The Nanny Guide: Nanny Cost

This should be mandatory to read for parents who sign up on care.com due to the fact that I have spoke to about 10 families all who posted 10 to 15 an hour but do not want to pay it. More so when I am way more qualified then most with a major in Nursing and a minor in child psychology with 9 plus yrs exp and for 2 children I was getting offered 12 an hour when it should be 16.50. This should be mandatory for them to read so they understand this is not just a little job. Its more than a job. And I have not met one family who has thought about that.

Amanda, not every mom can pay that amount and some nannies are willing to work for less. I have had terrible experiences with nannies that I have tried to pay. If you are not qualified, have CPR, etc then that brings the price down. It also depends on the kids, the work you do around the house, etc. If you think nannying is not for you, then find another job... but don't post negative comments. Also, a lot of military families can't afford to pay 16.50 an hour. A lot of them are forced to move away from family and it is very hard to find someone right away to help them out with their children. I can see it is about the pay for you. I wouldn't hire you because money is number one on your list. I am a nurse & army wife. I will advocate for those people that need help and appreciate all the nannies/ babysitters that do help for less out of the kindness of their heart. I am glad there are still wonderful people out there. Like I said, if you don't like what you see move one and get another job that will pay more. You seem to want to be paid more & not do much. If you want more pay, continue on your education!

Thanks to all the wonderful nannies that have been there for families in the military that have really needed you & understand that sometimes it is more than the money. Some families just need your help. Thank you again! :-)

I agree with both statements. Though I feel like Melissa took way too personal a general statement that actually didn't apply to her. I Nanny because I love it, but I have to make a living as well as pay back student loans. Some parents post what they are willing to pay and then try to negotiate or nickle and dime later. It's not right and puts care givers in an awkward spot. If a family is in a tough spot I always try to help them out, but parents please understand that if a nanny is doing you a favor and a service, be kind and let them know you appreciate them. It makes an empty wallet feel a bit better.

I ask what caregivers hope to be compensated on a weekly basis. If it's more than the private school I send my older son to, I know that they are not the caretaker for ME. There are other families, I'm sure, who can and will pay that.

It's hard for parents to afford care. For example, the national average salary is $41,000. After taxes and benefits, one is bringing home $1100 every two weeks. If a full time caregiver asks for $15 an hour that totals $1200 every two weeks. It doesn't make sense for the parents to work at that point.

Melissa, I believe this forum is for us to post our feelings, not be censured if posted in a respectful manner. I've experienced exactly the same situation, it's the old bate and switch, and most of the folks have lots and lots of money, but skimp on the person who is spending more time with their child than they are. I just dont' get it. They care more about their perfect cars than getting a perfect nanny. And you get what you pay for.

hello, i am a babysitter and i think all caetakers should be paid a reasonable amount but when i come accross a family that needs the help but cant afford it i always negotiate with them even if the pay is not fare. I always try to charge $8/hr but some families cant afford that, so we negotiate. Overall i enjoy helping families and spending time with children.

I'm a single dad who recently won custody of my two daughters. I need help badly (I have two jobs) but can't afford what a lot of these girls need, and frankly deserve. I've never asked an accountant, lawyer, landscaper, electrician or plumber to "give me a break" and do it for less. Any of these ladies who take care of other peoples children at a reduced rate are Saints. They have to eat, buy gas, buy clothes, buy Christmas gifts, pay for insurance, and get haircuts just like the rest of us. I think a nanny who is only in it for the money either changes families every few weeks or isn't a nanny for very long. And, the bait and switch isn't fair either. If a parent feels the nanny is only in it for the money, don't hire her. If a nanny feels like she was baited....don't take the job.

Perhaps nannies who expect $16.50/hr and are not getting it should look at reasons why...

If you truly believe you are qualified to earn that amount, maybe you are not looking in the right geographical area.

$16.50/hr at 40 hours per week is nearly $35,000 annually. Considering that most working parents are required to clock a minimum of 40 hrs at their jobs, and need commuting time, it's actually closer to $39,000 per year. After paying a nanny's employment taxes, reimbursing gas, vacation/sick time, and holiday bonuses you are well over $50,000 annually. I can not imagine that there are that many families with the means to pay that kind of salary.

The families that do have $50,00/year to spend on childcare, I imagine are looking for a certain type of person, and maybe you don't fit their mold. However shallow you may think it is, people's perceptions play a large part in their choice to even give the opportunity for an interview.

In addition, I don't agree that your major and minor in college contribute to your hourly wage, necessarily. I've found many loving, caring, and extremely competent individuals who do not even have college degrees. If you need to earn a salary closer to $50k, go use your education and work as a nurse. I hold three highly specialized degrees from a top-ranked university... However, if I chose to work as a nanny, or ANY field that did not REQUIRE my specific degrees, I would not expect the same compensation as if I worked in that industry. It has nothing to do with the value a family places on your job nor their value for the care of their children.

Furthermore, in this economy, we should all be thankful to have employment. Incomes are going down no matter what your job: from sanitation workers to CEOs, everyone is hurting and feeling the effects. Even those families who live in big homes may be struggling to make ends meet as a result of shifting economy. They may be upside down in their mortgage, unable to sell, or many other factors that aren't anyone else's business.

I feel fortunate to have a job with a stable company, but I know that I could be out of a job if my company has a down year, is involved in a major lawsuit, or falls victim to the ever more stringent guidelines imposed on corporations. If I find myself without employment, my nanny would unfortunately find herself in the same predicament. Even with the job I have, there have been budgetary cuts across the board that have affected MY bottom line, requiring me to work TWICE as hard to not only keep my job, but to also try to bring home the same amount of money I did last year.

The bottom line is that None of us, regardless of our job title, should feel ENTITLED to anything in this world.

I just believe that so many of these comments are ridiculous. We are all just people in a cycle, looking for help, or looking for work. There are always going to be hard working woman that have to scrape the money together so her children are better off, but you cant be upset when a woman who worked her butt off for a degree asks for more money. If she didn't, what separates any other person with out the degree from the next? Everyone has to work hard in this world to move up, so we all have to respect that, because you are them, cause at one point in your life you are going to be in those positions.

As a parent looking for a nanny i have frequently had to face the over the table / under the table question. When I reply that we would be doing things legally, the price gets raised dramatically. Frequently, nannies talk in terms of how much money they want to take home at the end of the week, not what they deserve to be paid. While I can respect that you have bills, I have to say that when you price your self out of a job because of my obligation to follow the law, you make me question your morals. If a nanny needs to get $500 a week in take home pay a week, tell me up front. I know what my budget is and if you fit. Please save me and you some time. Once we figure out pay, a once a year bonus equal to a week's pay is entirely reasonable and should be expected.

Jennifer G.
Well said. I agree with everything you wrote. I have had several caregivers since my first son was born. Our first was AMAZING. Unfortunately we lost her to another family who offered more money and more perks. We just cannot afford 35+k a year even though she and our sons are certainly worth it.

I have 18 years of childcare as a licensed provider. I have recently gone to a Nanny interview. It was for a new baby. When I was there I suppose I took over the conversation, but I was so exited to be talking about all the wonderful times I had with the children I cared for and what I did with them like reading, puzzle time, crafts, cooking, learning colors,123's the ABC'S. I JUST LOVE children!!!!! And I LOVE how they see the world... they see the simple things in life. I took a break from the childcare for like 10 years and started a small business, which I am wanting out of now and am trying to hand down to my son. I told them it was because I felt like the love of children was being robbed from me, that was wrong... but I needed a break. Well, I started to get teary eyed, my passion for children was showing threw. I don't know if I looked fake but its not what I even expected. I realize now I shouldn't talk so much or CRY!!!. The parents wanted to talk too. Its not so much about the money... I would like to make more than the 21 year olds, its more about The love of children. I have not heard back from the parents... I just feel like they missed out on a GREAT Nanny!!!

You certainly deserve a round of applause for your post and more specifically, your blog in general. Very high quality material.

