Tuesday, 20 January 2009

  • How Much Should a Nanny Cost?

    Guest post submitted by thinkpinkpanther

    I'm a 21 year old female who has recently been asked to nanny for a family three days a week. 

    They have four children, ages ranging 3-8. I would be working for them from 8a.m.-5p.m., where I would have the 3 year old the whole day, the 5 year old from 11-5, and the two oldest from 3-5p.m.. 

    During the summers I would have all four of them the whole time.

    The two oldest have food allergies, and I would be expected to cook. I also will do light housework such as laundry, and dishes, as well as educational play with them as they don't believe in things such as TV, which I completely agree with. 

    I have worked at a summer camp for six years, and I am also CPR, AED, first aid, and lifeguard certified. On top of this training I have taken several child development classes, and one child psychology class at my University. 

    We live in an middle class area, and it's a fairly well-off part of the area. 

    I'm just wondering as I haven't worked as a nanny before and would love to know what is fair to ask, and what the low end and high ends are for a nanny.

    So my question, what would you pay for a nanny if you were this family?  (both for the summer, and the school year) and if you are a nanny how much should I expect?

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Comments (22)

  • SerenaDante@xanga

    For babysitting jobs for just two children that were both about 5 years old, I got 10 dollars an hour. And I wasn't expected to cook or bathe them or anything, usually just play with them a bit and then read them bedtime stories and then get them to sleep.


    I think with the extra light housework thing, as well as being expected to cook, as well as having to take care of up to 4 children as opposed to my 2... Well, I don't think it would be irrational to ask for at least 20 dollars an hour, or even a bit more. That's my opinion, at least.


    How much would you like to get though? I mean, I'm sure there's a minimum you'd like... I don't think just like 5 dollars an hour for so many responsibilities would cut it, for example.
  • dr52383@xanga

    as a teacher (w 3 years of experience and a bachelors degree) I make 30/hr.  Summer I would ask for 20-25 dollars an hour.  School year maybe 18-20.  Also remember this can be a negotiation..so if you start higher you can always work your way down....and if you get the higher number...more power to you! 


    also you might want to consider what your rent and living expenses are monthly and make sure that this job would cover it...since it sounds like this is a fairly full time gig.  if its not...then think about those numbers...
  • JJPrint3rd@xanga

    well I am not sure if it will be the same in the USA as it is here in Canada, but I feel experience is much better then education when it comes to children.
    My first word of caution to you is for you to not try to fit the children into the mold that your child development classes teach. Keep in mind that that is "average", and therefor (from personal experience) does not apply to a lot of children.
    I can tell you what the going rate is in my area, and what I have received. And that is generally $2.50 an hour per child up until 2 children, $1 an hour per child over 2 (so that would work out to $5 with two, $6 when three are home and $7 when all 4 are home), plus an extra $10-15 a day for housekeeping and cooking (as you will have to deal with food allergies and laundry I would go to the higher end). It works out to be roughly $54-56 a day.
    I know some full time nannies who charge $75 for a 9 hour day. You also have to take into account if the family is going to claim you in their income tax under childcare, in which case you will have to pay income tax on what they pay you.
    I loved being a nanny, almost as much as I love being a stay at home mom.. If you are at all unsure, why not just sit down with the parents and ask them what they paid previous nannies?
  • hannahtan528@xanga

    You should ask for how much you think your worth. The more you're experienced and the more you know how to do things, then the more you should get paid.
  • ApplexXxAxXxDay@xanga

    I am a nanny, I get paid 8 dollers to 9 dollers an hour, but I already have meals prepared for me to feed, and only work during the after school hours. I think you should get paid 9-10 dollers or more.
  • MissBride@xanga

    which city do you live in? i think geographic location may swing this hourly number a lot.


    in nyc, i'd think you should make minimum $20/hour for 4 kids. i know that $15/hr is considered a steal for 1 child.
  • reasmom@xanga

    I agree with the above comment - your location is going to make a big difference.


    I live in the midwest.I have been looking into the different options for nannies and daycare providers.Around here, I wouldn't pay more than $8 an hour for a nanny to watch 2 kids 50 hours a week....
  • ELIZerson@xanga

    Except, you can't go completely by a similar rate as local daycare -- the kids are receiving much more personalized and individual attention with a nanny (hopefully) than in a daycare, and that should be worth a lot extra. 

    I am in the midwest, and worked at a daycare full time last year, making 9.50/hr.  For this, I had 10-12  3 year olds to watch.  If you are expected to make meals and clean house in addition to the children, I would expect at least $15/hr, especially if you have had some specialized training to go into this type of thing.
  • Meahsmom@xanga

    My mother keeps three kids aged 5 mos., 2 yrs, and 3 yrs, and she gets paid $12/hr (sometimes she only has the two younger ones, but she still gets paid the same).  She does housekeeping when she's there, as well.  I don't know if that's a lot or not much, but she's happy with it.
  • itscatwithak@xanga

    I used to nanny and babysit when I first started college.  Babysitting I made $10 an hour.  For the 2 different families that I was a nanny for at different times I made different rates. One was 3 days a week and I made $15 an hour for 2 children.  The other family I worked Monday thru Friday all day everyday and made $8 a hour when I was watching there toddler and then $12 an hour when I watched their school aged child.  I think it all depends on the area.  My mom used to run a day care in VT and she only made $2 an hour per child.  I was a nanny in western MA.  So I guess you could look online at like craigslist or something in the area you live in, to see what others are charging.
  • mamajoyjoy

    try this site: http://babysitters.sittercity.com/

    you can search your area for other nannies/sitters, their qualifications, and what they're charging...

