Pay rate for infant 50 hrs/wk plus a 4 yr old 35 hrs/wk RSS feed

Anonymous
I'm expecting to have to transition out of a nanny share at the end of the summer and I'm trying to figure out budgeting for a full-time nanny. We would have one 5 mo old full time and a 4 yr old after preschool (she would go to school for 15 hrs/wk). I'm wondering if a flat rate of $18/hr is fair ($46,800/yr)--any ideas? We would like a Spanish-speaking nanny with a driver's license who is reliable, kind, nurturing, and of course everything else that you want in a nanny--good communication about the kids, willing to be flexible if we run 30 min late some days, willing to do light housework. We would pay towards health insurance, pay for time off, and pay a gas allowance for any driving. I'm just a bit clueless as to whether or not this is a fair rate. We live in NW DC. Would love feedback from employers and nannies.
Anonymous
Your figure of $46,800 per year does not factor in overtime pay for any hours worked over 40 per week. I think if you adjust it to add OT pay it's reasonable, but it is on the low end of what most quality nannies make in DC; especially for two kids.
Anonymous
Actually, your base rate of $18/hr is on the higher than average for two kids in NWDC. I would stick with it, though, because you are looking for some light housework and flexibility. But I agree with the PP that you need to pay OT for the 10+ hours over 40.
Anonymous
This is OP. Thanks for the feedback. To PPs or others--What do you think the standard rate is for 2 kids in DC?--esp considering that it would just be one child for some of the week.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:This is OP. Thanks for the feedback. To PPs or others--What do you think the standard rate is for 2 kids in DC?--esp considering that it would just be one child for some of the week.


If the nanny will be caring for the older child when school is closed or when the child is sick, you should just pay the nanny as if the kid is already there.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Actually, your base rate of $18/hr is on the higher than average for two kids in NWDC. I would stick with it, though, because you are looking for some light housework and flexibility. But I agree with the PP that you need to pay OT for the 10+ hours over 40.

$18 for two kids isn't higher than average for two kids in NW Dc. It's what YOU would pay. to the OP, you're offering a fair rate.
Anonymous
MB here. OP, your annual salary/flat rate works out to $900/week. I think you will have many applicants to choose from at that level, with lots of qualifications and experience. You won't get the absolute top level, agency type nanny, but you can absolutely get great childcare for that. You could probably find it for less also but that level will give you lots of options.

To be really aboveboard though you need to break that compensation down to an hourly rate for 40 hours and time and a half for 10 hrs per week. So your agreement with the nanny you hire might read something like: weekly salary of $900, based on a 50 hour work week of 8am-6pm. This salary is based on a base hourly rate of $16/hr for the first 40 hours, and $24 as the overtime rate for 10 hours weekly. (Those are close to what the hourly rates would be.)

You want to be specific about the hourly rate - it's important to be clear about that on both the nanny and employer side, and it's also important legally.

In my experience a nanny who is looking for a full-time job is sometimes more interested in the total amount per week than the per hour rate it works out to, but you don't want to tell someone that you're paying $18 an hour flat rate. That's ambiguous. That could easily be understood to mean 40 hours at $18 and 10 at $27. The total dollar difference weekly isn't huge, but it matters.

Also, you might end up having weeks where you need the nanny's assistance for a few extra hours, or overnight, or whatever... The overtime rates start becoming more significant then.

Also, think about your total package. Vacation/sick leave, benefits coverage or any other things like that, holidays, etc...

You should be able to put together an extremely competitive and attractive package with the dollars you're talking about.

Good luck.
Anonymous
I'm paid $25. per hour for one child. But I don't speak Spanish.
Anonymous
OP here. Thank you. All this is really helpful. Regardless of our rate, we would offer sick days and PTO included. There would be unscheduled days off when we have family in town and we wouldn't need nanny coverage too. That happens at least 3 weeks a year. Additionally, we leave for 2-3 weeks a year that would be additional time off for the nanny--so she'd get around 5-6 wks off in addition to her own time off. We would offer PTO of two weeks on top of that as well as sick leave. I'm not sure what others do, but that would just be assumed in our case. We also don't consistently need a nanny at 50 hrs/wk so maybe we should consider pulling back the initial offer to 45 hrs/wk and paying extra for the times we're late.

Really appreciate the advice on overtime. We currently just handle that through our payroll agency so it's above board but we just didn't describe it that way to our nanny. I'll include the OT on the next contract.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I'm paid $25. per hour for one child. But I don't speak Spanish.


