s/o where are the $16-$20 jobs??

[Anonymous]

$20/hr, DC.

[Anonymous]

Teachercare is an agency that only offered high paying jobs when I was looking last year. I make 20/hr, no housework, 2 kids but one is in school over half the day. I get guaranteed hrs, they pay taxes, all that good stuff. This is in silver spring.

[Anonymous]

When I was looking to hire a nanny in 2012, I would have happily paid $20 per hour for someone who marketed herself as a private educator and was committed to teaching my child in an age-appropriate way per a written plan of her own design. I wanted it done through play, but with more pre-planned, adult-led activities than most nannies bother with, covering the full range of skill areas and, eventually, subject matter areas. There just aren't many candidates like that in DC.

I found that the women seeking premium rates were mostly young and deluded about current market rates. A few were older with years of experience, but they were unable to convince me that their 15-20 years of experience would make them better than the $15 nanny with 3-4 years of experience. In fact, some of the most experienced nannies seemed a tired of the work and just in it to pay bills, whereas the ones with 3-4 years experience were still really enamored of kids.

In my opinion, there are three things that will get a nanny to the $18-$20 starting price point: 1) working with a large family or in a share, 2) taking on cooking and housekeeping beyond the usual kid-related services, and 3) formal college-level training in education or child development, coupled with a willingness to translate that training in a planned way to home-based care.

I realize that some experienced nannies can start a new job with one child at that price point, but based on the pool of applicants I encountered, I just didn't feel like the value was there.

[Anonymous]

We pay in that range but our nanny has been with us for a while and we've gotten there through yearly raises. We hired her at a lower rate (which was the rate she requested). We were both looking for something long term - I think most nannies that are realize families who start them above market won't leave themselves room for raises and won't be able to justify the above market rates for many years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was looking to hire a nanny in 2012, I would have happily paid $20 per hour for someone who marketed herself as a private educator and was committed to teaching my child in an age-appropriate way per a written plan of her own design. I wanted it done through play, but with more pre-planned, adult-led activities than most nannies bother with, covering the full range of skill areas and, eventually, subject matter areas. There just aren't many candidates like that in DC.

I found that the women seeking premium rates were mostly young and deluded about current market rates. A few were older with years of experience, but they were unable to convince me that their 15-20 years of experience would make them better than the $15 nanny with 3-4 years of experience. In fact, some of the most experienced nannies seemed a tired of the work and just in it to pay bills, whereas the ones with 3-4 years experience were still really enamored of kids.

In my opinion, there are three things that will get a nanny to the $18-$20 starting price point: 1) working with a large family or in a share, 2) taking on cooking and housekeeping beyond the usual kid-related services, and 3) formal college-level training in education or child development, coupled with a willingness to translate that training in a planned way to home-based care.

I realize that some experienced nannies can start a new job with one child at that price point, but based on the pool of applicants I encountered, I just didn't feel like the value was there.

I find it quite interesting, that no where in your three points, do I see any skill that would directly benefit your child.

[Anonymous]

I just interviewed in DC last week. 3 interviews (canceled my others). 2 nanny shares, one single family. All prepared to pay $16-20. Ended up taking the offer if the single family for about ~17 for one baby and occasional toddler and declined the share offers. Those jobs are out there. I have great references and interview well. I also make it clear at the start that I don't work off the book and never had a problem with people not wanting to pay my price.
What area are you looking in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just interviewed in DC last week. 3 interviews (canceled my others). 2 nanny shares, one single family. All prepared to pay $16-20. Ended up taking the offer if the single family for about ~17 for one baby and occasional toddler and declined the share offers. Those jobs are out there. I have great references and interview well. I also make it clear at the start that I don't work off the book and never had a problem with people not wanting to pay my price.
What area are you looking in?

Congratulations!
Key is understanding your worth.

[Anonymous]

"Key is understanding your worth. "

Another key is actually being worth $17 for 1 baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Key is understanding your worth. "

Another key is actually being worth $17 for 1 baby.

Indeed. I can't imagine leaving my baby with a person who wasn't worth *at least* $17/hr. Apparently, each of us has different standards and goals.

[Anonymous]

It's because nannies are stupid enough to take the low rates.

