New Thread Same Topic -- Question for Nannies: Nanny Rates in NW DC

[Anonymous]

I still have the same question and I think there was a lot of confusion as to the duties, hours etc... so I'm reposting my questions for the nannies out there about the current market rate for nannies taking care of 2 infants in a share.

As far as the laundry and cleaning goes there is nothing above and beyond expectd. We are talking about cleaning the baby bottles, simple meal prep (introducing new foods) and laundry once a week doing the baby's laundry for the baby where the share is located (if something from the other child is dirty she can throw it in with the load of laundry but the other parents are not bringing over their laundry for the nanny to do). The share is at one home so there is no "hassle" of going back and forth. We expect the nanny to change diapers, play with the kids, read, sing, put them down for naps, take them to the park, story time and keep a simple log. The hours are guarenteed so we plan to pay a base rate plus OT for anyting over 8 hours a day (in this case 5 OT hours per week). Benefits are standard. We are not looking for a someone with a college degree or master's or specialty in child development but would like someone who has been a nanny before and has more than 5 years expereience. My question is what is the market rate for the base pay? Is $20 or $10 per family too low ($20 for the first 8 hours and $30 for the additional hour) or is that reasonable? Is $24 or $12 per family per hour for base pay ($24 for the first 8 hours and $36 for the additional OT hour too high?) or is that really the going rate. We are willing to pay fairly but we don't feel like we should overpay just becasue we are not expereinced in employing a nanny. It seems like in past posts people say that a share should cost $18 - $20 and hour for the base rate but most nannies seem to be asking for much more. Is this a negotiationg tool? Are the posts on this board artificaly low or old? I really need help -- this post is not meant to start an argument or troll. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I still have the same question and I think there was a lot of confusion as to the duties, hours etc... so I'm reposting my questions for the nannies out there about the current market rate for nannies taking care of 2 infants in a share.

As far as the laundry and cleaning goes there is nothing above and beyond expectd. We are talking about cleaning the baby bottles, simple meal prep (introducing new foods) and laundry once a week doing the baby's laundry for the baby where the share is located (if something from the other child is dirty she can throw it in with the load of laundry but the other parents are not bringing over their laundry for the nanny to do). The share is at one home so there is no "hassle" of going back and forth. We expect the nanny to change diapers, play with the kids, read, sing, put them down for naps, take them to the park, story time and keep a simple log. The hours are guarenteed so we plan to pay a base rate plus OT for anyting over 8 hours a day (in this case 5 OT hours per week). Benefits are standard. We are not looking for a someone with a college degree or master's or specialty in child development but would like someone who has been a nanny before and has more than 5 years expereience. My question is what is the market rate for the base pay? Is $20 or $10 per family too low ($20 for the first 8 hours and $30 for the additional hour) or is that reasonable? Is $24 or $12 per family per hour for base pay ($24 for the first 8 hours and $36 for the additional OT hour too high?) or is that really the going rate. We are willing to pay fairly but we don't feel like we should overpay just becasue we are not expereinced in employing a nanny. It seems like in past posts people say that a share should cost $18 - $20 and hour for the base rate but most nannies seem to be asking for much more. Is this a negotiationg tool? Are the posts on this board artificaly low or old? I really need help -- this post is not meant to start an argument or troll. Thanks.

The problem is the posters on this board are artificially dumb.

[Anonymous]

Have you met with nannies in person yet?

[nannydebsays]

Anonymous wrote:I still have the same question and I think there was a lot of confusion as to the duties, hours etc... so I'm reposting my questions for the nannies out there about the current market rate for nannies taking care of 2 infants in a share.

As far as the laundry and cleaning goes there is nothing above and beyond expectd. We are talking about cleaning the baby bottles, simple meal prep (introducing new foods) and laundry once a week doing the baby's laundry for the baby where the share is located (if something from the other child is dirty she can throw it in with the load of laundry but the other parents are not bringing over their laundry for the nanny to do). The share is at one home so there is no "hassle" of going back and forth. We expect the nanny to change diapers, play with the kids, read, sing, put them down for naps, take them to the park, story time and keep a simple log. The hours are guarenteed so we plan to pay a base rate plus OT for anyting over 8 hours a day (in this case 5 OT hours per week). Benefits are standard. We are not looking for a someone with a college degree or master's or specialty in child development but would like someone who has been a nanny before and has more than 5 years expereience. My question is what is the market rate for the base pay? Is $20 or $10 per family too low ($20 for the first 8 hours and $30 for the additional hour) or is that reasonable? Is $24 or $12 per family per hour for base pay ($24 for the first 8 hours and $36 for the additional OT hour too high?) or is that really the going rate. We are willing to pay fairly but we don't feel like we should overpay just becasue we are not expereinced in employing a nanny. It seems like in past posts people say that a share should cost $18 - $20 and hour for the base rate but most nannies seem to be asking for much more. Is this a negotiationg tool? Are the posts on this board artificaly low or old? I really need help -- this post is not meant to start an argument or troll. Thanks.