I understand where parents are coming from when they talk about the cost of child-care and having a nanny. As a poster pointed out, an average family earning $40,000 year can't really afford to pay a nanny upwards of $35000 a year. I also understand where nannies are coming from when they talk about being offered rates that are unreasonable. The fact of the matter is there are two types of families, and two types of nannies (and lots in between). Personally, I make $42,000/ year. Nannying is a career for me, and I have done it for over 6 years. I am upfront with my rates, and only talk with families who are on the same page as me. We tend to have great long-lasting relationships. I am a happy employee, and I work hard and provide excellent care to my charges. I also know that there are families out there who need childcare but can not afford the $15-$20/hr rate. There are nannies out there for them, or daycares, or in home centers... but it is up to them to locate those services, and should not take offense by nannies that are out of their price range. Fact of the matter is, this is my career, I am good at it, and I will only work for what I deserve. Thank you.

I really don't read others comments... But this should be read by all parents. I mean...you're paying someone to be practically another mom/Dad. What price would you put on being a parent. You can't. So just pay reasonably. The people who do this work do it for a living and do it because they love children. Maybe they're single parents that need to support their own children. Have you ever thought of that.

We are a military family, and I don't work, but we live thousands of miles away from any family or friends, and I need to go to school. So, I put up an ad and stated what I was willing to pay for the measly 12 hours a week that I'll need help, and that was my offer, fair and square. It didn't change when I interviewed anybody, and if they don't feel like they are making enough with me, then don't work for me!!! Military is WAYYYY underpaid, but they still do their job anyway... in this economy, people need to be happy to have jobs. If you don't like getting paid $12 an hour step aside, because I can guarantee you there is someone out there thanking God for the opportunity and the money in their pockets!

I am a parent who went to college, then grad school, then training and licensure on top of that. Ten years later, I owe 179K in student loans, yet pay is pay. I never went to a job expecting to make more than my profession was worth. I can tell you that working for someone else, I made somewhere around 60K BEFORE TAXES. Now, I am lucky to stay at home while our second baby is 10 months. My husband is a doctor and I can tell you that while his job is lucrative, we have tons of expenses. He has his own set of 160K loans and he works like a dog so that we are comfortable. I don't feel bad because we have both worked hard to get where we are. We don't drive fancy cars, but we may splurge going to Disney one too many times a year with the boys. So, do I think I need to pay someone twice minimum wage for my area? Pay them 41K? Most nannies I have come across have not have completed their formal education and if they did, do not work in their field because there are no jobs or the pay is so poor. Some nannies have quit their previous nanny jobs or are constantly in search of another job that pays more, but the truth is that hard economic times affect everyone, even the boss. As a parent, it is surprising that someone would think that we are paying someone to parent our child. There is no such thing. There is so much that goes on to caring for a house and family that goes way beyond the 40 hours a nanny may work. Seriously.

I have been on both sides of this subject. I encourage all to look at every option available and review it often. I was a nanny in college and I have had great quality child care and paid dearly for it. I have also taken time off from my profession and made sacrifices to do so based on the big picture (cost of child care, quality of available child care, time spent w kids,etc). Currently I work in a job that if not my first choice professionally because it is more flexible & conducive to family demands. When I do need child care I usually ask the rate and if someone asks a lot and are a good fit I give it (painfully) more often I find very fair prices quoted and I give more perks and round up their rates because I appreciate their fairness. I now have a child getting ready to babysit and I am teaching her what it means to provide safe, effective, compassionate care for the family, not just the child. She has already experienced the generosity of families for appreciation of her skills, attitude and fair rate.

I have known many families who complain about the cost of child care yet don't bat an eye for the landscaper at $100 bucks an hour, the electrician @ $70, the house cleaning for $50... There is choice more important than how we raise our children!

Just wanted to give a huge THANKS to the author of this article. It has been incredibly helpful. My wife and I have had the amazingly good fortune of having a close friend, who happens to be a pediatric nurse, as a live-in nanny. He is absolutley amazing with our two year-old. The best part is he does this for room and board and the occasional few bucks here and there for gas and such. We do not make nearly enough money to afford such as this, so I count my lucky stars that we have our nanny/friend. My wife however has lately been getting upset, complaining that the nanny does not clean enough and such. This article gives me all the ammo I need to put an end to the debate permanently. Thanks again - One lucky father.

Jack,
Would you work for room and board and the occasional few bucks here and there for gas and such?
I would ask myself what this guy is getting out of this job and install a nannycam.

I'm actually really surprised at the comments that say that they do not agree that a nannies should be getting paid as much as they do. Yes nannies are expensive, they're the most expensive type of child care there is, but think about the perks. You as the parent can control the schedule, whether or not they leave the house, how you want matters like discipline, toilet learning etc. to be handled, what the meals look like etc. Not to mention that you are paying for the individualized one-on-one child care. Most nannies also have light household duties so yes it's expensive but you do get what you pay for and most families understand this and would gladly pay for the perks.

For those families that can't afford or struggle to afford a nanny there are other childcare options for them. There's childcare in centers for example which is a lot less expensive than hiring a nanny. Or there's family child care which is when the caregiver cares for children in her own home, this is usually even less expensive than center-based child care and the groups stay relatively smaller than center-based child care. Both are group care though which has it's own perks (like socialization for your child) but you have almost no say in how their program is run so finding the right fit for you may take a little time.

If you still want more individualized child care but don't want to pay the high cost there are co-ops which are becoming more popular now. This is when families share and switch childcare duties and no money is ever exchanged (one mom will watch another moms children a few days out of the week and then switch). There is also the option to get an au-pair which is an exchange student that comes to live with you while he/she studies. Typically an au-pair will watch your children full-time in exchange for room and board and a small allowance.

There are options out there for everyone which fit their financial needs, you just have to find it. And I have to stress that when talking about a nanny, yes you will pay more, it's the most expensive type of childcare out there. If you think it's too expensive then looking into a different child care option is best. And remember, the more experience, training, education (related to child care) the nanny has ... the more you will pay.

This is a fantastic article and I agree with the first comment that everyone on care.com should read this and have an understanding of what they should expect to pay in relation to what they expect from a child care provider.

I live in Denver Colorado in a metro/urban area where the cost of living is high. I make $35,000 a year or $16/hr, I get a review every 6 months for a raise, 2 weeks paid vacation, 5 paid sick days, all major holidays off, and a gas stipend. I have a college degree in Early Childhood Development and over 8 years of teaching and child care experience. I feel that my salary and benefits are fair and I like having the opportunity for growth; it keeps me wanting to to do my job to the best of my abilities because I am rewarded and appreciated for my efforts. My benefits are similar to any other business job and there really isn't any reason a nanny shouldn't receive the same benefits as in other work environments. My other nanny friends make a similar salary and have similar benefits.

For those of you posting you can't afford this and think it is ridiculous for any nanny to expect that kinda of salary and benefits, I think you may not understand the nature of the job. If you are looking to pay $10 an hour or $200 a week for child care then you should not be looking for nanny you should find a day care center. Day care centers are much more affordable because There are many affordable options for child care available but hiring a nanny is not the most affordable. You should know before your search that if you want a nanny you will be paying a higher price. A nanny is like private child care for your child. We all know how expensive private school is, so in the same sense that you know you will be paying high tuition costs for your child to attend a private school you should also expect to pay a high salary to a nanny providing private child care.

You can find a nanny that will work for $8 dollars an hour but just know you will not be getting the best care for that price, nor should you expect the best care. I agree with Amanda's statement that I see many job postings on care.com with very high job expectations paying very little per hour with no benefits. This article is a good way for parents to set realistic expectations for child care.

Marie,
You said it all! People don't bat an eye at paying for plumbers at $70 an hour, house cleaning at $50 an hour etc. How about all those cable channels? My goodness, if your money goes towards HBO and Showtime and the Sports Channels, and not towards the person that is becoming the model of a human being to your child..then you may be confused about how this all works. In case you didn't know...yes, your child is picking up not only your nannys mannerisms, but her morals, her affectations, her reasoning, her bias'...all between the ages of 3 months and 5 yrs. old. So you'd better not just be hiring anybody and make sure they have some kind of education in childcare.

