"Competitive pay" is "average" pay?

[Anonymous]

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+.

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

We know some nannies are 25-30 and more. So when you say average, you mean some are 10-15? That's really not accurate at all for the DC area. Maybe you're looking at care.com, and everyone knows about them.

So when advertisement says, we'd like a great or exceptional nanny, will pay competitively, there's an obvious contradiction, no?

[Anonymous]

"Competitive" means it will compete with what other people pay, not that it will "win" necessarily. $10-$15 is probably not competitive, because it is low, but $15-$20 puts it right in line with the majority of employers "competing" for nannies.

[Anonymous]

This is just trolling for a fight. Don't rise to the bait.

[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.

We know some nannies are 25-30 and more. So when you say average, you mean some are 10-15? That's really not accurate at all for the DC area. Maybe you're looking at care.com, and everyone knows about them.

So when advertisement says, we'd like a great or exceptional nanny, will pay competitively, there's an obvious contradiction, no?

I said the average cited in other sources is $15-20. I'm not sure where $10-15 came from.

Competitive means on par with what most are offering. Most are not offering $25+ but there's nothing to stop you and anyone else from asking for it.

[Anonymous]

So competitive is your average rate, whatever you think that is?

[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+.

awesome! cuz i'm the best, which is better than 'better.'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So competitive is your average rate, whatever you think that is?

Competitive, by definition, means that it is as good - if not better- than the others. So just as good as what others are doing is competitive. That's all that means.

Competitive does not mean stellar, excellent, better than average. It can be those things, but doesn't have to be.

[Anonymous]

I don't know the official definition of competitive pay, however I would interpret it as good pay, up there where it should be.

[Anonymous]

"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.

[Anonymous]

Anytime that I see parents post "competitive pay," they want to pay in the range of what they consider market, whether it's market or not. "Negotiable competitive pay" seems to mean that the parents know that their range is below market. Top pay, excellent pay, great compensation all mean that the parents are willing to pay high end of market or over, and the third also has the connotation that there are great benefits as well.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I dont know one nanny (not one) that is making $25+?!? Who are you? I make 18/hr and am happy.