Quick answer: A nanny cares for your children on a regular schedule, often full-time, and takes part in their daily routine. A babysitter covers occasional hours, like date nights. In the Orlando metro area, childcare workers earn a median $15.00 an hour (BLS, May 2025), and Florida's minimum wage is $15.00.
| Nanny | Babysitter | |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Regular, set by the family: part-time or full-time, every week | Occasional: evenings, weekends, a few hours here and there |
| Role | Part of the kids' daily routine: meals, naps, school runs, activities, homework | Keeps the kids safe and happy while the parents are out |
| How you pay | Usually hourly or a weekly salary, paid every week or two | Usually hourly, paid at the end of each visit |
| Taxes | Often a household employee once pay passes the yearly threshold | Same rule: it depends on how much you pay in the year, not on the title |
A nanny works on your schedule, often 20 to 50 hours a week, and becomes part of the family's routine. Typical duties: getting the kids ready, preparing their meals, school drop-off and pick-up, naps, activities, homework and the kids' laundry. Some families share one nanny between two households (a nanny share). Because the nanny works regular hours under your direction, she is usually your household employee.
A babysitter comes when you need her: a date night, a Saturday afternoon, an evening event. The job is to keep the kids safe, fed and entertained and to follow the bedtime routine. Many babysitters are students or nannies picking up extra hours.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare workers, Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area, median wage | $15.00/hr (mean $15.81) | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Florida minimum wage | $15.00/hour since September 30, 2026 | Florida Constitution, Art. X §24 |
The BLS figure covers childcare workers in all settings, including daycare centers, so it is a floor more than a target. Nannies with experience, CPR training, a car or a second language usually earn more, and so do babysitters on late nights and holidays. For more detail see how much a nanny costs in Orlando and how much to pay a babysitter.
The IRS doesn't look at the job title. In 2026, if you pay any one household worker $3,000 or more in cash wages during the year, you owe Social Security and Medicare taxes on those wages (IRS Publication 926). That often applies to a nanny and sometimes to a regular babysitter. See nanny taxes in Florida.
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Not always per hour, but a nanny works many more hours, so the monthly cost is much higher. Experienced nannies and babysitters working late nights or holidays usually charge more.
It depends on how much you pay. In 2026, if you pay one babysitter $3,000 or more in cash wages in the year, Social Security and Medicare taxes apply (IRS Publication 926).
If the nanny is your employee, yes. Florida's minimum wage is $15.00/hour since September 30, 2026.
Last updated 2026-11-07. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.