[Anonymous]

I pay my nanny $22 an hour + benefits in MD. Her teaching degree is what makes her worth it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was looking to hire a nanny in 2012, I would have happily paid $20 per hour for someone who marketed herself as a private educator and was committed to teaching my child in an age-appropriate way per a written plan of her own design. I wanted it done through play, but with more pre-planned, adult-led activities than most nannies bother with, covering the full range of skill areas and, eventually, subject matter areas. There just aren't many candidates like that in DC.

I found that the women seeking premium rates were mostly young and deluded about current market rates. A few were older with years of experience, but they were unable to convince me that their 15-20 years of experience would make them better than the $15 nanny with 3-4 years of experience. In fact, some of the most experienced nannies seemed a tired of the work and just in it to pay bills, whereas the ones with 3-4 years experience were still really enamored of kids.

In my opinion, there are three things that will get a nanny to the $18-$20 starting price point: 1) working with a large family or in a share, 2) taking on cooking and housekeeping beyond the usual kid-related services, and 3) formal college-level training in education or child development, coupled with a willingness to translate that training in a planned way to home-based care.

I realize that some experienced nannies can start a new job with one child at that price point, but based on the pool of applicants I encountered, I just didn't feel like the value was there.

I find it quite interesting, that no where in your three points, do I see any skill that would directly benefit your child.

Really? You don't think an education degree and a commitment to using it in a systematic way on the job would benefit a child? Understanding how to nurture a child's emotional intelligence and teach in a way that feels like play requires an academic grounding in child development and psychology, and a much more sophisticated skill set than what can be developed through experience alone. A bachelor's or masters in education is, in my opinion, the best way to develop that foundation.

A nanny who does housekeeping during naptime also benefits the children, because it enables the parents to spend more quality time with the children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Key is understanding your worth. "

Another key is actually being worth $17 for 1 baby.

Indeed. I can't imagine leaving my baby with a person who wasn't worth *at least* $17/hr. Apparently, each of us has different standards and goals.

I can't imagine leaving my baby with a person who wasn't worthy of being left with my baby. I found candidates at the $17 to $20 range who, regardless of experience, just weren't people I wanted helping to raise her. I also found candidates at the $15 price point who were worthy of the job and then some. There just isn't a consistent correlation between rates and quality in the nanny field.

If my child grows up to conduct herself like the nanny we hired at $15/hour, I will be very pleased. That's more than I can say about some $17-$20 nannies.

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine leaving my baby with a person who wasn't worthy of being left with my baby. I found candidates at the $17 to $20 range who, regardless of experience, just weren't people I wanted helping to raise her. I also found candidates at the $15 price point who were worthy of the job and then some. There just isn't a consistent correlation between rates and quality in the nanny field.

If my child grows up to conduct herself like the nanny we hired at $15/hour, I will be very pleased. That's more than I can say about some $17-$20 nannies.

This was our experience as well. The candidate that we really clicked with was $12 an hour. She's been with us for several years so her salary is at $16 now.

The candidates that were asking for $18-$20 weren't nannies that I would hire anyway. They ones asking for the higher rates were either young 20 somethings with very little experience and a high opinion of themselves, 1-2 nannies with a lot of experience but very poor english and no ability to communicate why they were asking for rates that high, or ones that just didn't very spectacular. It really surprised me because my assumption going into the hiring process was that the candidates asking for a higher rate would have something that would distinguish or they would at least do better than candidates asking for a lower rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Key is understanding your worth. "

Another key is actually being worth $17 for 1 baby.

Indeed. I can't imagine leaving my baby with a person who wasn't worth *at least* $17/hr. Apparently, each of us has different standards and goals.

I can't imagine leaving my baby with a person who wasn't worthy of being left with my baby. I found candidates at the $17 to $20 range who, regardless of experience, just weren't people I wanted helping to raise her. I also found candidates at the $15 price point who were worthy of the job and then some. There just isn't a consistent correlation between rates and quality in the nanny field.

If my child grows up to conduct herself like the nanny we hired at $15/hour, I will be very pleased. That's more than I can say about some $17-$20 nannies.

True, some people don't know how to successfully hire help. However, in every profession, you get what you pay for. There's no special exception just for nannies. You still get what you pay for, unless the nanny is a relative or close friend, maybe.