Are these decent wages for a nanny/housekeeper?

[Anonymous]

We're seeking a f/t nanny for our two children. Our kids are in pre-school for half-day mornings. We're looking for someone to do housekeeping, errands, and laundry while kids are at pre-school. Dropping off kids in the morning and picking them up. Some light meal/snack prep for dinner.

We offer two weeks paid vacation, medical and dental, meals on shift included, use of family car, and cell-phone allowance.

We are can offer between $13-17. $13 for a nanny with a minimum of 1 year experience, $15 for ECE, and $17 for a nanny with a degree or diploma in child and youth care. First Aid/CPR a must too.

Wondering if anyone can offer insight if these wages are fair for DC area, this is our first time hiring a nanny.

[Anonymous]

The rates are fine without housecleaning. With it, I would charge 100 extra per week.

[Anonymous]

What kind of housekeeping do you want performed?

[Anonymous]

Your rates are too low.

[Anonymous]

I think it sounds low. When you say "housekeeping" do you just need light stuff--empty the dishwasher, sweep the floors and wipe down counter tops? Or do you need someone to scrub the bathroom and other heavy duty stuff?

[Anonymous]

For what you want, $17/hr is fair, but your other rates are too low.

[Anonymous]

We want someone who can do housekeeping, not just empty the dishwasher once in a while. We have changed our rates to reflect a more competitive wage, thank you everyone.

[Anonymous]

Your rate is just for nannying...are you paying taxes?

[Anonymous]

It'll be more realistic to advertise for a housekeeper who'll agree to the babysitting. No nanny will be happy doing all that housework and your children will be shortchanged.

[Anonymous]

So what rates did you end up going with?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It'll be more realistic to advertise for a housekeeper who'll agree to the babysitting. No nanny will be happy doing all that housework and your children will be shortchanged.

There are plenty of nannies who specialize in working with school-age children and doing housekeeping,errands, and personal assistant type work during the day. Some people like the variety

[Anonymous]

If a woman liked scrubing your toilet bowls, she'd be a housekeeper, not a nanny.

Nannies do NOT do toilet bowls.

Housekeepers do toilet bowls.

[Anonymous]

Depends what area you live in.

[Anonymous]

We were actually flooded with responses for our ad. I've been overwhelmed with the number of replies. So far we're trying to decide between three candidates and it's pretty tough. All are capable caregivers with years of experience. Mostly english second language but that is alright, we don't mind our children learning Spanish or Filipino. We think it would enrich their learning. We offered the applicants $18/hr and no one seemed to take issue with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were actually flooded with responses for our ad. I've been overwhelmed with the number of replies. So far we're trying to decide between three candidates and it's pretty tough. All are capable caregivers with years of experience. Mostly english second language but that is alright, we don't mind our children learning Spanish or Filipino. We think it would enrich their learning. We offered the applicants $18/hr and no one seemed to take issue with it.

$18 is very different to $13