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Hiring a nanny or a childminder in France

You become an employer: the contract, the monthly salary and the rules, step by step.

Des parents rencontrent une assistante maternelle autour d'un café
In shortWith a childminder or a home nanny, you are a private employer: you sign a written contract, declare the salary every month on Pajemploi, and follow the national collective agreement (convention collective des particuliers employeurs, 2022).

Before the first day

  1. A written, signed contract: schedule, hourly rate, allowances, paid leave, full or non-full year.
  2. Register on Pajemploi and declare the hours worked every month. Pajemploi calculates the contributions.
  3. Apply for the CAF aid (CMG) on caf.fr when you hire her: it is not automatic.

The monthly salary (mensualisation)

The salary is the same every month: hours per week × weeks per year ÷ 12 × hourly rate. A full year means 52 weeks (her 5 weeks of paid leave are included). If your child is cared for 46 weeks or fewer, the year is “non-full” and paid leave is paid on top, about 10%. The schedule tool does the maths.

Minimum pay and allowances

  • Home nanny: at least the collective agreement minimum, €12.97 gross per hour for a level III childcare job (about €10.13 net, before paid leave), which is above the national minimum wage (SMIC, €12.31 gross).
  • Childminder: a minimum hourly rate set by law and the collective agreement, plus a daily maintenance allowance (at least €3.92 for 9 hours) and meals if she provides them.

Working time and breaks

  • Childminder: all hours your child is in her care are paid; there is no break to deduct.
  • Home nanny: a break is unpaid only if she is genuinely free. Nap time can be agreed as “responsible presence”, where 1 hour counts as 2/3 of an hour.
  • Limits: 48 hours per week on average at most; extra pay above 45 hours (childminder) or 40 hours (home nanny), according to the contract and the collective agreement.

Paid leave

She earns 2.5 working days of leave per 4 weeks of work between 1 June and 31 May, up to 30 days (5 weeks). Leave pay is the more favourable of two methods: normal pay, or 10% of the year's salary.

Ending the contract

  • Notice (if you end it): 8 days under 3 months of service, 15 days from 3 months to 1 year, 1 month after.
  • Termination payment: 1/80 of all gross salaries paid since the start, if she has at least 9 months of service.
  • Final documents: last payslip (Pajemploi), employment certificate, unemployment certificate, final settlement receipt.

The French version of the site has detailed calculators for paid leave and end of contract, and templates of all the letters.

Frequently asked questions

Chou answersTap a question

Do I need a lawyer to hire a nanny?

Chou

No. Your relais petite enfance can review the contract with you for free, and Pajemploi handles contributions. For a dispute, ask a professional.

Can I pay my nanny cash without declaring her?

Chou

No. Undeclared work is illegal, she would have no social protection, and you would lose the CAF aid and the tax credit.

Official sourcesOur calculations and explanations are based on these texts. If in doubt, they are the reference.