480/month. One nanny watching both: $4,820/month. Daycare still wins, but the gap narrows to $1,340/month. Three children and the nanny is almost certainly the cheaper option.
Employer Costs You Can't Skip in WA
Hiring a nanny makes you a household employer. You pay employer Social Security and Medicare (7.65% of wages), federal unemployment tax (0.6% on the first $7,000), and WA workers' compensation insurance. Total employer overhead: 10–15% above take-home pay. On a $4,300/month nanny, that's $520/month in additional employer costs.
Nanny Share Option in Seattle, WA
A nanny share — two families splitting one nanny — cuts costs to roughly $2,890–$3,130/month per family while the nanny earns more than a typical single-family placement. Works best with children of similar ages and compatible schedules. Coordination takes effort; savings are real.