Nannying in the Hamptons: How One Woman Turned Her "Survival Job" into a Six-Figure Career
A New York City nanny’s TikTok video detailing her daily work in the Hamptons went viral, sparking a wave of interest from viewers curious about the world of luxury nannying. Meredith Swanson, a seasoned nanny with over a decade of experience, shares her insights on building a career through word of mouth, the financial viability of high-end child care, and the joys and challenges of a demanding but rewarding profession.
Key Takeaways:
- TikTok stardom: Swanson’s viral video, showcasing her life as a nanny in the Hamptons, catapulted her into the spotlight, with viewers eager to learn about the intricacies of the job.
- Financial success: Swanson says she’s made close to six figures in some years solely from nannying, highlighting the potential financial stability and earning power of this career path.
- Word-of-mouth networking: Swanson credits her career success to word-of-mouth referrals and building relationships within the child-care community, emphasizing the importance of networking in this industry.
- High demand, high pay: Nannying in the Hamptons, especially during the summer months, is a highly sought-after skill with competitive rates that can reach upwards of $60 per hour, making it a lucrative career.
- Burnout avoidance: Swanson’s success in avoiding burnout despite the demanding nature of her job stems from her ability to negotiate flexibility and communication with the families she works with.
Building a Career Through "Word of Mouth"
Swanson’s path to becoming a nanny was a blend of passion and practicality. After graduating college in 2013, she moved to Manhattan to pursue her dream of performing on Broadway, taking a part-time hosting job at a steakhouse to make ends meet. To supplement her income, she began nannying for families in her neighborhood, finding joy and fulfillment in working with children.
In 2018, Swanson made a pivotal decision: she quit her restaurant job to work part-time at My Gym, a children’s gym. This move led her to connect with the families she would go on to work with for the next six years, including her current employer.
"It’s all just been through word of mouth and networking," Swanson emphasizes, crediting her career success to the strong relationships she has built. "I’ve been very, very fortunate with how nannying just fell into my lap."
Her move to the Hamptons in June 2020 marked a significant shift in her career trajectory. The family she worked for invited her to be a live-in nanny at their beach house, and she has continued to work in the Hamptons on a similar schedule every summer. While she commutes from her Manhattan apartment, the families she works with have always provided her with a car during the summer months.
Spending Summers in the Hamptons
Swanson’s summer schedule is a blend of work and leisure. From Monday to Thursday, she works as a live-in nanny from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., watching two boys under seven. On weekends, she returns to Manhattan to enjoy a three-day break, allowing her to pursue her passion for performing as auditions are less frequent during the summer.
"Summers are slow for auditioning, so I essentially have a 3-day weekend," she explains. "That kind of flexibility has been amazing."
Swanson emphasizes that the pay for nannying in the Hamptons is substantial, citing an average rate of $25 to $60 per hour based on her experience. According to Care.com, the average rate for a live-in nanny in East Hampton is $26.33 per hour.
"It wasn’t until I started nannying that I became financially secure," she says. "There are some years where I’ve made close to six figures from working in child care alone, which is really cool. People underestimate how viable this career path is."
Avoiding Burnout in Child Care
While Swanson acknowledges that nannying can be both "exhausting, but so much fun," she emphasizes the importance of finding ways to manage stress and avoid burnout.
The families she works with both work from home and take turns with tasks like getting the children ready in the morning, feeding them dinner, and putting them to bed. This allows Swanson several breaks throughout the day to exercise, read, grab coffee, or go window shopping in Southampton.
Swanson highlights burnout as a significant challenge in the child-care profession, often due to long hours and staffing shortages. However, she credits her success in avoiding burnout to her ability to negotiate flexibility and clear communication with the families she works with.
The most challenging aspect of nannying, she says, is adapting to the parents’ preferred methods of discipline and communication with their children: "You might have a certain way of how you want to handle a meltdown or temper tantrum, but that might not be the same way that the parents would handle it," she says. "I don’t want to confuse the kids, so I always try to communicate upfront with the parents and get on the same page off the bat."
As the summer comes to a close, Swanson will reduce her schedule to 20 hours a week, allowing her more time to pursue her acting career. While she doesn’t plan to continue nannying long-term, she deeply appreciates the career path and its rewards.
"I’m hoping that within the next couple of years, I’ll have kids of my own, and I’d like to save my energy for them," she shares. "But it’s been an incredibly rewarding career. I love helping people, it’s a privilege to be trusted to take care of someone else’s child and bring joy into their life."
