Honest compensation question
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Anonymous
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We have had a string of horrible luck with nannies - hired a bad one (reference was great) and then hired a couple who took other jobs between agreeing to the job and the start date.
My question is this - we have one baby and nannies are asking for a starting salary of $18-$21 an hour for one baby. Is this really what someone with moderate (lets say 5-8 years, or a recent graduate) experience would be getting for one child? If so, I want to know. We are stretched thin financially and I'm trying to decide if long term it makes sense to find care or just piecemeal it together until we can get into day care. We aren't broke, but $2900/mo is such a huge chunk of my pay that I don't see the point in working (though staying home will be difficult financially, at least I know I'll show up!). I want to work and I want to find good care - I'm just having a really difficult time. I'm even going over budget in offering $16 an hour for 40 hours and contribution to healthcare or transportation costs. Vacation, all federal holidays off, some early friday releases (when my husband gets home early, the nanny will be sent home) and a generally happy baby. I'm just confused and trying really had to understand how this works here - I don't want to offend the person caring for my child, as I want someone who WANTS to do the job, but I have a hard time understanding how, if someone has been with a family for 3 years and is now making $21 an hour, I'm supposed to start them at $21. Wouldn't it be normal to start a little lower and get raises? Wouldn't a nanny want raises and bonuses? |
Anonymous
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I think that is a little high for a nanny.
But I do not live in D.C. I live in CA. But the cost of living here is pretty high. Just a gallon of regular, non premium gasoline is $4.50. Sucks. |
Anonymous
| How old is your baby OP? A newborn could be more at the rate you describe. For a little older, I would say around $12- $15 depending on experience. In cases like this, it could be better for you to stay home. But that is totally up to you guys to decide, of course. I will say with child care, you get what you pay for in almost all cases. You can go cheaper but they might be inexperienced and you would be worrying all day. Another option is day care that you might want to look into. Good luck! |
Anonymous
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Op here. He is almost 6 months and I am on like 20 day care wait lists. You do get what you pay for and I'm not trying to cheap on this, but I am having a hard time reconciling the total cost - there is no driving, no errands or chores. Baby naps a lot.
Is $16 really low to start? If you start a new job with a new family, do you expect a raise or think it'll take a few months to get a raise and all that? |
Anonymous
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OP, not sure where you are but we are in NW DC. We talked to a ton of people before formulating our offer and IRL did not find any families who started nannies at more than $15/hr. We did find nannies asked for more (in the $17-$18/hr range) but we were very up front that our starting offer was $15/hr and we didn't lose any candidates over it. I'd talk to your friends and neighbors to see what is normal in your area and also, if you intend to use a payroll company, ask them what they typically see as a starting salary in your area. I think you've just had some bad luck but your offer is pretty good.
Also, sadly, I don't agree that you get what you pay for - although it would be nice if it were true. We had a TERRIBLE nanny for three weeks before we found our absolutely terrific one and we started them both at the same salary. FWIW our terrific nanny has been with us for many years and now makes much more, but since there is no objective standard for how much a nanny can charge, there is actually a huge variation in quality in the same price range. |
Anonymous
As a nanny with 5+ years experience and a BA I start at $20/hr. |
Anonymous
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Op here. Everyone I know either have up on nannies or is in day care.
I don't have $20 an hour for one child. I could see for two or more or coordinating school pick ups and potty training etc. I barely have $16. I'm in NW (downtown). Just not sure what to do. |
Anonymous
That's more than I made in my first job and I had a masters. |
Anonymous
Ok? Sorry? That's just what I make. I thought OP was polling, I don't know what else you want me to say. I do not feel overpaid for the work I do or the care I provide, and when my MB told me she was pregnant with #2 I did not ask for a raise. (I'm the annoying poster who grew up in England and believes nannies are paid per family and not per child.) As an employee I believe I am worth that much, and clearly my bosses agree... |
Anonymous
| That's fine but I dont think $20 for one baby is normal. Is that really what people are paying in DC?? |
Anonymous
I'm the nanny making $20/hr and I expect you could find someone for $16 - what about someone who's new to nannying but has been working in daycares? $16/hr is loads more than daycares pay and they'll still be experienced with babies and toddlers. |
Anonymous
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How much were you paying these nannies?
What are your requirements? Education, experience, duties performed, etc. You say that $16/hour is pushing it for your budget. $16/hour (depending on where you are) is pretty standard for 1 child. Also, 5-8 years in the nanny field is not considered moderate. 5-8 years is considered very experienced. There is a reason you've lost 2 nannies before they've even started. |
Anonymous
Yes your first job. What if this is the nannys 3rd? She has 5+ years maybe 2/3 at each. If it's not her first job, she should be making more |
Anonymous
| No. It doesn't matter whether the nanny is on her first job or her third or her seventh. The job pays what it pays. Market rates determine nanny rates. Parents determine the market with their willingness to to pay more for specific skills or experiences. That's the deal, nannies. |
Anonymous
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I have ten years of experience and a BA in Education - my rate is 20 an hour and will go up when I look for a new job when this one ends. I know nannies who are making 25 an hour now.
Keep trying for daycare, OP. Chances are your child will have a better learning experience with daycare than a 16 dollar an hour nanny. |