Quick answer A governess combines childcare with structured education, often supporting a family that travels or home-schools. Pay is typically $34–$62 an hour in New York City, NY and AED 7,000–AED 14,000 a month in the UAE. Choose your city below for local pay, requirements and open positions.
Governess pay by city 🇺🇸 United States City Typical pay Full-time monthly New York City, NY $34–$62 / hour $5,900–$10,750 Los Angeles, CA $31–$57 / hour $5,350–$9,850 Chicago, IL $30–$55 / hour $5,200–$9,500 Houston, TX $29–$53 / hour $5,000–$9,150 Dallas, TX $29–$54 / hour $5,000–$9,350 Miami, FL $28–$52 / hour $4,850–$9,000 Seattle, WA $34–$63 / hour $5,900–$10,900 Austin, TX $31–$58 / hour $5,350–$10,050 San Francisco, CA $35–$63 / hour $6,050–$10,900 Boston, MA $32–$59 / hour $5,550–$10,200 Atlanta, GA $29–$53 / hour $5,000–$9,150 Plano, TX $31–$56 / hour $5,350–$9,700
🇨🇦 Canada City Typical pay Full-time monthly Toronto, ON C$37–C$67 / hour C$6,400–C$11,600 Vancouver, BC C$36–C$66 / hour C$6,250–C$11,400 Montreal, QC C$34–C$63 / hour C$5,900–C$10,900 Calgary, AB C$37–C$68 / hour C$6,400–C$11,750
🇬🇧 United Kingdom City Typical pay Full-time monthly London, ENG £23–£42 / hour £4,000–£7,250 Manchester, ENG £20–£36 / hour £3,450–£6,250 Birmingham, ENG £19–£35 / hour £3,300–£6,050 Edinburgh, SCT £20–£37 / hour £3,450–£6,400
🇩🇪 Germany City Typical pay Full-time monthly Berlin, BE €21–€38 / hour €3,650–€6,550 Munich, BY €22–€41 / hour €3,800–€7,100 Frankfurt, HE €22–€41 / hour €3,800–€7,100 Hamburg, HH €21–€39 / hour €3,650–€6,750
🇦🇺 Australia City Typical pay Full-time monthly Sydney, NSW A$46–A$85 / hour A$7,950–A$14,700 Melbourne, VIC A$45–A$82 / hour A$7,800–A$14,200 Brisbane, QLD A$44–A$81 / hour A$7,600–A$14,000 Perth, WA A$47–A$86 / hour A$8,150–A$14,900
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates City Typical pay Full-time monthly Dubai, DXB AED 7,000–AED 14,000 / month AED 7,000–AED 14,000 Abu Dhabi, AUH AED 7,000–AED 14,000 / month AED 7,000–AED 14,000 Sharjah, SHJ AED 7,000–AED 14,000 / month AED 7,000–AED 14,000
🇨🇭 Switzerland City Typical pay Full-time monthly Zurich, ZH CHF 43–CHF 78 / hour CHF 7,450–CHF 13,500 Geneva, GE CHF 42–CHF 77 / hour CHF 7,250–CHF 13,300 Basel, BS CHF 42–CHF 78 / hour CHF 7,250–CHF 13,500
Indicative ranges based on local salary levels and published household pay; individual offers vary.
What the job involves Teach and supervise lessons at home Support homework and exam preparation Develop languages, reading and study skills Plan cultural and educational outings Report progress to parents What families ask for Teaching degree or qualification Experience with private families Background check Additional languages are a plus A typical day Typical day — Governess An example day — real schedules are agreed with each family. 7:30 Breakfast & school run 9:30 Play & learning 12:00 Lunch & nap 15:00 Pick-up & homework 18:00 Dinner, bath & handover Related childcare jobs