    have fun!
  • mrssprout@xanga

    I googled it.  And typical pay for 2 kids is $15-$18 an hour and usually goes up $2 an hour for each additional kid. Sounds like an awesome job to me! That would be between 28K and 30something a year including the increase in time over the summer. 
  • smittlefamily@xanga

    As a mother of three I would love to tell you to ask about $10. HOWEVER, I've also been a nanny and know that you will be worth ten times that. I'd ask for a weekly rate that would equal out to be about $20 an hour then probably $25 an hour in the summer. You should talk openly and honestly with the parents though. They may have a larger amount for you and if you say too much too soon they might end up paying you less.
  • IrishBessie@xanga

    Several years ago I was nanny to four kids here in the mid-west.  I got $10 an hour the first year and $11 the second.  I was expected to do all the house work, plus laundry, cooking, and sometimes grocery shopping.  But I also lived with the family so I had no room and board, transportation, ect to pay for.  I think that was fairly low for all I was expected to do, but I also did not have a lot of prior experience.  I would think about $18 would be fair for your situation, but instead of asking for that amount upfront, I would ask them what they were willing to pay first, just in case they were thinking of a higher amount.  If they want to know what you think you are worth, then name your price.  Have fun!  I loved all my nanny/babysitting experience and now I am loving being a stay-at-home mom.
  • thegirlwiththecamera@xanga

    I've never been a nanny to this extent, however, when I would babysit, with many of the same responsibilities, I would be paid $15-20 an hour, depending on the number of kids, amount of responsibility, etc. Considering the time and responsibility here, I think that would be a good amount. However, I'm sure the parents would appreciate if it was a little less - they maybe more likely to give a bonus or something like that. Just a thought.
  • Kates533@xanga

    It does depend on the location. We live in a rural area and $12.50ish is average.

  • Shinbi_Belldandy@xanga

    It depends on how many kids, the duties & what you're required to do. The food should be provided of course unless you decide to treat them to snacks. Since you have good qualifications, you should get into the high double digits easy. The more you know, the more you make. I'm sure you'll all come to a mutual agreement.


    You didnt say if you had to drive to pick up the older 3 kids or not but if you do, you should charge a little extra for gas. Times are hard.

  • butXsometimesXtheyXcomeXback@xanga

    As a nanny, I would have to say that it really all depends on your location. Just because the job is worth $20/hour (which, in my opinion, from having had a similar job, it is) does not mean that a family will pay you that...or even close to that. My previous nanny job involved all the duties you mentioned (except there were only 2 kids, but they were home all day, every day), plus cleaning the house. And I was only paid $11/hour to do it.


    So it really all depends on your location. If the family is willing to pay somewhere in the $15-20/hr range, by all means, ask for it! Also, ask them about whether they'd be willing to help you pay for health insurance. Some families will do that, some won't. You won't know until you ask.


    Best of luck to you!


    Elizabeth
  • canadiansrock@xanga

    I have no idea, but I would let them make the first offer.

    And then (if it's reasonable) say that that's a fair price for the school year, however you would expect more during the summer. You could also say that on "day trips" you would want more as it takes more effort to keep track of the children if you brought them to the zoo for example, than if you had them at home =)

    I dunno though =)
  • BarniganFlarn@xanga

    I worked as a nanny in Wisconsin for awhile. I didn't stick with any one family but had a few families that had me on call and would call me regularly--so I guess I ended up being a glorified babysitter, but I was close to full time. I found $12 an hour to be a fair price for the typical two kids without disabilities nanny job. If you work full time this adds up to about $500 a week. I was in college (a few months short of graduation) and had a TON of experience with children as well as CPR/First Aid certifications. So this was the "lowest" I would charge. Some friends I know would get $15, usually for 3 or more kids and for doing a lot of driving around, cleaning, activity planning, or additional duties. $10 seems to be the going "babysitter" rate, i.e. what most people pay your run of the mill average fairly experienced high school babysitter. So I would definitely go above that. If they're asking you to do a lot of extra things like give diabetes shots to the dog or something I would charge more. I would also charge more for more kids. The lowest I ever went was $8 and it was because the parents called me last minute, I had nothing better to do that night, and they had two young baby/toddler children who went to bed an hour into my job, meaning I essentially got paid to do homework while enjoying their bigscreen tv.


    A few things to work out with your family beforehand would be to make sure that if you're expected to do a lot of "extra" stuff like take the kids on fun outings all the time, that the family will pay any cost associated with those outings. Also, if I ever worked for a family more than 15 minutes away I would charge for gas. $12 an hour plus $10 gas money usually worked out to something like 13 or 14 an hour. Hope that helps!
  • anonymous

    I live in Boston Ma and I'm a full time nanny for one 3 month old guaranteed 40 hours a week(if i work less the family still pays for the full 40 hours). I get $15 an hour plus 3 weeks paid vacations and 1 week unpaid I also get all federal holidays off and if they fall on my work week i get paid for it as well. I'm also allowed to take the baby out around Boston. I only do laundry, and clean only the baby stuff. When he's ready to start food I'll make homemade baby food for him. Other then that anything I do around the house like cleaning the kitchen or sweeping is just because I'm bored during his naps.  


    I know that other nannies in my area can make much more depending on experience and education as well as number of kids. I have no formal college education but have years of experience. If you live in this area you could be asking for $25 on the low side for what you have to do and upwards of $30. If you live mid west or down south where cost of living is less expect to be paid around $12-18.
  • MistressAislin@xanga

    It depends on if they take care of anything for you.  Are you going to be a live in nanny?


    Also, consider, how many parents are there? one or two? What do THEY do for a living?  What can they afford? Remember, they have four kids to support, they're looking for someone safe to take care of their kids while they're away, not someone to suck money out of their bank accounts or Christmas funds...

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