I am flexible if I like the little angle I am ready to start and get going.

I have to agree with Amanda D., this information should be mandatory for families who are considering hiring additional help with their family. I have excellent credentials, vast experience, am CPR certified (at my own cost), have a current background check attached to my profile (at my own expense), and am currently a live-in to a family with multiple special needs children.

I have also found that most families don't realize what they are asking and how demanding the families AND the clients can be. I think it's rather rude to tell someone else, she should find another line of work for pointing out the pitfalls in the process in which she is a participant.

It can be difficult to find a good marriage between doing a good job you are being paid for and not being a door mat because your constantly asked to do 'just one more thing'. It is easy for a job that was supposed to be 25 hours a week to turn into 132 hours a week for no extra money. We, as nannies have to pay for our own expenses such as car insurance, personal products, soda pops, our own eat-out meals. Next thing you know your working to pay your own basic expenses. My suggestion to all nannies is learn to say NO. Keep your duties in line with what you signed up for. If you are asked to do more than 2 additional duties more than 1 time you should ask for some sort of compensation. Everyone needs to remember that this is a job for the nanny and the nanny should always remember that this is a job and treat someone else's home, belongings and chilren as such.

Raising children is the most demanding job their is. Frankly if you can't afford to pay for quality care maybe someone should stay at home with their own chldren. No one wants or deserves less than quality care in this line of business, there simply isn't room for less than the best, so be willing to pay for it.

Ok, I realize you are doing a very important job, but...with a Master's Degree in Social Work, I cannot afford to pay anyone $16.50 an hour - Nurse or not. I pay $165 a week for pre-K in a certified Daycare/Preschool where my child gets breakfast & snacks & I provide lunch. A live in "nanny" would be very nice, but I prefer to be the one doing the Mommy thing in the home and my child to be able to get the social skills she gets out as she is an only child. Those who can afford $16.50 an hour and wish to, I think this is fine. In Utah you guys will go broke due to not enough clientele I believe.

This is crazy, people are commenting about being a "nanny" like it's not a HUGE DEAL, you essentially have the lives of a child in your hands. At the same time, being a nanny is also a job for that person, a person with bills and expenses just like you do. It's no easy task, taking care of someone elses child, having to decide wether or not to discipline on top of the cleaning, feeding, reading, TANTRUMS, potty training etc. They do EVERYTHING while you're not there, they know the ins and outs of your child, what blanket they like, what book soothes them, what they like for dinner or lunch. Then what happens, these children or child grow attached, I wonder why. Yet, they're not worth what another job is worth? Not only do I work 30-45 hours a week, my travel time is 9 hours per week (45 mins each way, 6 days a week). I make barely enough to afford my meager lifestyle. I have no benefits, no payed sick days or bereavement or god forbid vacation days.

If you can afford a nanny, I guarantee you have a good enough paying job to pay them what they deserve. If you don't, put them in a daycare where they'll have no special attention and no attachment. Let's see after that what you'd pay for that stability, and attention a nanny can give.

Treat these people like family (because your child sure does), but at the same time, be realistic, this is their income, this is how they live and support themselves. How would you like being underpaid for a job you put your whole heart into?

Hello so I'm seventeen been babysitting since I was ten. This is my first official nanny job. I am a nanny for three boys and am required to clean the whole house. I am here for 8-11 hours a day. I get paid sixty a day and my boss the mother told me she thinks i'm getting over paid. Qite frankly I believe I'm getting under paid a little help from the professionals?

I am in a similar situation as Hope. I am 18 years old and have been a lifeguard the past few years. I have certifications in first aid, CPR, life guarding, And AED. I work on average 10 hours a day for 5 days a week and get paid $60 a day. My responsibilities include entertaining (pool, bowling, movies, parks, games, etc.), feeding breakfast and lunch, bringing to sporting activities, cleaning the dishes, kitchen area, and dining area, and helping with the pets. The parents are divorced, however based on their cars and things they choose to buy, they seem to not have a money struggle. My parents are encouraging me to approach them asking for at least $70 a day, but of course it is not a comfortable subject to talk about. Is there any advise on how to handle my situation?

I have a true passion for caring for children, especially infants, and because of that, I am able to be a little more flexible with the rates I can accept when caring for infants. However, the cost of living is rising everyday and hopefully parents will recognize that while we love caring for children and value the trust given to us, bills still need to be paid and we're all not able to perform this much needed function for just the pleasure of it. My rates are truly competitive and I have very strong references who will back me on the TLC I provided to their children. Unfortunately, this website provides a pay category of $5-10/hour with the lower end being below the KS minimum wage. Expecting a qualified and experienced Nanny to be able to accept that is an unfair expectation. My personal rate is at the higher level of that category and I believe most parents will find difficulty in securing viable caregivers for much lower.

I concur with the statements listed in the above article.

"Note that nannies are covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act. Their salaries must meet minimum wage (although you likely won't find a top-notch nanny willing to work for minimum wage), and live-out nannies are entitled to overtime (time and a half) for work above 40 hours per week. Check your state guidelines to determine whether live-in nannies qualify for overtime above 40 hours per week.

For part-time nannies, hourly nanny rates start around $12 per hour and can run as high as $20-25 per hour in affluent areas, particularly those without public transportation."

The services I provide as a part-time nanny for an infant are flexible; however, the range is between $10-12/hour. I also have very strong local references available upon request. I will tell you, it's not all about the money for me, which allows me some flexibility.

To Jennifer G-

Sorry but the bottom line is that you honestly don't sound like you make the type of income to even afford a Nanny and are just making excuses as to why a woman should be paid a low salary. Not everyone is desperate and looking to take care of your kids for nothing just because "the economy is bad." Lol. Lots of families are stable and can afford to pay their Nanny well over $35,000 a year- which to you may be "good money" but to the rest of the world is not much. Nannies are working professionals too- and aren't for just anyone off the street who feels like they want their cake and can eat it too.. They have always been employed by the wealthy and paid SALARIES. Its only in the last decade or so that everyone and their brother thinks they are entitled to having a Nanny just because they want one and can offer a lousy $20,000 a year- which is probably less than Joe Blow is making at McDonalds and what you'd pay to have your kid in daycare anyway.. Sorry but no one is out to care for your little brats all day for your crumbs. Nannies can get very decent salaries if they aren't stupid. It's usually only the young girls in their early twenties or desperate woman from foreign countries that are willing to do this job for a salary that you can afford. Get a clue Lady- I would rather work at McDonalds making the same amount of money you'd be offering then give you free childcare.

I have been a nanny and now I am mother looking for a nanny, so I can understand both sides of this debate. As a nanny, I later found I was being way under paid and that was very frustrating. However, as an 18 year old girl (at the time) the pay sounded good and I was willing to take the job.

Basically, what I can say is you will pay for what you get. You can't expect to pay a 26 year old with a degree and 8 years of experience the same as an 18 year old fresh out of high school.

As a mom, I make my pay clear. I can't afford to pay the big bucks, so I understand I am aiming at that 18-20 year old mark and that's okay. :-) If nannies aren't okay with my pay, they can continue looking for work.

I am a stay at home mom with a special needs child. As much as I would like to pay more, I pay what I can afford. I guess the simple matter is, if you don't like what I'm offering, don't apply. :-)

To Hope and Lee, I believe you are not being paid enough! I know it's probably difficult to approach your employer but you should be getting at least $15.00 per hour! If they balk at that, start looking for another nanny position.

