Childcare costs and subsidiesArticle 2 of 6 · 4 min read
What a legal nanny really costs
Shows what a legally employed nanny costs you as the employer: the wage, the Social Security you pay, the extra payments and who pays what. For families in Spain hiring household staff who want a realistic monthly budget.
Key rules
- Minimum wage: For 2025 the household minimum was 1,184 EUR per month in 14 payments; confirm the current year's figure before budgeting.
- Extra payments: Your nanny gets two extra payments a year, each worth at least 15 days of salary, unless the contract prorates them.
- Social Security: You pay the whole contribution to the TGSS and withhold her share from her monthly pay.
- Yearly updates: Contribution bands and rates change every year, so use the current table.
The short answer
Your monthly cost is the nanny's gross wage plus the employer's Social Security, plus money set aside for her extra payments. The wage is never the whole bill. Budget for all three before you make an offer.
The wage floor
The minimum wage for household employees was 1,184 EUR per month in 14 payments for 2025. That is 16,576 EUR a year. For hourly-paid staff it works out at about 9.26 EUR per hour. The figure is reset every year, so confirm the current one before you budget.
You can pay more than the minimum, but never less.
The extra payments
Your nanny is entitled to two extra payments a year, normally at Christmas and in summer. Each is worth at least 15 days of salary.
You have two ways to handle them:
- Pay them in full in the months they fall due. Keep that money aside so the months are not a shock.
- Agree in the contract to prorate them, meaning they are spread into her monthly pay.
The contract should say clearly which one you chose. If it is prorated, remember the monthly figure already includes them. A contract or agreement can give her more than this minimum.
Who pays Social Security
You register your nanny and you pay the whole Social Security contribution to the TGSS. You then withhold her share from her monthly pay. So her share is not an extra cost to you, but you must pay it in.
Contributions are based on salary bands (tramos), not a flat base. Your share is the larger part. Since 2023 it also covers unemployment, the wage guarantee fund and training. Her share now includes unemployment cover too.
The bands and rates change every year. Check the current table with the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social before you calculate.
Possible reductions
Some employers can get a reduction on their share of the contributions for common contingencies. There is also a bonus for large families (familia numerosa) in some cases, for example where the employer must work outside the home. You must be registered in the special system for domestic employees. The percentages have changed over time, so ask the Tesorería General de la Seguridad Social what you qualify for and the current figure.
Build your monthly budget
- Take the gross monthly wage you agreed.
- Add your employer Social Security share from the current table.
- If the extra payments are not prorated, add one-sixth of a month's pay each month to cover them. Two payments of 15 days equal one month's salary spread over 12 months, so set aside about one-twelfth of a month's pay.
- Do not deduct her share from your cost. It comes out of her gross wage, and you pay it to the TGSS.
The questions below cover the most common doubts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I lower the employer Social Security cost for my nanny?
Yes, a reduction on the employer's share of contributions exists, but only if you are registered in the special system for domestic employees. A bonus also exists for large families (familia numerosa) where the employer is a family member who works outside the home.
Does my nanny pay any Social Security herself?
Yes, your nanny pays her own share, including unemployment cover, but you deduct it from her monthly pay. You then pay the full contribution to the Social Security office yourself. Contributions follow pay bands (tramos) rather than a flat base.
Can the contract include the extra payments in her monthly pay?
Yes, you and your nanny can agree to prorate the extra payments into her monthly pay, if the contract says so. The contract should state clearly whether pay is prorated. A collective or individual agreement can give her more than the minimum.
Do the Social Security bands and rates change every year?
Yes, the bands and rates are updated every year, so last year's table may be out of date. Check the current table before you set her pay. Do the same for the minimum wage, which is also set yearly.
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