Standard Nanny Share Rates??

[Anonymous]

I am in the process of starting a nanny share with one other family and need some guidance on standard rates for the area.

There will be two infants, one approximately 12 weeks and the other 8 weeks. We are looking for them to come to a home in Wheaton, Monday-Thursday, for approximately 40-44 hours over the four days.

Our plan is to offer $10/hour per family. We are also planning on using a third party company to handle paychecks and taxes, so the nanny's take-home rate would be closer to $16/hour rather than $20, after taxes. We are paying for federal holidays, and are also open to two weeks of paid vacation, and several sick days (maybe 3-5?).

We are not asking them to do much house work, aside from possibly cleaning bottles.

Does this seem like a reasonable rate for the area? With one nanny we interviewed, we were open to allowing her to bring her daughter over once she gets out of school (which is right down the street), but she seemed to expect a higher pay rate.

Any suggestions or advice regarding your experience with infant nanny shares and pay rates is greatly appreciated!!

[Anonymous]

$16 take home is pretty low for a nanny share. What did the other candidate want to be paid?

I'd offer the nanny at least 5 sick days, that's the standard for full-time. Also, you mentioned 40-44 hours a week. Will you be paying overtime if the nanny works those extra 4 hours? Have you and the other family discussed how that will be handled?

If you didn't use a third party to handle the pay/taxes the nanny would most likely end up with more money to take home at the end of the week, right?

How qualified do you want your nanny to be? Especially with 2 very young infants, I would want someone with many years experience and highly qualified and recommended.

My neighbor is in a nanny share right now with 2 young infants and each family pays $12 an hour. Are you open to each family paying more than $10 per hour?

Good luck OP.

[Anonymous]

Your rate sounds perfectly reasonable. Be sure to factor in the cost of overtime for your own bugeting purposes. What do you mean by you are "open" to two weeks of vacation? This is pretty standard, as are 3-5 sick days. You should also expect to guarantee her weekly pay as a set amount, so that when one family is absent, your nanny or other family don't pay the price.

[Anonymous]

I think $20/hour for two infants in Wheaton is a good, respectable rate. I don't think you need to go w/ the candidate who wants more and also to bring her own child there after school.

OP - all of us who pay on the books negotiate/set rates at the gross amount (the $20/hr rate in your case) not the net take home after taxes.

[Anonymous]

We paid $19/hr to a very experienced nanny in upper NWDC, with 12-week infants for both of us. That was gross compensation and she had to pay her own taxes on that (we took care of the employer taxes). I think this is in line with what the market pays. $20 is a very solid rate for a nanny share with a new nanny.

[Anonymous]

For "twins" you need super nanny. She earns more than the rest.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

We're using the third party system so they can handle paying both ours, and the nanny's taxes. That way she'll get a W-2 at the end of the year. We aren't asking her to pay any of the fees associated with the company, but this will allow her to either get direct deposit, or a hard check in the mail.

For the extra four hours a week, she'll only be watching one of the infants, so we'd likely be paying her around $15-16/hour for those hours. Does that sounds right?

We're asking for some experience, CPR/First Aid certified, and would love someone who is bilingual in Spanish/Englsih.

[Anonymous]

800 plus a week in Wheaton sounds quite competitive. I do not live far from there. If you are only taking out payroll taxes though then I am surprised the tax share is that high.

[Anonymous]

$10 gross per family per hour is very standard for a two-infant share in the DC area.

[Anonymous]

OP, I suggest that you reconsider your interest in the candidate who wants to bring her child over every day after school. First, this should lower her rate for at least some of the hours, not raise it. Second, she may want to bring the child to work on school vacations and holidays, teacher training and conference days when classes are not held, during the summer, when the child is sick, etc. Then you would effectively have a three-child share, which is a lot for any one nanny and would diminish the attention your nanny can give to the infants. I would be especially concerned with the nanny's child exposing the infants to the various viruses that kids get exposed to at school.

Run a search on this topic in this forum. There are lots of threads addressing the pros and cons.

[Anonymous]

13:53 is the paranoid one with no experience, but tons of fears that should be treated somehow.

[Anonymous]

Your rate sounds reasonable, OP.

[Anonymous]

23:51 here again....13:53 has some good advice if you're considering a nanny who will bring her own kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:13:53 is the paranoid one with no experience, but tons of fears that should be treated somehow.

I don't need to have hired a nanny who brings her own child to work to be able to explain to a fellow MB why I've chosen not to do so.

OP, there is a vocal nanny (maybe a couple) on this board who is a bit hypersensitive to anyone who points out the downside of hiring a nanny who wants to bring her own child. She has a vested interest in convincing you and other MBs that the arrangement is all upside to you, such that there should be no reduction in her rate to reflect the cost to you of providing her with this accommodation. Sadly, this nanny has never been able to present a sound argument in favor of the arrangement, so she resorts to bullying anyone who dares point out the downsides. The tactic is sufficiently pathetic to tell you everything you need to know about how much weight to assign to this particular nanny's thoughts on the matter.