I have been a career nanny for the past 8 years. I think people are confusing babysitters for nannies. I don't know any nanny that would work for $8-$14 per hour. I think people who complain about compensating a nanny fairly with both salary and benefits(medical, paid vacation, paid holidays, etc.) probably can't afford a real nanny to begin with. I have to be very honest and say that my previous employers and other families I have interviewed with have at least a gross yearly income of $200k or more. I also know that families that are looking for real nannies tend to go with professional agencies that run extensive interviews and background checks. They charge families looking for a nanny a retainer fee and a placement fee which can run upwards of $2000. They also do home visits and interview the hiring family to make sure they are suitable employers. These are not people looking to hire off of Craiglist or Care. All nannies are over the age of 21 and typically have either extensive nanny experience, a college degree, or have been trained at a professional nanny school(yes they do exist.)We typically sign a contract agreeing to at least 1 year and are paid through a payroll system that deducts taxes.I have been steadily employed and if anything the nanny industry is growing so I don't compromise on my salary. This is the reality of hiring a nanny and if it sounds like too much than a daycare center may be a better option for you. I also have to add that I have to be ruthless when it comes to negotiating my contract because I was taken advantage of early on in my career. At the end of the day I love what I do and I love the children I am helping to RAISE. I am not only present during working hours, I make it to soccer games, swim meets, birthdays and holidays(of course bearing gifts!)and school plays. I know the parents birthdays and anniversary's. I have not only met grandparents and other relatives, I become well acquainted and end up being friends with many of them. I take care of those children as if they are my own and I don't know of any babysitter getting paid $10 an hour who can say the same.

Seriously, some people want a nanny to do all the work of the stay at home mom, housekeeper, entertainer, educator and pay her barely anything. If you can't afford a nanny, the child needs to be in a group daycare. You get what you pay for. Someone offered me $250 every TWO weeks!. It would have been about $3/ hour. That's less than a 14 year old babysitter would get paid for a date night. Laughable. You'll pay to more to get your carpet cleans in one hour than someone to watch your kids for 50 hours.

I have worked for the same family for almost 2 years, caring for two children. I started at $8 then after 30 days went up to $9. I was ok with this pay rate because she told me that the duties were playing, reading educational material, feeding, naps, and of course cleaning up after our daily activities. After about 6 months I was being asked to cook, do laundry (wash dry fold and up away), sweeping & moping, I am the one who takes them to the doctor, I give medical treatments, outings in my personal car(no gas reimbursement), work late and on holidays (no extra pay)and never receive my bonuses. When I reminded her that was not in my job duties and that I would be willing to adjust our contract and my pay for the added duties there is always a pause and trys to distract me. This family has the money and is very very well off. I am 32 have a over 15 years of experience, and am certified medical assistant, and have worked for them as I said for almost 2 years. I also have never had a pay increase. I love these children like the are my own. They come to my home and play with my kids, I never miss a soccor game for the older child and have raised the younger one from 4 months he calls me mommy which I discourage. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS???

Stacci W.
You are being taken advantage of. It sounds as though they have played off your love for the job and the children and continued to add on duties. I hate to sound cynical, and it can be an awkward topic to approach, but you really should list the additional duties on paper and try to approach the parents with a possible negotiation of pay.
I pay $100 per day for child care and I came on this site to see if I was paying enough or too much. Nannies are not for everyone; it is less expensive to send kids to a center, but how much one on one are they really getting? You have to take that into account when looking at hiring a nanny versus taking kids to a center. AND, just saying, from seeing other posts, I definitely agree that being a military wife and nurse, it takes a bit of money out of the paycheck, but I think it's worth it in the end.
Hopefully, Stacci, you can find a way to approach the situation and get the raise you deserve.
HB

Heather S, whoever you are I hope I never hire you, in fact I may never interview a heather just in case. If that is how you feel about children and their parents, I am really sorry for all involved that you have chosen this as your profession. I am all for paying Nannies fairly (and in 6 years we have had 2 very happy nannies) and I can tell you we would NEVER hire you!

Sounds to me like a few nannies skipped Economics. As many have stated, nannies are professionals, and professionals are expected to pay their own taxes out of the salary averaged for that profession. It is lucrative to expect an employer to fulfill your civic duty of having taxes withdrawn. If, after tax deduction, you are not satisfied with the pay, you are in the wrong market. To ensure you get the compensation you see fit, join the many other Americans in a job search. As a professional, your services are only worth what an employer is willing to offer. A word of caution: you are likely to be appalled at the price tag business organizations place on your work. While many nannies point to the need for employers to read the original post, I point to your own lacking of industrial knowledge and the realistic economic operations of this country.

I wish to say thank you to you for presenting this amazing ideas. I've just learned how to use the world wide online world and I am just catching up to these young whippersnappers.

Question for those reading this....we are not sure of what rate to pay a part time live in nanny. We live in Atlanta, one infant, once a week cleaning (no other domestic chores), she has no car and I will be at home (working) a good portion of the time. Proposed nanny has approx 2-3 Yrs exp and will have very private quarters and her own entrance. Speaks English but it is not great but has a specific language skill that I desire. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Hi Melissa,
At Care.com we understand pay rates can be tricky to figure out. One tool we have at your disposal is the nanny calculator to give you an average pay rate for your area. I have attached it below. I hope you find it helpful. Thanks! Membercare
http://www.care.com/visitor/childCarePayCalculator.do?zip=&numChild=&yearsEx=999

I have been a nanny for six families, including one overseas, in the last twenty-one years. I was also a preschool teacher at a high quality preschool and a teacher at a special needs center during periods of that time span. I have found all of my families, with the exception of one, through nanny agencies. I have been with my current family for four years. I have a college degree, although it is not child related. My present nanny job is a part-time job ( 25 hrs), since both children are in school. I make $450 per week (net), and I am paid more for any extra hours, such as in the summer. They pay half of my insurance. I am paid when they are out of town, and additionally have my own personal vacation (two weeks) and sick days (3). I am also provided a cell phone. All of my other nanny jobs have been full-time nanny positions. Three of these families have provided cars to drive their children. I have taken care of familes with two - four children and have helped raise two sets of twins. This will probably be my last year with my current family, since the children are older and their needs are less and less for a nanny and more for a babysitter/chauffeur. Honestly, that is the toughest thing about my line of work: job security. You work hard to help the children become independent and responsible and you watch them grow up, needing you less and less. By then you have grown attached to the family and have established deep trust and bonds. Then your job is over and you have to to start all over with a new family. But that is the nature of the job. And if the children have outgrown their need of you or if the parents have been able to finally work less hours so that they can spend more time with their children, you look at these as good things, even if those endings make your future a bit shaky. I do not agree with any of the caregivers who have made it sound like they are parenting or doing the job of the parents. I am not the parent and know that my job is to assist the parents by caring for their children the way they have specified. I have been extremely fortunate in the familes I have worked for. I have always felt like we were a team. I have been very careful at navigating the fine line between being a family member and an employee. That is a tricky thing. I learned early on that because you work in someone's home and because your are taking care of their most cherished family members, parents have a tendancy to treat you like family. This is not good for either side. It's like the old saying that you shouldn't work with family. Every nanny/family should have a contract and should agree to revisit the contract once a year. Everything,- such as salary, vacation, sick days, overtime, duties, discipline, etc. should be spelled out. This will save both parties from a lot of misunderstandings. If you treat each other like family, it is more likely your employer will have a habit of running late or your nanny will constantly need to clock out early for personal reasons. At the same time, you can't treat this like a normal employee/employer relationship, because it is not. You are taking care of someone's children in their home. There needs to be a mutual feeling of respect and the nanny needs to feel like she/he is valued and that she/her opinions matter. I want to assist the parents in the raising of their children and if I know something because of my experience that can be can be useful, I want to be heard.
No one should become a nanny, unless they have a great love of children and a desire to be a positive force. As far as pay, though, nannies should expect to be paid fairly for the services they provide. I have never had trouble finding work as a nanny and have turned down several jobs, that paid more than I have ever made as a nanny, because I could tell it wasn't a good fit. I have even turned one extremely high-paying offer down because the couple wanted to pay me half of the finders fee, if I promised to not tell the agency they had hired me, so they wouldn't have the pay the rest. Right away this told me what kind of people they are. And yes, I did report them to the agency, because no matter what families think of the high price nanny agencies charge for their finders fee, they are providing a service and I owe them loyalty for all the wonderful familes they have found for me.
Being a nanny has brought wonderful peple into my life. Four years ago, I was married. Eleven children that I had nannied (one of them a godson) were in my wedding. Two of those children flew from far away to be in my wedding. Having all those children/young adults and their parents there on my special day, made it so much more meaningful and happy. What other job allows you to play such a meaningful part in someone's life and lifetime bonds? Having a nanny and being a nanny can be a great thing, it just has to be the perfect great match for everyone.
PS Knox - I am a Heather S, too. Don't lump all Heathers together, please!