OP, the best way to judge if your pay scale is going to get you the type of nanny you want is to place an ad with a detailed job description offering the lower rate and a few specific questions for the responders to answer, such as "How much experience do you have caring for multiple infants?" "Tell me what sort of outings you would take the babies on at 4 months old/8 months old." "Why have you chosen to work as a nanny for more than 5 years?"

Then you start screening responses. You toss any replies that fail to answer the 3 questions you asked, you toss replies from people who don't meet your base minimum standards, and you then pick 3 - 5 people to screen over the phone. If, after talking to your chosen candidates on the phone you are satisfied with the quality of nannies you have found, you schedule in-person interviews, narrow your selection down, check references, and ask your top 2 to work a trial day. Then you make your choice, make an offer contingent on passing a background check, and work together to write up an work agreement.

OTOH, if your lower rate (say $20/hour for sake of argument) doesn't yield any decent candidates, you re-post the ad with a higher hourly rate and see what type of candidates respond, then follow the steps above.

Why? Because there is no hard and fast rule about nanny wages. Every family has a different childcare budget, every nanny has a different bottom line rate they must make to live comfortably, and the trick is to find a nanny you love who wants to work for you and who will be making a bit more than her bottom rate when she works for you.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

OK going back to your old thread you have interviewed with are asking for the same rate.

It's not a fluke and it isn't likely multiple nannies are trying to take advantage of you.
Change your job listing to reflect what you actually can pay or want to pay.

If your listing says $ 20 - 25 it's not accurate for what you really want to pay.

Lower it what you actually wish to pay if that's $18 post that.

[Anonymous]

I still have the same question and I think there was a lot of confusion as to the duties, hours etc... so I'm reposting my questions for the nannies out there about the current market rate for nannies taking care of 2 infants in a share.

As far as the laundry and cleaning goes there is nothing above and beyond expectd. We are talking about cleaning the baby bottles, simple meal prep (introducing new foods) and laundry once a week doing the baby's laundry for the baby where the share is located (if something from the other child is dirty she can throw it in with the load of laundry but the other parents are not bringing over their laundry for the nanny to do). The share is at one home so there is no "hassle" of going back and forth. We expect the nanny to change diapers, play with the kids, read, sing, put them down for naps, take them to the park, story time and keep a simple log. The hours are guarenteed so we plan to pay a base rate plus OT for anyting over 8 hours a day (in this case 5 OT hours per week). Benefits are standard. We are not looking for a someone with a college degree or master's or specialty in child development but would like someone who has been a nanny before and has more than 5 years expereience. My question is what is the market rate for the base pay? Is $20 or $10 per family too low ($20 for the first 8 hours and $30 for the additional hour) or is that reasonable? Is $24 or $12 per family per hour for base pay ($24 for the first 8 hours and $36 for the additional OT hour too high?) or is that really the going rate. We are willing to pay fairly but we don't feel like we should overpay just becasue we are not expereinced in employing a nanny. It seems like in past posts people say that a share should cost $18 - $20 and hour for the base rate but most nannies seem to be asking for much more. Is this a negotiationg tool? Are the posts on this board artificaly low or old? I really need help -- this post is not meant to start an argument or troll. Thanks.

I don't understand why you think you need a new thread, OP. You should have just added any new information on your old thread.

Again...$18-20/hr for a share is the market rate here. So, $20/hr is not too low. $24/hr is too high, but it is not crazy high. I know a few people who pay $22/hr in NW for a share like you describe.

Nannies ALWAYS ask for more as a negotiating tool. Most people in other jobs do, too. Just counter with what you are willing to pay. You will find a nanny. There are plenty of nannies in your area and several at your price point. Are you looking in the right places? Neighborhood list servs are the best.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to all for the feedback. This is very helpful.

[Anonymous]

So this is a $41,600 job, vs. a $49,920 job? (20-24 rate * 40 hrs * 52 weeks). $18 yields $37,440.