what is an attractive pay/benefits package for a nanny (in NW DC)

[Anonymous]

Sorry for the basic nature of this question but I will need a nanny mid-next year and I don't know where to start. I have no idea what is considered an attractive offer that will get me good, qualified applicants who will be happy with the terms of their employment. What is ideal for a nanny, but not unnecessarily exorbitant for us as parents? I would like someone who would work 40 hours a week (weekdays, not weekends). Ideally I would also like someone who would stay late if necessary, for overtime pay (my husband and I are both lawyers and sometimes work emergencies arise). How many days off per year would be appropriate? Would you offer pay by the hour, week, or year, and how much? Anything else I would add to make an attractive package?

[Anonymous]

You have a lot of research to do OP, and plenty of time to do it.

All of your questions are asked and answered here in lots of different (and often contentious) ways here so start by doing a lot of searching and reading here. Do the same w/ friends, neighbors, etc... who are parents.

As a VERY broad parameter you need to be thinking in terms of an hourly rate of $16-24/hour, 2 wks vacation (can have one week be at your choosing), some number of sick days, guaranteed hours and pay, etc... Frame the job in terms of the hourly rate and number of hours per week, and GROSS compensation only, not net. Go from there.

There's also lots of choices you need to make about your priorities in hiring - paying legally, citizenship status, fluency in english, college degrees, prior experience, what you care about most in terms of a fit for your family, etc.... Those are critical for a good hire and that takes some work to think through.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Well you pay by the hour.. Depending on the person experience and education. If the person has 5+ years of experience you are looking at $16-$20, 10+ years you are looking at $20-24. That will also depends on how much benefits you offer, the basics will include 1-2 weeks paid vacation, paid holidays. Now if she is really experienced offer insurance and maybe an extra vacation days.

[Anonymous]

An hourly rate of $16/hr would be an insult to any decent nanny.

How do you even live on that, PP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An hourly rate of $16/hr would be an insult to any decent nanny.

How do you even live on that, PP?

Nanny here and please just stop with this argument. The PP is absolutely right that $16-24 is a rough eatimate of the range. $16 is on the low end of that range, therefore anyone paying $16 can expect to either have some other perks that balance it out (lots of PTO, nanny brings her own kid, covering things like heath insurance, etc.), or they can expect to compromise in some areas (nanny with less experience, nanny who can’t drive and doesn’t speak English, etc.). But sometimes a gem can be found, such as a nurturing and lovely immigrant working for a family who speak her native tongue and live nearby to a playground and library.

[Anonymous]

I am assuming this is your first child and you are maybe looking for someone dependable, highly qualified for long term arrangement. To get and keep such a person, I would say to offer $22 or $23 an hour with 1.5 overtime, 10 days paid vacation and maybe pay 50% of insurance or all of it and 5 sick days. Also have a backup plan for when she needs to take off for her checkups so that there's no conflict.

[Anonymous]

Another factor to consider is whether a single nanny who is going to be paying her bills on the wages you pay her can afford to live anywhere near your home on what you pay her.

This is a very basic concept that is overlooked by the vast majority of potential nanny employers. If rent for a 1Br/1ba apartment near you averages $1,000, a monthly gross wage of $2,000 is, pardon the pun, grossly insufficient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry for the basic nature of this question but I will need a nanny mid-next year and I don't know where to start. I have no idea what is considered an attractive offer that will get me good, qualified applicants who will be happy with the terms of their employment. What is ideal for a nanny, but not unnecessarily exorbitant for us as parents? I would like someone who would work 40 hours a week (weekdays, not weekends). Ideally I would also like someone who would stay late if necessary, for overtime pay (my husband and I are both lawyers and sometimes work emergencies arise). How many days off per year would be appropriate? Would you offer pay by the hour, week, or year, and how much? Anything else I would add to make an attractive package?

Assuming you have one child you will likely attract good candidates with $15-$20 per hour. Know that nannies on here wildly inflate wages.