Just a note on wages for all...nanny's must make at least min wage of 7.25 an hour and get overtime. if you are working 40 hours a week then your nanny is getting about 45 hours a week. you MUST pay overtime on the 5 hours due to the Fair Labor Standards Act. so expect to pay a min $344.35 per week or $17,906.20 per year. Even more if you work long hours. If you are paying/making less it is CRIMINAL....lawyered :P

I am a nanny for a 10 year old. She is related to me, however I did explain to her mother this is strictly business when it comes to pay. She pays me $10 per hour, however activities for the child have increased dramatically. Which means I take the child to afterschool activities. How do I get reimbursed for travel gas/wear&tear? What is the price I ask for?

I am a live in nanny in los gatos ca. I do not get paid, my room and board is my paya month. I did the math and see that i am being SEVERLY underpaid. What are my erights as far as the living situation. Can they kick me out without notice? Or 30 days? I dont have another place to live right now. Please help

I am currently trying to hire a nanny, and from what I have read or skimmed through, I think any job should be treated as a business and therefore each party should have some type of written document to protect all persons. That is why I am getting a contract formed and I hope that the nanny would have some type of documents as well. Like any job, requirements are expected and certain expectations are normally expressed before hiring. Whether nurse, firefighter, cashier or nanny, contracts are formed to let both party's have a legal agreement. Anyone who has a job should take it seriously and everyone should be respectful of all job positions. I appreciate the guidance from the article. I hope we are doing the jobs that we truly love.

NEED HELP!!! Please, from any current/former nannies or families who have hired a nanny in the past.

My situation is this: I am a single father of a nearly 10 year old daughter, who is pretty independent. My wife passed away earlier this year and my brother is currently living with us. I have to travel alot, anywhere from 1-3 times per month usually three nights per trip. My brother is moving out soon so I need a nanny (not a babysitter).

What I am looking for is someone who will be a live-in. I only need them to take care of my daughter when I am out of town and maybe one or two evenings a month, almost never on a weekend and they will have the entire day open since my daughter is in school from 8 until 4 then goes to after-school program until 6:30 (but I would like to do away with that) in addition to almost every weekend.

I do not need them to clean the house or do my laundry. There will be some after school activities (softball, girl scouts, etc) that will be necessary. I am willing to provide room and board as well as gas allowance depending on activities. I am even willing to put that person on our gym membership if they so desire.

My questions are:

a. In this situation is it best to come up with a monthly rate? If not, are "sleep" hours included into the equation? So if my daughter is home from 6pm until 8am is that 14 hours or would I take out the 9-10 hours she is sleeping?

b. How much does the room and board factor into the pay?

c. Do I HAVE to pay them as if I were their employer? Meaning, taxes, etc??

d. Does anyone ever provide health insurance to their nanny and is that something that is typically expected/required? If so, is that cost factored into their pay?

e. I have talked to several people here on care.com but it's hard to get come up with a price (but I will admit I just started this process a few days ago and have yet to speak with or meet with anyone directly.

Can someone give me a good idea, based on everything I have mentioned, what would be a fair price to offer someone on a weekly/monthly basis and how much of a difference should it be for someone who is 21 with little experience and someone who is 30 with years of experience.

Thank you so much for your help!

Hi David,
These are all great questions! At Care.com we always encourage an open dialog with any individual you are looking to hire. A lot of these questions will need to be addressed on a case by case basis. My chief advice would be to compile this information into a job posting. Explain that it will be a consistent job, with inconsistent hours and that it would require over nights. Individuals will respond with what they are expecting and you can start the discussion there.
When it comes to taxes, benefits and pay rates these are actually good question to direct to our partners at Breedlove. They take the guess work out of being a household employer. Good luck David! I hope it works out soon.
http://www.breedlove.com/

Wow I came on this site because I want to ask for a raise. I currently am paid 20 an hour to watch two children. I have been with the family for over 3 years. I can not believe some of these comments and feel bad for the quality of care that your children are most likely getting when you are paying your nannies so little. There are many less expensive options. Not everyone can have the luxury of having a nanny but you get what you pay for.

I agree with the first comment very much. There are a lot of comments I agreed with actually. I appreciate the families that understand that though we are required (by you, the parent) to love your child and give it our undivided attention, it IS A job we are trying to pay bills with, and it should be ok that I think of it that way. It doesn't mean I will slack on my job just because I don't call it something else. I also think it is silly that I can easily get $20 an hour for my housecleaning jobs, but literally be offered $3.81 an hour to watch two kids Mon- fri 5.25 hours a day. Yes, I was just recently asked to be a nanny for that little. It makes me sick. You spend more on coffee at that rate! We need toget paid why we deserve, but also what can be afforded. If you have a house keeper and slap down money on everything else, but what should be your top priority, you need to rethink some things. It is insulting to me when I'm offered so little. Especially if I'm more experienced and qualified than a 12 year old babysitter looking for money for cd's or whatnot. This pay chart is excellent and I plan on pointing it out to people who offer me so little from now on, as well as the people that are willing to pay decently. It seems a lot of parents still have the mentality that we are just like babysitters and should be paid the $5 an hour that was ok when we didn't have bills or responsibilities. We deserve respect and that means paying us with respect too. We take care of your most prized possession. Is it not with at least $10 an hour to you?

So I would like to ask a question to the Nannies on here. I'm not sure if what my needs qualify as a Nanny or not but I do need someone to give my kids breakfast and take them to school in the mornings. The breakfast I would provide at here home. But, she/he would have to use their own car. Is that considered a Nannie or just a caregiver? What price should I charge because I really don't know.

I kind of feel like I'm taking crazy pills here. I understand that you are responsible for children and that it has a direct effect on that child's life. Having said that, once you start getting into the $35K annual salary range, you are no longer an "hourly" worker. That's a salary, which means that I am your boss. To me, that means that you are on my time, every day, and if you are required to work late, you don't get overtime. The time it takes to get to your job doesn't get factored into your pay (as some have suggested). If you have to run errands, you don't get to tack that onto your pay either. This is how it is for salary employees in the real world. Not to mention, I would never pay someone $50/hour to clean my house. That's more than I make! It's time to call a spade, a spade - a nanny is unskilled labor. If you want to make more, look into getting a new career.

Thanks for this article. I am shocked by how many parents want to pay $5-$10 an hour for one-on-one care for their child. If they want that rate, they need to look at day care centers.

Amy, I agree with you. Daycares usually offer a monthly fee that is equivalent to $5-8 an hour. I assume with a nanny you are getting the conveniences of not having to do the drop offs and pick ups. I actually have a part-time nanny because I think daycare is critcal for the social and cognitive development of children. However, depending on the amount of children, it becomes more cost effective to hire a nanny.

i am a nanny, i care for a 2 year 10=11.5 hours a day, get 2 more children ready for school and pick up from school and , get their baths, and shuttle them to their required after school classes or events, clean the house daily and do all grocery shopping, and 90 % of all cooking for the family do all laundry for the family of 5. its a 3 story home with 4 1/2 baths and 4 bedroom and 2 dens.i am in charge of organizing all their dresser drawers of clothes ,and kitchen and pantries , MY QUESTION IS THIS HOW DO I RATE ON A SCALE OF PAY FOR THIS KIND OF JOB, WHAT IS IT WORTH VALUE?

