Parent’s Questions

What is a fair salary to offer my professional nanny?

This will depend a lot on your location and the nanny experience . An hourly nanny rate can range from $35hr to $50hr + an hour. Doula rate $40hr to $60hr + an hour. Share Care rate can range from $20hr – $25hr to learn more about nanny sharing click the link (Nannies required to provide active care (for newborns and sick children) during night-time hours may get paid as much as double their normal rate). The best way to offer a competitive salary while also not feeling that you offered too much or too little is to simply ask your nanny candidates what they made at their last job and about their desired salary range. You then take this information and call a local placement agency (or visit their website) and compare it with their rates. Keep in mind that childcare providers with lots of experience and education will require a higher salary range than someone starting out. It’s a personal choice to decide which is more valuable to you as a family; paying for the best or saving money and taking a chance on someone with less experience and references.

Our Nanny have been working with our family for almost a year. Should we give her a raise? YES

Annual Raise: It’s standard in the industry for a nanny to receive a cost of living (COL) raise on her anniversary, the anniversary of her hire date. A nanny cost of living raise is generally between 2 and 3%, depending on your area. The national COL average is lower however since most nannies live in higher cost of living areas, the higher raise rate reflects that. A cost of living raise doesn’t actually give a nanny more spending power. It simply keeps her at a certain level of living, including basic expenses such as housing, food, and healthcare.

Many nannies also receive a performance based raise in addition to a cost of living raise. A performance based raise is generally between 3 and 15%. The actual amount is based on how well the nanny has done throughout the year. It takes into consideration her hands-on childcare but also how well she’s supported your family and household. This is where the short notice late nights, the always positive, pitch-in attitude, and entertaining Grandma during her 1 month visit is tangibly rewarded.

Baby Raise:
When a family adds another child to their family, it’s standard for the nanny to receive a baby raise. A baby raise is generally 5 to 25%, depending on several factors including:

• how many children she’s currently caring for
• how much her duties will increase
• how much it will impact her current daily schedule
• any special needs the child has

The baby raise can go into effect at different times depending on when the nanny takes on the hands-on childcare and related tasks of the new baby. If the nanny takes full-charge of the baby immediately, the baby raise usually goes into effect when the baby comes home. If Mom is taking a maternity and caring for the baby while the nanny continues to care for the siblings, the raise usually goes into effect when Mom returns to work. If Mom and nanny work as a team during maternity leave, the raise should go into effect as well!

1. Should I pay my nanny the entire time we’re away on vacation?

Yes, the nanny should be paid whenever the family is out of town, on vacation or they don’t need the nanny that day/week. The nanny should be given a minimum of two weeks vacation.

2. Should our nanny eat our food 5 days a week.

Though you are not contracted to provide your caretaker with lunch, it is a nice thing to do for her. Rather than leaving an elaborate meal, ask her if there are food items she would like you to keep in the house to make things more comfortable for her. This woman is caring for your child and you want to make her feel as welcome as possible. She will likely only ask for a few items

3. What do the nanny do while baby takes nap?

It’s just downtime. Some will do things around the house, some won’t. Our Nannies & Doulas fold a load of laundry during down time and pick up toys, eat our lunch while baby/child is sleeping. Check my emails.

What benefits should I give my nanny?

Salaries and benefits vary depending on:
The nanny’s experience.
Their responsibilities.
The number of hours needed .
Whether they live-in or live-out.
Your geographic location (nannies in big cities typically earn more than nannies in small towns.)
Other guidelines to keep in mind:

Determine an hourly rate that you’re willing to pay, and discuss the salary and responsibilities with your nanny up-front.

Be prepared to pay overtime for nannies that work more than a certain number of hours per week.

Nannies will expect to be paid weekly, bi-weekly.

Paid time off, vacation and sick leave typically accumulate over time. Some families require that a nanny work for a certain amount of time (usually 2-3 months) before they offer paid time off. Two paid weeks off per year is standard after the nanny has been employed for a determined amount of time.

Families many times offer a car for the nanny’s while caring for the children.

Many families will travel and take their nanny along; paying their travel expenses. The nanny is usually responsible for some childcare while traveling but will also be allowed to enjoy the vacation as well.

Offer paid holidays for New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve, Martin luther king.

Bonuses are always appreciated. If your nanny is doing an exceptional job, consider rewarding her with a financial bonus, either at the holidays or during the year “just because”.