What to pay a live-in

[Anonymous]

We have three children - 9, 7 and 5.

We are thinking of hiring a live-in. We would need that person to:
Pick up 5 year old M-F at 11:45 from school
Do children's laundry
Ensure they are bathed every other night
Help with meal prep
Occasional grocery shopping
Empty dishwasher - very light chores related to the children
Ensure kids are putting their toys away
Ensure kids start homework by 4 pm

The "on" hours would be Monday - Friday from 11:45 until 6 PM, and occasional extra hours in the evening (once a month Tuesdays would be 11:45 - 7:30 PM)

They would have rent-free room with a full bathroom in their room and a walk-in closet. They would not need to pay for any utilities, and they could eat our food.

What would someone like this earn?

Thank you for any advice you can offer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have three children - 9, 7 and 5.

We are thinking of hiring a live-in. We would need that person to:
Pick up 5 year old M-F at 11:45 from school
Do children's laundry
Ensure they are bathed every other night
Help with meal prep
Occasional grocery shopping
Empty dishwasher - very light chores related to the children
Ensure kids are putting their toys away
Ensure kids start homework by 4 pm

The "on" hours would be Monday - Friday from 11:45 until 6 PM, and occasional extra hours in the evening (once a month Tuesdays would be 11:45 - 7:30 PM)

They would have rent-free room with a full bathroom in their room and a walk-in closet. They would not need to pay for any utilities, and they could eat our food.

What would someone like this earn?

Thank you for any advice you can offer!

So you are going to sort all the families dishes each morning so you run the dishwasher with only the childrens plates and forks and cups?

[Anonymous]

MB here. Our experience in hiring live-ins is that most of the top candidates see living-in during the week as a benefit for us (not them) convenience-wise and require the same compensation as a live-out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have three children - 9, 7 and 5.
So you are going to sort all the families dishes each morning so you run the dishwasher with only the childrens plates and forks and cups?

I meant that it would be doing the dishes daily for the family and other light chores related to the children such as their laundry, vacuuming if the kids spill something, wiping up the counters if they make a mess.

[Anonymous]

My SIL has two tweens and has had live-ins since they were born. She says that many nanny candidates consider living in to be a negative since they give up their privacy and space during their "off" hours. They find that they need to get out of the house in the evenings and weekends to avoid being drawn into their nanny family's life and needs. Several maintain separate residences or go home to their family or friends' houses on the weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB here. Our experience in hiring live-ins is that most of the top candidates see living-in during the week as a benefit for us (not them) convenience-wise and require the same compensation as a live-out.

It is a benefit for you. A live in should be paid more, not less, for lack Of privacy and, essentially, on 24/7 call.

[Anonymous]

Get an au pair. They actually do value having a room so it's a better value proposition for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MB here. Our experience in hiring live-ins is that most of the top candidates see living-in during the week as a benefit for us (not them) convenience-wise and require the same compensation as a live-out.

It is a benefit for you. A live in should be paid more, not less, for lack Of privacy and, essentially, on 24/7 call.

It can be of mutual benefit with the right person. You should not have to pay more but you may have to pay the same. Our live-in is not on-call during her off hours and she leaves every Friday at her usual time to spend the weekend with her family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MB here. Our experience in hiring live-ins is that most of the top candidates see living-in during the week as a benefit for us (not them) convenience-wise and require the same compensation as a live-out.

It is a benefit for you. A live in should be paid more, not less, for lack Of privacy and, essentially, on 24/7 call.

It can be of mutual benefit with the right person. You should not have to pay more but you may have to pay the same. Our live-in is not on-call during her off hours and she leaves every Friday at her usual time to spend the weekend with her family.

Are her quarters off limits at all times to you and children? You never come home late? You never request her assistance on her off time? Of you do any of these, then the benefit is grossly one sided.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MB here. Our experience in hiring live-ins is that most of the top candidates see living-in during the week as a benefit for us (not them) convenience-wise and require the same compensation as a live-out.

It is a benefit for you. A live in should be paid more, not less, for lack Of privacy and, essentially, on 24/7 call.

It can be of mutual benefit with the right person. You should not have to pay more but you may have to pay the same. Our live-in is not on-call during her off hours and she leaves every Friday at her usual time to spend the weekend with her family.

Are her quarters off limits at all times to you and children? You never come home late? You never request her assistance on her off time? Of you do any of these, then the benefit is grossly one sided.

I have had live in and live out nannies. I prefer to have a live out nanny because her expectations of me were too much for me to deal with. However, of course all of the above were true. Kids weren't allowed in her room/bathroom. I didn't go unless I was telling her that a meal was ready. I was never more than a few minutes late. I never asked her to do anything other than what a reasonable person might do during her off time (respond when the kids and I talk to her, tell me if she smells a stinky diaper or sees a kid in a dangerous situation). It is tricky if you have young kids though . Kids don't really understand their caregiver being around, but having off time. You have to find someone who works well with your family.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, everyone! I think we will go the Au Pair route.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MB here. Our experience in hiring live-ins is that most of the top candidates see living-in during the week as a benefit for us (not them) convenience-wise and require the same compensation as a live-out.

It is a benefit for you. A live in should be paid more, not less, for lack Of privacy and, essentially, on 24/7 call.

It can be of mutual benefit with the right person. You should not have to pay more but you may have to pay the same. Our live-in is not on-call during her off hours and she leaves every Friday at her usual time to spend the weekend with her family.

OP, eating your food is debatable. Are you willing to provide food that the nanny can eat? Just saying that they can eat what you have isn't enough, not if they have things that they can't eat.

M-F 11.30-6, an extra hour and a half once per month, childcare. Grocery shopping, meal prep, laundry and dishes would be done in the morning, so actual work hours are full time. Nannies start when they pick up the vehicle, not when they pick up the child, so 15 minutes to get to the school and sit in line/park and walk inside. You should be fine with 10am-6pm, and the late Tuesday would be 11.30am-7.30pm.

For 40 hours per week, and the list of things to be accomplished in an hour and a half, you might find someone to take the position for $400 per week, but you'll have better candidates at $600+.

I'm not sure why you want a live-in, as your schedule is definitely within the realm of normal for a live-out nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone! I think we will go the Au Pair route.

You'll be within the 45 hour limit, so that works. Stipend is $200 per week, plus agency fees and other costs. An AP costs a little less than a live-in nanny, but not by much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MB here. Our experience in hiring live-ins is that most of the top candidates see living-in during the week as a benefit for us (not them) convenience-wise and require the same compensation as a live-out.

It is a benefit for you. A live in should be paid more, not less, for lack Of privacy and, essentially, on 24/7 call.

To avoid paying rent or mortgage is a very big benefit for the nanny. It's the largest expense item on most people's budget spreadsheet.

[Anonymous]

We have a live-in nanny who works six days a week, 8 am to 6.30 pm. In practice, her Saturdays are much shorter than this. We started her at $400/week when we had a 1-year old, and raised to $500/week when his sister was born two years later.