Emily you have no idea what you re talking about in general. Nannies are unskilled? Uh, why don t you go ahead and hire any bum off the street then? Uh, and hello yes the parent/nanny relationship is that of a employee/employer dynamic but that doesn t give the employer the right to ask the employee to do whatever they want when it s not part of his/her job description. I don t know what world you live in, but hourly workers at let say, retail stores and coffee shops get paid overtime. Also, many nannies are salary workers. The main difference between a salary worker and an hourly worker is that the salary worker gets paid a set amount within however many hours as agreed upon in their contract no matter what, while hourly is based on hours so if the employer cancels you or you call in sick, you don t make money. I really don t know what salary versus hourly would have to do with employee/employer status. Either way, you re greatly misinformed.

Emily C. - what about the nannies that have college degrees in child-related fields? Are they "unskilled" laborers as you suggest? You sound like a NIGHTMARE employer. If you are unable to pay a nanny what they deserve then you are looking for the wrong kind of childcare. Go to a daycare center or a home daycare.

I appreciate this helpful chart!
My largest concern though is, this chart was compiled just before the recession, at which point everything became far more expensive (of course). Is there an updated model of pay that Care.com could offer us, in light of recent financial changes in the US (higher income taxes, higher national minimum wage, etc)? Thank you.

I am a Nanny in Missouri. What would the recommended income be for having 6 boys this Summer ages 6, 5,4,3,2, and newborn? I currently watch four of the boys now and get $400 a week for the 5,4,3, and 2 year old with 48 hrs a week and do not feel it is enough. Suggestions?

I am looking for a 5 day/5night babysitter in Manhattan, Kansas. What would the going rate be?

Also would like a viewpoint of a nanny here..

I am not going to say what we pay, but have a couple comments/questions for nannies and other families. In my corporate job, I get about a 3-5% raise every year for top performance. What type of annual raise to nannies expect to see, or do you other employers pay?

Secondly, my nanny does have a degree, and she is making less being a nanny for me than working as a teacher, plus no insurance/other benefits. However, I give her whatever time off she needs (unpaid) and have been very flexible with her. Also, my 2 children nap 2-3 hrs every afternoon, at which time she rests/watches TV/internet, etc. I am totally ok with that (as long as she cleans up from lunch - my only request). I also work from a home office, so I am down during my lunch hour and we tag-team the difficult lunch/putting down for nap time. For these reasons, I don't feel as guilty paying lower than the $15-$20/hr range. She has told me on multiple occasions how much less stressful this job is than teaching. Our nanny is so important to me and the kids, I don't want to underpay her...so I'm wondering if I should offer her a larger raise that I typically would but also add some more duties to cover the 'down time' (like sweeping, folding laundry, cooking dinner, etc). Or ask her if she'd rather keep her 'daily downtime' and how important that is to her. What do you nannies think?

Thanks for your input!

I am a nanny in NYC, where the minimum price for one child is generally $15/hour, 18/hr for two kids, etc. The employers out here tend to give vacation days, sick days, etc. I am getting ready to move back to Indiana, where the cost of living is greatly reduced. Out there, the fair price would probably be in the $10-$15 range. Bear in mind that they are looking to raise minimum wage to $9/hour, so these rates aren't actually so astronomical as they sound. You do get what you pay for. A nanny gives individualized attention to your children. They are able to nurture, protect, teach, and love your children without other distractions. I agree that these prices are fair. If you want cheaper options, daycare options might be for you. I have dealt with special needs children, too. I could've asked for more money, but I took the parents' income into consideration. It is not too much to ask for fair compensation, but it also isn't just aut the money.

Teachers have historically been underpaid and underappreciated for many years. Parents on the other hand have always had issue with the cost of care for their children. I am a licenses teacher k-3, a licensed preschool director, previously a licensed family child care owner, and I am certified to work in any preschool at any level and any age group. I am CPR & First Aid certified and I know my way around the water.
There is no standard for a nanny taking on any job monetarily speaking. There are many variables for a family you may seek to work for. # of children, their ages, special education or not, hours to be worked, live in or live out? benefits, household responsibilities, etc.
There are nannies who take this work as a way to make income while moving on to another career. There are nanies that consider this their profession, long term, like me.
In my opinion, parents who choose a nanny may do so because they want individualized care for their children. This can be much costlier than public childcare centers. Although, parents with children too young to be at home alone, especially with younger siblings may choose to hire a nanny to cover all their childcare needs. That sounds smart to me.
Because nannies range in experience, abilities and skill the pay scale can be all over the place. I knew that I had the resume, the skills and the experience to demand more. I had to do that for myself. I need to be able to afford the lifestyle that I have established for myself. Once you know your budget its easier to know what you need to make to keep it all moving forward. If you settle for a certain rate then complain about it then you didn't plan wisely. If you don't have the education/experience then perhaps you need to change that so parents feel they are getting what they pay for.
I asked for a certain rate per hour, I asked for vacation time, I asked for benefits. If I use my car to shuttle the kids all over the place, which I do, then I expect compensatiuon for that. I use my cellphone too, ALOT! When we are out, especially during school vacation weeks, and over the summer then I need money to keep the kids content whether they are in camp or not. Nannies have to think about ALL of this before they commit to a family. Parents need to realise their nanny is working for them 40-50 hours a week, entertaining their most precious gifts, their children, driving them to doctor, dentist, hair, camp and play dates. Taking care of them when they are vomiting all day long and just want to be held. Managing their therapy sessions and coordinating who goes where over summer break.
I love what I do. The kids love me. My family appreciates me. If there are issues we work it out. If I need a raise and an extra week's vacatiuon I ask. They can say yes or they can say know. You'll never know if you don't ask.
We are all working for the same goal, right?

Emily C.

Here is a blurb from Care.com that spells out OT rules.

Handle Overtime Correctly
"If you don't use a payroll service, you'll need to make sure to manage any overtime correctly. If your nanny works over 40 hours in a week, you must pay them time-and-a-half for the hours over 40. Live-in nannies generally are not entitled to overtime, but are simply paid for every hour they work. (Note: there are special overtime requirements for live-in employees in New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine and Minnesota. Consult your state or Breedlove for details if this applies to you).

My employer uses Breedlove. I like it that way. The only problem with this system is the inabilkty to have your weekly paycheck direct deposited. Fortunately I can now scan my paycheck with my i-Phone. :-)

@emily c
Wow, it's people like you that make it necessary to have laws that protect Nannies. You basically want a slave for 35,000? Go to China. You make it seem like just because a nanny requires more pay due to experience, education, or any other factors, their time isn't valuable. We have lives too. You get what you pay for. Your logic is most definitely flawed and disgusting to a career nanny like me.

Just wanted to know the difference between a nanny and a babysitter. Are nannies full time only? If you needed someone to help watch the kids while mom does all the housework or just help mom out with taking care of a child (an extra hand at bathing, going to the shops etc) but mom is still solely responsible the while time for only 4 hours for say 3 days a week, should I be looking for a nanny or a babysitter/mothers help. Would $10-12 an hour be reasonable for this type of work or over/under paid?

Good blog

I have a similar situation as Anne. I am ALWAYS with my kids but I need an extra set of hands. How do you handle pay?

@ Liz c that is a conversation you need to have with your nanny. Personally holding a degree would often require higher pay. However some nannys are willing to work for less and if they are personally ok with it then it will work for both parties. I would express to her that you are willing to give her a raise because you appreciate what she does for you but in doing so would require some extra task. It is fair for you a employer to determine what the job requirements are. A nanny who has lots of down time will make less then a nanny who doesn't or does laundry or other various task while the children are sleeping. I recommend talking with your nanny. I love when I am given more responsibility and maybe she will to:) hope that helps

@ arie m an Anne it depends on your nannies experience and age. If you are hiring someone between 18-20 or younger with 1-2 years of experience 10-12 is right on the nose. However someone with previou FT experience or a degree would require more. I was in this situation when I had over 5 years of experience and was payed 14 dollar an hr. you do get what you pay for. If you want someone with more experience or a degree be prepared to pay more. Also nannies working PT often have a higher hourly rate. Just make sure you are honest about what you are willing to pay. If a nanny isn't willing to work within your budget then it not the right fit for either party.

