"Competitive pay" is "average" pay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
"Competitive pay" sounds like a worthless hook some parents use in their advertisements, especially when they indicate they want a better than average nanny.
I should say it's more like deceptive.

So if you're an average nanny, you're the one they want.

I'm the one who's been replying with what the definition of competitive is. We all get the same BS. It's not just the childcare industry. Most employers don't advertise the salary range ahead of time. It's not in their interest to do so. I think it's all a huge waste of everyone's time not to be up front about it, but there's nothing unique to the nanny field going on here. "competitive" is a cop out, but if you refuse to apply for jobs that are listed like that, then you're cutting yourself off from most of the market.

Top nannies don't want "most" of the market. They want only the best.

And remember, top nannies are dcum nannies!

Maybe, maybe not. You need to get smart enough to know the difference. Good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So I noticed parents now saying "highly competitive" pay. What would that range be? It has to be better than your competitive average pay, right?

$35+/hr these days

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beware of parents telling you their pay range is competitive if you expect an above average pay rate for your above average skills. They will low-ball you. It's a major red flag.

This.

[Anonymous]

You're over analyzing this. "Competitive", "top dollar", etc is basically saying "I don't want to advertise a date and will decide on it based on applicants I meet". Same rate would not be offered to a nanny with university degree and 10 years nannying / preschool experience vs a nanny with high school diploma and 3 years experience. The latter may be chosen, but definitely the rate would be different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I noticed parents now saying "highly competitive" pay. What would that range be? It has to be better than your competitive average pay, right?

$35+/hr these days

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if you know you're far above average (and you're used to be compensated accordingly,) don't bother speaking with parents offering "competitive" pay?

In the DC area, average nanny pay is in the $17-20/hour range.
The better nannies can earn $25-30+.

I think most parents believe the word competitive means something attractive. Why would a great nanny respond to an advertisement offering only competitive rates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if you know you're far above average (and you're used to be compensated accordingly,) don't bother speaking with parents offering "competitive" pay?

In the DC area, average nanny pay is in the $17-20/hour range.
The better nannies can earn $25-30+.

I think most parents believe the word competitive means something attractive. Why would a great nanny respond to an advertisement offering only competitive rates?

Is this right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if you know you're far above average (and you're used to be compensated accordingly,) don't bother speaking with parents offering "competitive" pay?

In the DC area, average nanny pay is in the $17-20/hour range.
The better nannies can earn $25-30+.

I think most parents believe the word competitive means something attractive. Why would a great nanny respond to an advertisement offering only competitive rates?

Is this right?

Competitive? When a family says competitive rate but won’t list it, it means they either 1. don’t know how much to pay or 2. they know they can’t afford a great nanny, but they want to try anyway.

[Anonymous]

My retired teacher sister (60) just got a raise to $35 an hour. She had been at $32 and told the family she needed to take a break and was going to leave. They told her to take a month off and then come back at the higher rate. She did. She is going in to her 3rd year with the family.

LA area, not DC. She is aghast at how little nannies make here even in the relatively wealthy areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a couple meanings here. The phrase "competitive pay" is what most job postings say when they don't want to disclose the amount upfront, but they want to indicate that they likely could match what you currently make - assuming you're earning market rate.

In pure economic terms, when there is strong competition in a sector - childcare in this instance - then the competition will yield an average, competitive rate. In this area, the published averages are $15-20. If you want higher than average, than perhaps "top dollar" is more the buzz phrase you're looking for.

NP and not a nanny - Here in Los Angeles, the minimum wage $15. How a nanny would accept the same rate as a McDonalds worker or cleaning person blows my mind. Is that for one child?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if you know you're far above average (and you're used to be compensated accordingly,) don't bother speaking with parents offering "competitive" pay?

In the DC area, average nanny pay is in the $17-20/hour range.
The better nannies can earn $25-30+.

We pay our Nanny 16.00 an hour. She is pretty awesome. Of course you can find nannies that exclusively cater to the very rich (see 25.00+). That is just crazy, but if you have the money.... why not spend it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if you know you're far above average (and you're used to be compensated accordingly,) don't bother speaking with parents offering "competitive" pay?

In the DC area, average nanny pay is in the $17-20/hour range.
The better nannies can earn $25-30+.

We pay our Nanny 16.00 an hour. She is pretty awesome. Of course you can find nannies that exclusively cater to the very rich (see 25.00+). That is just crazy, but if you have the money.... why not spend it.

I think $16/hr to keep someone child alive is crazy. Why would an educated and experienced nanny accept that. Sounds like she might be awesome but not very smart. Who wants a dummy watching their kids? Oh you do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a couple meanings here. The phrase "competitive pay" is what most job postings say when they don't want to disclose the amount upfront, but they want to indicate that they likely could match what you currently make - assuming you're earning market rate.

In pure economic terms, when there is strong competition in a sector - childcare in this instance - then the competition will yield an average, competitive rate. In this area, the published averages are $15-20. If you want higher than average, than perhaps "top dollar" is more the buzz phrase you're looking for.

NP and not a nanny - Here in Los Angeles, the minimum wage $15. How a nanny would accept the same rate as a McDonalds worker or cleaning person blows my mind. Is that for one child?!

Because its a much easier job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if you know you're far above average (and you're used to be compensated accordingly,) don't bother speaking with parents offering "competitive" pay?

In the DC area, average nanny pay is in the $17-20/hour range.
The better nannies can earn $25-30+.

We pay our Nanny 16.00 an hour. She is pretty awesome. Of course you can find nannies that exclusively cater to the very rich (see 25.00+). That is just crazy, but if you have the money.... why not spend it.

I think $16/hr to keep someone child alive is crazy. Why would an educated and experienced nanny accept that. Sounds like she might be awesome but not very smart. Who wants a dummy watching their kids? Oh you do.

Most nannies don't have a master's degree or even a college degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if you know you're far above average (and you're used to be compensated accordingly,) don't bother speaking with parents offering "competitive" pay?

In the DC area, average nanny pay is in the $17-20/hour range.
The better nannies can earn $25-30+.

We pay our Nanny 16.00 an hour. She is pretty awesome. Of course you can find nannies that exclusively cater to the very rich (see 25.00+). That is just crazy, but if you have the money.... why not spend it.

I think $16/hr to keep someone child alive is crazy. Why would an educated and experienced nanny accept that. Sounds like she might be awesome but not very smart. Who wants a dummy watching their kids? Oh you do.

Most nannies don't have a master's degree or even a college degree.

Perhaps but that’s seems to be changing. I see more and more women becoming nannies with degrees in education and early childhood development.


But regardless, competitive pay is slightly above average pay. It can mean nothing else.