Going rate for nannies

[Anonymous]

Maybe I am wrong, but I assumed the going rate for nannies was around $20-$22 per hour for one child. We are looking for a full time nanny and have spoken with several candidates who are all quoting me between $25-$28 per hour for one child for 40 hours per week. This really seems like a lot of money, especially since we plan to have more children and want to keep this nanny for several years, so the cost will continue going up and up each year and it just seems unaffordable.

Is $25+ per hour truly the going rate? I have told all of the nannies that we are looking to pay $20/hr and they have pretty much walked away and said they aren’t flexible.

I do have 2 friends who pay under than $20 an hour so I know there are people out there not paying that much.

[Anonymous]

That does seem high. We pay $24 per hour ($12 each) for a nanny share with two.

One thing that seems to drive prices higher is education level. We have a wonderful, experienced nanny, fluent in English. But she just has a high school degree. Fine with me! Experience is what matters. But if you’re looking for people with a college degree, that will def cost you more.

[Anonymous]

We pay $30/hour plus health insurance & gave her a car to drive.

[Anonymous]

OP, where are you? It varies greatly depending on your location.

[Anonymous]

I pay $24/hour for 25 hours/week with two kids. This was the rate she quoted; I did not negotiate it.

[Anonymous]

40 hours isn’t a lot. Do you not commute?

[Anonymous]

Lower how much experience they need and you'll find someone.

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of people on DCUM who, for whatever reason, seem to want to inflate the prices of nannies around here, but I will say that at the $20/hr price point I don’t think you’ll find someone reliable.

[Anonymous]

Having a nanny is unaffordable to many. Also, demand is higher during the pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of people on DCUM who, for whatever reason, seem to want to inflate the prices of nannies around here, but I will say that at the $20/hr price point I don’t think you’ll find someone reliable.

This and pay employee part of SS and offer sick/vacation/inclement weather days. Insurance, retirement, bonuses would be nice, too, but not absolutely necessary especially if you give yearly raises.

[Anonymous]

Maybe the other nannies you know were hired over a year ago, and the market went up during COVID?

[Anonymous]

We live right outside the Beltway in Virginia and just hired an experienced nanny for one child at $20/hr. This is on the books, guaranteed 40 hours/week, minimum 2 paid weeks vacation, 1 week paid sick leave, and all the usual paid holidays. It wasn't that hard to find someone at that rate, and I think very highly of the nanny we will be partnering with. We did have to interview a few people first (including one who told us after a phone call and an in-person interview that our rate was too low for her which was annoying since we had shared it from the start. I don't know if she thought that we would rush to up our offer or what but that didn't happen, and it clearly didn't need to).

Now if you are in DC proper the rate is almost certainly going to need to be higher. But in the suburbs? Yes, I think you can find someone who's both good and reliable for $20/hr for one kid.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry but they are getting greedy. As a new REGISTERED NURSE I started out making $27 an hour 3 years ago in this insanely expensive area. A nanny would make more than I did? Jeez.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That does seem high. We pay $24 per hour ($12 each) for a nanny share with two.

One thing that seems to drive prices higher is education level. We have a wonderful, experienced nanny, fluent in English. But she just has a high school degree. Fine with me! Experience is what matters. But if you’re looking for people with a college degree, that will def cost you more.

+1 to this. We also have a good nanny who is very experienced, reliable and great with our kids, but she is currently taking part time classes to get her AA. DCUM really pushes the college-educated nannies, which of course will run you more. FWIW we pay her $24/hr for our two kids (2.5 year old and 8 month old).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry but they are getting greedy. As a new REGISTERED NURSE I started out making $27 an hour 3 years ago in this insanely expensive area. A nanny would make more than I did? Jeez.

Yes, an experienced, college educated nanny today will make more than you make. The market drives cost when there aren’t enough experienced, educated workers of any type, and Covid drove the cost to employ a nanny up.

You would be paid more if you loved caring for newborns, trained to be a Newborn Care Specialist, got several years of experience, and worked as an actual “Baby Nurse”, since you are an RN.