Hi Anne,

That is a common question that does pop up often and we actually have the perfect article for you! This article describes the differences between a nanny and a babysitter: http://www.care.com/child-care-what-is-the-difference-between-a-babysitter-and-a-nanny-p1017-q13314590.html

For your case, we feel a babysitter/mother's helper may fit your needs best. You can always look up the average pay rate by going to the section on your account called News and Views. In that section is a babysitter pay rate calculator. Feel free to enter your information to get those results. We hope that helps!

Ok, so my question is simple. I am considering on getting a live in nanny. It would be very part time, before and after school, some light cooking, taking the kids to school, and cleaning up after themself. 2-3 days a week maybe a weekend night from time to time so that my boyfriend and I could have adult time. So if I had a live in, would room and board be included? Or would we charge the going rate for a room for rent? Or is that expected to be included in the pay?

What would I need to pay someone to watch my 10 year old this summer. All she will have to do is come to my house early in the morning and sleep untill my daughter gets up. No cleaning or anything like that. She can have the option of having Fridays off or work longer during the week. Im just hoping to find someone so I dont have to take my child to the ymca this summer for care. I want to pay about the same that I would pay the ymca.

Thanks
Dan

Ok. Emily C. I am pretty sure you are a joke that was put into this blog to show how unrealistic people can be. That is not how labor laws work in the United States. In any job. I know, as an Excectutive Chef, with a BS from Johnson & Wales University, I have continually had to fight the "expectations" of a single proprietor verses the "reality" that allows me to live a normal (at least semi) lifestyle.
Nannies are not 'old maids' that have given up hope of having a family, or children of thier own, neither are pediatritions, teachers, child therapist, or pediatric nurses. In fact, most use thier experience to improve and learn, so that they may better handle thier own family situations, and jobs.
Stop and read this.
If you are looking for a nanny, you must get the "Babysitter" mentality out of your mind. This is not a 17 yo that is working for gas money. This is a professional that is, let me be clear, ASSISTING YOU IN THE TOUGHEST JOB IN THE WORLD, properly raising your child.
I became a personal chef. My job transformed itself into a Nannyish (lol) type of position. I love my family (as I call them), and that is because they love! Chef Mark. We do homework, work on two foreign languages, play all types of sports, eat sound, healthy food, and run a pretty tight ship. I said WE Ms. C. I make it possible for the parents to be the best that they can be, at work, enforcing THEIR structure, at home, while they are working. When they get home, their concentration goes directly to thier family (husband to wife to child) and I get to go do the same. That is what a nanny does, or in my opinion should do.
As far a compensation goes. Think of this. How much would you pay to have healthy meals prepared for you and your family three times daily? Well average eating out that much, subtract the healthy, and you have your answer.
How much would you pay to know that your child is learning, and studying, exactly what you want them to each and every day? Take tuition for a private school, with a tutor, and you have your answer.
How much would you pay to come home to a clean and organized home, so that you may completely enjoy the little time working parents have with thier family? Multiply a hotel service by 200 and, yes, you have your answer.
I personally do everything in my power to pay for myself. This is called job security. Coupons, specials, no waste, limited trips in the car etc. these things add up (and usually come back to me at bonus/Christmas/holiday time)
Choosing a nanny is a lifestyle that was facilitated by these parents, explained fully to me, and, then, reinforced by THE PARENTS. I am paid to assist them, a sous parent, if you will. I know they are lucky, but I also know I am lucky.
If you need to have a babysitter hire one, if you need a foster parent you are on the wrong page. If you need a nanny understand what that means, and do the math.
Ask any mother or father if they would take $70k to do this for a child that was not theirs while handling their own family. To do it as a parent truly should. The true answer would be "heck no! So much work, care, responsibility, for another persons kid? For what? Heck no!"
But the highest rate that seemed reasonable was not even half that - barely twice the minimum wage, on call 24/7 and with no benefits (and if you are lucky enough to work for Ms. C, as an indentured servent).
Wait, time out, Are we speaking of children, or pets because I know dog walkers that make $12 per hour.
Listen. You get what you pay for.
If you are looking for a nanny her is some good advice. Do the math and understand the value of what you are asking for. WRITE DOWN expectations so there is no misunderstandings, address issues immediately, and, most importantly, EVERYONE, love that child.
Thanks for the chance to comment.

Chef Mark Brewington BS, CC, ACF

Hi Daniel B,

We do offer the Babysitter Pay calculator, a tool that you may find helpful when trying to figure out an appropriate pay rate. With this calculator, you are able to enter your zip code and the amount of children that require care and we will figure out the average rate for your area. You can find this tool in the News and Views section of your account. We hope that helps!

To Melissa,

It is a care position but as well this is a business. If I was a nurse (also a position in which I am caring for someone) I would want to be paid what I have sat many years.in college for or the experience.that I have. Unfortunately for us nannies we still have bills to pay just like anyone else. I definitely believe in getting paid what you are worth while not robbing the family of every penny they have. Its about being practical and ethical on both ends.

I am a parent with a bit of an issue. For instance, my sitter is a sitter. I dont think of her as a nanny. She like to stay in my guest room (at her choice) instead of me driving my kids to her house or her driving to mine. She doesnt have a car so I pick her up and drop her off. She drives me to work and then uses my car to pick up my daughter from school, get food, go to the park. She doesnt ever need to buy gas and when she does I reimburse her. She watches them from 945-6, 3-4 days a week. She is welcome to use my house as her own and eat my food. I dont ever require that she clean my house EVER. There have been some issues. She gets up early in the morning to take my daughter to school, but gets upset that I do it instead. I try to explain that I do not want a nanny. I will take her to school, take them to the doctors and if I am not at home to do so, then it wont be scheduled at that time. I also have a dog that she has taken responsibility for...at no insistence of my own. I usually feed/water her before I leave for work and then when I get home (She also gets scraps from the dinner table.) Now she does it...at her own choice. I dont say she has to or that I want her to. I dont think she should get paid for coming to birthdays or places with me when I am with the kids...because that is a choice of her own...in other words when I am around I am the caregiver and want to and will do EVERYTHING. This has been made clear. When she wants to help out like pick up my daughter from school even though I am home (I tell her I will get her and she takes the keys and gets her) I dont feel I should pay for something that she CHOOSES to do. Yeah she is at my house 3-4 days/nights a week, but that is his choice because I only need him for the 8 hours/day. When she is watching the kids, I dont expect that he is going to do stuff with them every single minute. I want a grown up around to supervise to make sure that they are fed and dont get into anything. My kids are very easy going and have no medical issues. Also, do I take into consideration that she is staying in the room/eating food/using car for personal use(not including what she uses for the kids) for free? Also, the kids grandparents were watching them for free and then she offered to for 8/child/day (low I know, but that all she would let me-but always complains about how little she has, but wont accept anymore). She is my sister-in-law, goes to college, lives with her parents. Also, i watch my neice every couple weeks and my sister can watch my kids some of the time, but then my sister-in-law always says, "no I can do it". Even though my sister would be free, when she offers to watch them on days I could have others watch them (she convinces them that she can do it and it would be an inconvenience for the other people. So she ends up watching them). The problem is she wants to get paid for it (for instance, my mom was going to watch my kids as a anniversary present for free so my hubby and I could get out of the house. Instead she convinced me that she would, but then charged me for it. I was a little confused about that.) How much do you think I should pay/week?