That's a good deal. We wouldn't be able to afford you.
nannydebsays

Member Offline
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you. All this is really helpful. Regardless of our rate, we would offer sick days and PTO included. There would be unscheduled days off when we have family in town and we wouldn't need nanny coverage too. That happens at least 3 weeks a year. Additionally, we leave for 2-3 weeks a year that would be additional time off for the nanny--so she'd get around 5-6 wks off in addition to her own time off. We would offer PTO of two weeks on top of that as well as sick leave. I'm not sure what others do, but that would just be assumed in our case. We also don't consistently need a nanny at 50 hrs/wk so maybe we should consider pulling back the initial offer to 45 hrs/wk and paying extra for the times we're late.

Really appreciate the advice on overtime. We currently just handle that through our payroll agency so it's above board but we just didn't describe it that way to our nanny. I'll include the OT on the next contract.


As a nanny, my preference would be to not be notified last minute that I would be late leaving. I think many parents don't build in a little extra time at the end of the day that will cover "late" returns home, and nannies tend to have things to do and places to be after work.

If it's financially possible, build in a little extra time at the end of the day. Letting nanny go "early" (by 30 minutes or less) is better than asking nanny to stay late.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I'm expecting to have to transition out of a nanny share at the end of the summer and I'm trying to figure out budgeting for a full-time nanny. We would have one 5 mo old full time and a 4 yr old after preschool (she would go to school for 15 hrs/wk). I'm wondering if a flat rate of $18/hr is fair ($46,800/yr)--any ideas? We would like a Spanish-speaking nanny with a driver's license who is reliable, kind, nurturing, and of course everything else that you want in a nanny--good communication about the kids, willing to be flexible if we run 30 min late some days, willing to do light housework. We would pay towards health insurance, pay for time off, and pay a gas allowance for any driving. I'm just a bit clueless as to whether or not this is a fair rate. We live in NW DC. Would love feedback from employers and nannies.


Way overboard, In McLean you can get someone for 15 an hour legally with taxes without healthcare for both kids especially since the older one isn't really under nanny's care. Maybe is much higher dunno but average pay floor nannies is 12 to 15 an hour unless you go through an agency.

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm expecting to have to transition out of a nanny share at the end of the summer and I'm trying to figure out budgeting for a full-time nanny. We would have one 5 mo old full time and a 4 yr old after preschool (she would go to school for 15 hrs/wk). I'm wondering if a flat rate of $18/hr is fair ($46,800/yr)--any ideas? We would like a Spanish-speaking nanny with a driver's license who is reliable, kind, nurturing, and of course everything else that you want in a nanny--good communication about the kids, willing to be flexible if we run 30 min late some days, willing to do light housework. We would pay towards health insurance, pay for time off, and pay a gas allowance for any driving. I'm just a bit clueless as to whether or not this is a fair rate. We live in NW DC. Would love feedback from employers and nannies.


Way overboard, In McLean you can get someone for 15 an hour legally with taxes without healthcare for both kids especially since the older one isn't really under nanny's care. Maybe is much higher dunno but average pay floor nannies is 12 to 15 an hour unless you go through an agency.



You have to be kidding. $18 is low to fair for an infant and preschooler. Will nanny be doing preschool pick up and drop
Off?
Anonymous



Focusing on the money not experienced nanny
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm expecting to have to transition out of a nanny share at the end of the summer and I'm trying to figure out budgeting for a full-time nanny. We would have one 5 mo old full time and a 4 yr old after preschool (she would go to school for 15 hrs/wk). I'm wondering if a flat rate of $18/hr is fair ($46,800/yr)--any ideas? We would like a Spanish-speaking nanny with a driver's license who is reliable, kind, nurturing, and of course everything else that you want in a nanny--good communication about the kids, willing to be flexible if we run 30 min late some days, willing to do light housework. We would pay towards health insurance, pay for time off, and pay a gas allowance for any driving. I'm just a bit clueless as to whether or not this is a fair rate. We live in NW DC. Would love feedback from employers and nannies.


Way overboard, In McLean you can get someone for 15 an hour legally with taxes without healthcare for both kids especially since the older one isn't really under nanny's care. Maybe is much higher dunno but average pay floor nannies is 12 to 15 an hour unless you go through an agency.



You have to be kidding. $18 is low to fair for an infant and preschooler. Will nanny be doing preschool pick up and drop
Off?

15 seems fair including pickups drop offs. This is basically a one kid responsibility
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