Do I Have to Pay Super for My Nanny in Australia?

If you employ a nanny in your home, one of the most common questions is:

Do I have to pay super for my nanny?

In most cases, yes. But there are some important considerations that are exclusive to Super for domestic workers.

If your nanny works regular hours in your household and is treated as an employee, superannuation obligations generally apply and are considered best practice, and when families enquire about whether they should, our answer is always yes.  However, in some cases with domestic employment, the ATO doesn’t require Super to be paid. 

Understanding when super is required is essential for staying compliant and protecting both your family and your nanny.

When Does Super Apply to a Nanny?

Most nannies in Australia are considered employees, not contractors.

If your nanny:

• Works set or regular hours
• Has their work terms and offer set and established for them.
• Is provided with the tools for their work (your home)
• Relies on your family as their primary source of income.

They are generally classified as employees by the ATO.

When that’s the case,  it’s always good to pay your nanny Superannuation.

There is what’s commonly referred to as the Domestic Super Rule, which relates to how superannuation applies to employees working in private households. In some domestic arrangements, super may not be legally required unless certain conditions are met.

This exemption of superannuation for nannies has been widely debated within the nanny industry. As a predominantly female workforce, many long-term nannies have missed out on super contributions due to how domestic employment has historically been structured.

At NannyPay, we advocate for you to pay your nanny super wherever possible, regardless of exemptions. We were recently featured in an ABC News article highlighting this specific issue.

We have met too many women approaching retirement who were paid little or no super throughout their nanny careers. For example, a nanny may work full-time equivalent hours across multiple families, but if each arrangement is assessed separately under domestic employment rules, super may not always be triggered as families expect.

What Is the Super Rate in 2026?

As of 2026, the superannuation guarantee rate is 12%.

Super must be calculated on ordinary time earnings and paid into your nanny’s nominated super fund each pay day,

Super is separate from the agreed hourly rate. It should not be “included” inside the advertised rate unless structured correctly and documented clearly.

Before finalising pay, families should review current nanny pay rates Australia to ensure both wages and super obligations are factored into budgeting.

Do I Have to Pay Super to a Casual Nanny?

Should you pay your Nanny super in Australia? Yes. Do you have to?  Not always.  There are some exceptions where Super for Domestic workers is not required to be paid by the ATO. Regardless, we always encourage families to do the right thing and pay their Nanny Super in Australia. 

Casual nannies are generally entitled to superannuation in the same way as permanent employees, provided they meet eligibility requirements.

The fact that a nanny is casual does not exempt the employer from their superannuation obligations.

This is one of the most common misunderstandings when families assume casual loading replaces all entitlements. It does not replace super.

How often should I pay my nanny Super?

As of July 1st 2026, Super must be paid every pay day. That means if you pay your nanny fortnightly, you need to contribute to their Super Fund fortnightly. Weekly? Every week. Monthly? Once a month.

Where previously Super contributions could be made quarterly, they are now required to be made every pay day. This recent change has a big impact on families who employ their nanny privately, without the framework of a business to manage the logistics.

What Happens If You Don’t Pay Super?

Failing to pay your nanny super when required can result in:

• Super guarantee charge liabilities
• Interest and penalties
• Administrative fees
• Back payments – and when you consider 12% of what you have paid your nanny, the bill for back pay could be huge. 

Super is regulated by the ATO, and non-compliance can become expensive quickly.

How Do You Set Up Super for a Nanny?

To pay super correctly, families must:

• Register as an employer with the ATO
• Set up Single Touch Payroll reporting
• Withhold PAYG tax
• Make super contributions each payday
• Keep compliant records

For many families, managing payroll and superannuation manually can become overwhelming.

If you would prefer professional support, learn more about our nanny payroll service and how we manage super, tax and payroll compliance for families across Australia.

The Bottom Line

If your nanny is classified as an employee, superannuation is best practice, regardless of the exemptions to pay super for domestic employers. You can read more about superannuation for nannies, particularly with pay day Super rules, on our updated blog.

For nannies working over 30 hours per week, superannuation will typically apply. It is part of lawful employment in Australia.

When budgeting for a nanny, families should consider:

• Hourly wage: Minimum wage for a nanny paid as a casual employee (over 21 years old) in 2025 is $33.85/hour.
• Superannuation: 12% on top of the wage.
• Cost of leave entitlements and paid public holidays (for permenant workers)
• Workers compensation – State based, usually around 1.5 – 3% of the annual salary.  (Except Queensland which is much cheaper)

A clear structure (put in a written agreement) from the beginning prevents confusion later. You might want to invest in a Employment Contract Template when you employ your nanny in Australia. 

If you are unsure whether super applies to your nanny, seek advice from the ATO to early to avoid underpayment.

Fair pay should include superannuation for nannies. Not only does paying correctly protects everyone involved but you help set your nanny up for financial security in their retirement. 

If you’d prefer support managing super and tax correctly, explore our nanny payroll service.