Hi, I am want to put my experience with live in nanny, as that's the only thing that I prefer. I am a mother of two toddler who are 1 1/2 yrs old and 3 years old. I think nanny should be paid , from how they do their job, If they are lazy, I don't think you should get any raise.
I have 3 or 4 nannies so far for the past 2 years, and let me tell you the more I find, the more lazy they gets. My daughter who is 3 years old ,go to school from 8am - 6pm, then got home. That means only left me and the nanny to take care of my 1 1/2 yrs old toddler in the house. She does the laundry 2 times a week, not really cooking, I am taking care my son too, no chores what so ever, I am still doing the cleaning and feeding the kids , bathing them, sweeping the floor, cleaning the toys. What the nanny do? Nothing, and she expect me to give her raise, nah I don't hink so. Everytime I am doing some bussiness outside the house, she would ask me to come home due to my son crying for me? I could not leave the house, at this point I am questioning, why is she here if I do all the jobs?
I paid $2200 a month, food, place to sleep, everything included, even her coffee, shampoo, outing or everything is included, 1 day off a week. I think I am being taking advantage of. I am very nice, but it is boiling in my patience right now.
Can someone help me? She always said she is underpaid, keep telling me how good she was in her previous job, how good was her salary there and she told me the boss like her so much. And I asked her how long she was accepted at the job, and she said was only for 2 months. Then I asked her previous boss since he is my bussiness partner, he told me she got paid like 400 dollars less than what she told me, and she is very lazy that's why they don't hire her anymore.
I told her, if you doing good , of course raise it's not a problem, the way I see it now, Is everone this lazy , there is no point then to hire a nanny, if I do all the jobs.
Sorry if my english is not really good, I hope everyone understant. And please help me, I want to know how this nanny pays works, and what they do?

JH-- A babysitter is someone you call when you're going on a date for a few hours, or that teenager who lives down your street who spends a couple of hours with your child after school before you get home.

A nanny is a person who spends considerable amount of time with your child, helping you raise your child by reinforcing all the elements you have introduced. They help with the disciplining, they feed your child, give them baths, clean up after them and things along that line. Does that sound like what your person does?

Now some of the other responsibilities that other nannies are talking about are things that they agreed to do upon hire or do because that's their style of nannying. For example, many nannies don't take the kids they watch to the doctors, but that doesn't make them any less of a nanny.

Most importantly, I would ask her what she considers herself-- a nanny or a babysitter-- because that's not something you can just say and it'll suddenly be true because you want it to be. It's best that employees and employers are on the same page about the title of the position being worked and paid for.

For example, I'm a nanny. I have a standard starting rate for families who are hiring me for a basic position as explained above. If they ask me to do more, I ask for more. Now if I've agreed to work 30 hours for a family and in trying to do my job they keep telling me that I don't have to do this or that...that's fine, but they hired a nanny and so they are going to continue paying me my nanny rate regardless of how much they want to get in my way of doing my job. I'm not suddenly going to become a babysitter because they want me to be. I however, accept occasional babysitting gig which I start at a slightly lower rate-- but all in all, I'm a nanny.

FYI--- all nanny and babysitting positions usually involves free rein of food, so this is not particularly unique to your position and should not be considered as a form of payment. Also, it seems like she's sleeping at the house to make it easier in the morning, but if you feel like it's some sort of payment to her-- you should certainly mention it to her so that she can know that you consider part of her payment. Same for the car-- when she uses it
for personal use. It's not okay to allow something and then consider it as payment without telling her.

As far as what you should pay your person-- I don't know because you only listed what she doesn't do and none of what she does do. I'm assuming she does a bit if she's with your kids 8 hours a day 3/4 times a week. I'd do your research, look above and read the suggestions and go on from there. I highly recommend that you both communicate better. Her behavior suggests that she wants to make more which is why she's passively-aggressively trying to get more hours and so on.

i've been on both sides.
I was a nanny for 9 years before my daughter was born. and i considered what i needed to pay my monthly bills before accepting a job. it didn't matter what the jobs had to offer if they couldn't pay what i needed to pay my bills i didn't except it. i don't understand why so many nannies now take it personal if someone cant afford what they are asking.
As a mother, when i was a single mother i couldn't afford much i could only work part time and couldn't afford to not work nor could i afford more then i got paid(9.00hr), which is what most nannies asked for. and now well i wish i could afford more than i can now, but we can't. and thats just it. we have bills to pay to and if you don't like what we offer don't except the job. just kindly respond with, thank you but i need more income then your offering.

The reality is that you get what you pay for. Families who are fortunate to afford a qualified nanny, who has a college degree, is a legal citizen, and can drive, will ultimately be able to find a great nanny. The going rate in many metropolitan area's is $750-$950 per week. I've always believed that if you pay someone well, you will get a better worker who is committed to the job. I don't understand why mother's insist on hiring a super cheap, less than qualified nanny, to watch their kids for 12 hours a day while they slug it out for a job that doesn't pay enough.
If your job doesn't pay enough to justify a qualified nanny, than you should just be a stay at home mom.

I totally agree that this should be required for all families who are looking for a nanny on care.com because I am very experienced and am a pediatric nursing major and I have applied for many jobs on care.com for a full-time nanny that said $10-$15 an hour and I was offered from multiple different people $600 a month. That is $3.75 an hour for 40 hours a week which is absolutely ridiculous and is a waste of my time when they put they are going to pay way more and then when I drive to an interview and they offer me nothing. This should be required and all parents should have to agree to it or something because its ridiculous.

I sign up for a job paying $400 a week. It started with looking after the children and now its a full nanny job. Laundry mopping dishes u name it. Should I get more? Its an infant and a three year old.

Bottom line is you find out what is required of you and agree on a pay plan for those services for amount of time 3mo 6mo. Bottom line you agreed to do the work for the price you get

I think the pricing is fine. I have a nanny/ housekeeper business. I search for housekeepers who will love their job more so that the money they make or are ok with what they are payed. I understand how hard it is to find a reliable and dependable housekeeper or nanny one with a degree, experience or back ground and dmv checked all of that does matter. My housekeepers make a lower hourly rate than what the above rates are.

I am running into consistent cancellations with a lovely family I work one day a week for and have had my hours cut again and again with a very part time job-they just show up 3-5 hours early and let me go;making a total of 10 hours of work some weeks. I have a really tough time with both families providing the hours I committed to in the beginning of these 2 jobs. I have decided I cannot stay on with the 10 hr a week family but am trying to get advice on my Monday family-I think I am going to have to quit them. I will need them as a reference;I have always been extremely reliable & dependable with both families. Any advice on what to say? I just got a text cancellation for this Monday...it's Friday. I have bills drafting. Help.

Some of the comments on here coming from parents are ridiculous. (No words).
Just note to the amazingly hard working nannies out there: if you have a great amount of experience (I'm 24 with 8 years), DON'T be afraid to step up and say something if you aren't comfortable with pay. For instance (and this goes for every sitter/nanny), gas and mileage. Um hello our gas isn't free and it shouldn't come as part of our pay check either. If the patents want their kids to go to zoo, then ask politely that they also cover gas. Going over this kind of stuff is important during interviews. Don't get sucked into a giant lie.

I agree with all of this. I believe that hard working people deserved to be paid by what they do.
For example. I worked as a nanny for 2 boys, when I went for the interview I was told thy she could pay me 40 dollars a day. Never once telling me how long I would be there, & avoiding the question of how ling that I would be there for.
So my first day there finally came.. & I was there for 10 hours a day. Now 40 dollars a day for 10 hours is around 3-4 dollars an hour.. & about 1.50-2 dollar a kid.
Not only was a watching her children. I was doing her dishes from the day before cleaning her house because you couldn't walk without getting dust & car hair on your feet.
At the end of the week I worked 50 hours.
Now I'm not expecting 10 an hour.. But at least pay me minimum wage. I got 200 dollars for a 50 hour week.
She put me in a really bad spot. & I ended up getting another interview with a family who was looking for the same amount of hours if not more & willing to pay me 8 an hour for 1 child.
Yes I understand that you have bills to pay. & your all like the rest of us.
& money is not the only thing on my mind
I love the boys that I watch but my fianc is in the navy & I have to make money, & this is truly what I enjoy & what I am good at.
In the end I believe that fair pay is Important. 3 dollars an hour is not going to make me feel like you want me watching your children & , cleaning your home.
We don't want to feel worthless to you.