How much to pay?

[Anonymous]

I live in DC and have 2 kids (5 year old twins) that need to be picked up from school and walked home. Once home babysitter needs to help them with homework, prepare & serve dinner, help with baths, and put them to bed. It's one day a week for 6 hours max. I'm thinking of offering in the 18-20 range. Is this too much? We're thinking of a local college or grad student if that helps.

[Anonymous]

20-25/hr is appropriate for your job description.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks so much. I didn't realize we were underpaying!

[Anonymous]

Well isn't that nice. Glad you got the one anonymous internet source you needed to be convinced you're underpaying! And so quickly!

[Anonymous]

10:04 here. I can't say you're underpaying, because it all depends on who you want. You need to ask each person her rates.

[Anonymous]

OP here, this isn't the only place/ person we've asked. Perhaps you'd enjoy offering your opinion 10:44? I'd enjoy hearing it. Also both sitters we're considering have told us in the 18-25 range.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well isn't that nice. Glad you got the one anonymous internet source you needed to be convinced you're underpaying! And so quickly!

Typical post from our friendly troll. Sad.

[Anonymous]

I'm 10:44. I think it looked suspicious that someone came on asking about a specific job with a rate that seems very reasonable for a local (and presumably inexperienced) student (at $20, you're paying someone $120 for a very standard evening with older children). And then three minutes later, someone posted no information other than a higher range. And then OP was completely convinced that she was underpaying based on that single sentence response (although she had assumed in her initial post that she was overpaying).

[Anonymous]

How is it suspicious? I asked a question, grabbed a coffee, came back, saw an answer and readjusted my views. That answer coupled with the range offered by both candidates seemed to point out that I was close to taking advantage of a caregiver inexperienced student or not. I'm trying to be fair and offer a fair wage.

[Anonymous]

OP,your original rate range was appropriate.

You'd be overpaying going over $20/hr.

[Anonymous]

I have a job similar to this but it's two evenings a week. I make $20 per hour for 3 kids.

[Anonymous]

If you have your heart set on a certain person, for whatever reason, and you can afford her fees, than it's a clear win-win.

The only person mad here is the parent who can't afford the higher rates for the better nanny. That's why she pours so much effort into her mythical low market rates, based on absolutely nothing.

[Anonymous]

Agree $20 is a suitable MAX for this job. Honestly I think you could find a responsible student who'd happily do it for $15-$16/hr but if the sitters you like have asked for more, I suppose you'll be paying a little more. $18-$20 is a healthy range.

I'm a nanny, btw, who makes $20/hr for one child (and is often accused of lying about that) but it is a FT position and a completely different kind of job than the one you're describing.

[Anonymous]

$18-20 sounds like the right rate. The challenge will be finding someone you like who is available one afternoon and evening a week, but given your willingness to use a student, you should find some good options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have your heart set on a certain person, for whatever reason, and you can afford her fees, than it's a clear win-win.

The only person mad here is the parent who can't afford the higher rates for the better nanny. That's why she pours so much effort into her mythical low market rates, based on absolutely nothing.

Don't forget about the nannies who get mad when a parent has a nanny they love who they pay what she asked but the nannies on here think it's too low.