Los Angeles has no shortage of nanny agencies. What families often don't realize is how much of the hire still falls on them — from California's household-employment rules to the final judgment on fit.
Every agency describes itself as the best. These are the signals that actually separate a great one:
In most placements, you — not the agency — are the nanny's employer. That makes you responsible for California's household-employment requirements.
California's Domestic Worker Bill of Rights gives overtime protections to personal attendants — a category that generally includes nannies who spend most of their time caring for children. Overtime typically applies after nine hours in a day, and weekly thresholds depend on whether the nanny lives in. Rules for live-in and live-out nannies differ, and sources don't always agree on the details, so confirm your situation with a household payroll provider.
Local minimum wages apply. The City of Los Angeles and unincorporated Los Angeles County both set minimum wages above the state rate, and the rate where the work is performed is the one that counts. Many cities in the county set their own as well.
No flat salaries. California generally doesn't allow household employees to be paid a fixed salary without tracking hours, because overtime still applies.
Tammy Gold, LCSW, spent years matching families with nannies before writing Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer (Penguin). Today she works beside families, and their agencies, as a neutral expert: defining the job, interviewing candidates, checking references and setting up the first 30 days.
Tammy placed nannies with Los Angeles and New York families for years and is based in the San Fernando Valley. She works alongside your agency — in person across Los Angeles where practical, or by video — reviewing candidates, joining interviews, and building the onboarding plan with you and your new nanny. More on working with an agency.
Keep the agency — add someone with no stake in which candidate you choose. $189 for an hour.
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Screening call, reference questions, clinical interview, and trial-day checklist.
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Tammy is not an agency and has no affiliation with, or financial interest in, any agency you use. She provides independent expert guidance; hiring decisions remain your family’s. Legal, tax, and licensing questions belong with the appropriate professional or state agency.