You pay by the hour. The standard is to offer 2 weeks of vacation, one at the nanny' choosing and one of your own (we always choose the week between Christmas and New Years). We also offer a week of paid sick leave. Some families offer a stipend for health insurance. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry for the basic nature of this question but I will need a nanny mid-next year and I don't know where to start. I have no idea what is considered an attractive offer that will get me good, qualified applicants who will be happy with the terms of their employment. What is ideal for a nanny, but not unnecessarily exorbitant for us as parents? I would like someone who would work 40 hours a week (weekdays, not weekends). Ideally I would also like someone who would stay late if necessary, for overtime pay (my husband and I are both lawyers and sometimes work emergencies arise). How many days off per year would be appropriate? Would you offer pay by the hour, week, or year, and how much? Anything else I would add to make an attractive package?

Assuming you have one child you will likely attract good candidates with $15-$20 per hour. Know that nannies on here wildly inflate wages.

You pay by the hour. The standard is to offer 2 weeks of vacation, one at the nanny' choosing and one of your own (we always choose the week between Christmas and New Years). We also offer a week of paid sick leave. Some families offer a stipend for health insurance. Good luck!

$15? really? what planet are you living on? $15 is minimum wage in DC! that is an insult for a qualified nanny with years of experience, certifications, and potentially required to drive the child around. Don't assume nannies aspire to live hand to mouth without desire to purchase a home and save for retirement. And also just because you pay your nanny peanuts doesn't mean everyone should. The OP clearly statement that her and husband are lawyers so they can afford to pay decent for a great nanny for their child. A nanny's salary isnt just about what the next door neighbor pays their nanny, it mostly depend on what the nanny does and means to the family. So cutting corners won't cut it. I've met a nanny in Palissades who is still with her charges 14 years later! She starts work around 12 am and finishes around 6pm and is very well compensated and very happy. The family adores her because she has been so loyale for many years.

[Anonymous]

No inflation here, OP. We pay our nanny $27 an hour. She was a preschool teacher, has advanced degrees and also handles all our child's laundry, grocery shopping and schedule. She also orders for our house ( toilet paper, dish soap, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry for the basic nature of this question but I will need a nanny mid-next year and I don't know where to start. I have no idea what is considered an attractive offer that will get me good, qualified applicants who will be happy with the terms of their employment. What is ideal for a nanny, but not unnecessarily exorbitant for us as parents? I would like someone who would work 40 hours a week (weekdays, not weekends). Ideally I would also like someone who would stay late if necessary, for overtime pay (my husband and I are both lawyers and sometimes work emergencies arise). How many days off per year would be appropriate? Would you offer pay by the hour, week, or year, and how much? Anything else I would add to make an attractive package?

Assuming you have one child you will likely attract good candidates with $15-$20 per hour. Know that nannies on here wildly inflate wages.

You pay by the hour. The standard is to offer 2 weeks of vacation, one at the nanny' choosing and one of your own (we always choose the week between Christmas and New Years). We also offer a week of paid sick leave. Some families offer a stipend for health insurance. Good luck!

$15? really? what planet are you living on? $15 is minimum wage in DC! that is an insult for a qualified nanny with years of experience, certifications, and potentially required to drive the child around. Don't assume nannies aspire to live hand to mouth without desire to purchase a home and save for retirement. And also just because you pay your nanny peanuts doesn't mean everyone should. The OP clearly statement that her and husband are lawyers so they can afford to pay decent for a great nanny for their child. A nanny's salary isnt just about what the next door neighbor pays their nanny, it mostly depend on what the nanny does and means to the family. So cutting corners won't cut it. I've met a nanny in Palissades who is still with her charges 14 years later! She starts work around 12 am and finishes around 6pm and is very well compensated and very happy. The family adores her because she has been so loyale for many years.

PP here. When we advertised for this rate we received many excellent, experienced applicants. I'd love to earn more too and save more for retirement, but skills are valued by the market.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No inflation here, OP. We pay our nanny $27 an hour. She was a preschool teacher, has advanced degrees and also handles all our child's laundry, grocery shopping and schedule. She also orders for our house ( toilet paper, dish soap, etc).

+1 You really do get what you pay for. We are around the same - $26 and hour for one child - and our nanny has a BA in Early Childhood Education. She has engaged DD since the day she was born - narrating, reading, singing - and at 22 months DD is the most verbal, communicative child I've ever met. And she loves books. Nanny also found the best classes and story times for DD once she was old enough. Nanny has also never once been late - has only been sick once and that was when DD gave her a stomach bug - and has taught me so much about childhood development and milestones. Nanny is never on her phone and keeps DD's life - laundry, groceries, supplies, class fees - in order. It is a great feeling to have 100% confidence in a nanny. I never worry about DD when I am at work and she truly loves her nanny. I never feel bad about leaving her in the morning. They are good buddies.

Think long term, OP, and really think about what you want for your child.

Anyway in terms of a benefits package - I hired nanny a month before my due date and gave her a $3,000 signing bonus (otherwise she would have taken a position with a family ready to start right away). After a year, we covered her healthcare insurance. Two weeks vacation/PTO which includes sick days. Holidays, of course. And a gas allowance to cover gas and car use to take DD to classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No inflation here, OP. We pay our nanny $27 an hour. She was a preschool teacher, has advanced degrees and also handles all our child's laundry, grocery shopping and schedule. She also orders for our house ( toilet paper, dish soap, etc).

+1 You really do get what you pay for. We are around the same - $26 and hour for one child - and our nanny has a BA in Early Childhood Education. She has engaged DD since the day she was born - narrating, reading, singing - and at 22 months DD is the most verbal, communicative child I've ever met. And she loves books. Nanny also found the best classes and story times for DD once she was old enough. Nanny has also never once been late - has only been sick once and that was when DD gave her a stomach bug - and has taught me so much about childhood development and milestones. Nanny is never on her phone and keeps DD's life - laundry, groceries, supplies, class fees - in order. It is a great feeling to have 100% confidence in a nanny. I never worry about DD when I am at work and she truly loves her nanny. I never feel bad about leaving her in the morning. They are good buddies.

Think long term, OP, and really think about what you want for your child.

Anyway in terms of a benefits package - I hired nanny a month before my due date and gave her a $3,000 signing bonus (otherwise she would have taken a position with a family ready to start right away). After a year, we covered her healthcare insurance. Two weeks vacation/PTO which includes sick days. Holidays, of course. And a gas allowance to cover gas and car use to take DD to classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another factor to consider is whether a single nanny who is going to be paying her bills on the wages you pay her can afford to live anywhere near your home on what you pay her.

This is a very basic concept that is overlooked by the vast majority of potential nanny employers. If rent for a 1Br/1ba apartment near you averages $1,000, a monthly gross wage of $2,000 is, pardon the pun, grossly insufficient.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No inflation here, OP. We pay our nanny $27 an hour. She was a preschool teacher, has advanced degrees and also handles all our child's laundry, grocery shopping and schedule. She also orders for our house ( toilet paper, dish soap, etc).

+1 You really do get what you pay for. We are around the same - $26 and hour for one child - and our nanny has a BA in Early Childhood Education. She has engaged DD since the day she was born - narrating, reading, singing - and at 22 months DD is the most verbal, communicative child I've ever met. And she loves books. Nanny also found the best classes and story times for DD once she was old enough. Nanny has also never once been late - has only been sick once and that was when DD gave her a stomach bug - and has taught me so much about childhood development and milestones. Nanny is never on her phone and keeps DD's life - laundry, groceries, supplies, class fees - in order. It is a great feeling to have 100% confidence in a nanny. I never worry about DD when I am at work and she truly loves her nanny. I never feel bad about leaving her in the morning. They are good buddies.

Think long term, OP, and really think about what you want for your child.

Anyway in terms of a benefits package - I hired nanny a month before my due date and gave her a $3,000 signing bonus (otherwise she would have taken a position with a family ready to start right away). After a year, we covered her healthcare insurance. Two weeks vacation/PTO which includes sick days. Holidays, of course. And a gas allowance to cover gas and car use to take DD to classes.

You sound like an excellent employer.