The $15 per hour nanny

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What nannies don't realize is that some starting salary lawyers don't even make 45,000 a year. I made less than that at my first law job. And law students usually have loans. You find ways to get by. I think some nannies on this forum think they should make more, but they don't realize that the employer can't always afford to pay more.

Both, high-end nannies, and the families who can afford them, are few and far between. I hear from lots of parents who say they'd be happy to pay 25/hr if they could find a nanny who was worth it. These parents need someone who knows how to do her job. They have other people to clean the house.

[Anonymous]

9:53 If you think that being a nanny is all just fun and games then you are full of crap. Also not all of us get breaks during the day. Neither of my charges sleep during the day. I have been here 2 1/2 years and they don't nap..EVER. I sure don't peruse through netflix half of my work day. Also teachers get regularly scheduled breaks and much shorter work days than nannies get. If you don't like your job then quit and be a nanny if it's so much darn better. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. I love being a nanny but it's not always fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What nannies don't realize is that some starting salary lawyers don't even make 45,000 a year. I made less than that at my first law job. And law students usually have loans. You find ways to get by. I think some nannies on this forum think they should make more, but they don't realize that the employer can't always afford to pay more.

Don't have children if you can't afford them.

Don't go into the 'nanny career' if you can't get by on market rate. Ohhh wait, that would mean you'd have to go get an education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What nannies don't realize is that some starting salary lawyers don't even make 45,000 a year. I made less than that at my first law job. And law students usually have loans. You find ways to get by. I think some nannies on this forum think they should make more, but they don't realize that the employer can't always afford to pay more.

Don't have children if you can't afford them.

Don't go into the 'nanny career' if you can't get by on market rate. Ohhh wait, that would mean you'd have to go get an education.

Okay, please stop saying this crap. Yes being a nanny doesn't have an education requirement. That does not automatically preclude us from having one. A true professional nanny has not only experience, but education. There are honestly 2 different nanny markets; the professional nanny market, and the glorified baby sitter market. The issue lies in the fact that most parents, though they desire a professional qualified nanny, want to pay uneducated glorified baby sitter rates, as well as uneducated unprofessional unqualified babysitters demanding professional nanny rates. Everyone needs to know their market.

[Anonymous]

I'm always amazed by this thread, where everyone is shouting into a void. PP, I am an MB, and I agree with you. There are professional nannies, and they do have qualifications that are above and beyond. The reality of your profession, however, is that there is no universally recognized definition of "professional." So using that title isn't going to make me, as an interviewing MB, think anything more than that you have lots of experience until you tell me so. I'm a lawyer, so we have licensing and bar exams, and all that crap that is supposed to separate people who are qualified to do my job and people who aren't (we'll leave for a different day whether that actually does the job). What career nannies who are true professionals need is a governing body that legitimizes what you do.

But because there isn't, even people without your qualifications can be considered professionals, and that means everyone who is not you is not a glorified babysitter.

Also, it's worth mentioning that what I want, is actually, a glorified babysitter. I get that professional nannies are fantastic, and if my child had special needs, or if I was going to be as hands off with child rearing as the dad in the Sound of Music, maybe I'd pay far more than market rate for a nanny. But what I really need is someone who speaks English fluently, drives, and will meaningfully entertain my child. Take him to the park, to play dates, classes, love on him when he bumps his head, make sure he is entertained and healthy and learning all day while I am away, watch for health and safety issues I need to know about, and model good manners, good habits, and good self-care skills so that he can learn. Maybe that requires training in early childhood education, but I think someone who has good judgment, good organizational skills, and genuinely enjoys working with children also fits the bill.

And that is available in the DC area at $15-18/hour. If that's what I need, and I can get it at that price (with raises, bonuses, vacation, etc.), I'd be a fool to pay more without some demonstrable benefit above and beyond what I need. Unless a professional nanny offers that something and I need it, then no point in paying more.

Also, not in response to PP, but this idea that, in hiring an employee, an employer takes on a moral obligation to make sure that said employee can pay their bills on the salary offered, is (mostly) meritless. I say mostly because there really is no moral obligation, except if the employer chooses to take one on. I cannot go to my boss and say "please pay me more so that I can pay my rent." Instead, I have to say "please pay me more because I offer these skills and talents and have taken on these tasks above and beyond what is required for my current salary level." Nannies don't get a pass from having to demonstrate the same thing.

That said, MBs, the nannies work with our babies. While my kid is NOT a treasured snowflake in everyone's eyes, he's special to me. So is my home and so are my belongings. So, we pay my nanny market rate, but we are kind to her, give her bonuses, treat her well, and if she needed a raise when circumstances changed, we'd consider it. That's because she does care for my sweet boy all day, and I want her invested in doing so. I also don't want her feeling like she has to steal my toilet paper, or take my kid to a second job just to get by (not saying all nannies do this, just using examples from the boards here). So, while you don't have a moral obligation, this idea that we shout every nanny down with the "go to college" mantra when they lament the market rate is just as ridiculous as the nannies who say "don't have children if you can't afford them."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What nannies don't realize is that some starting salary lawyers don't even make 45,000 a year. I made less than that at my first law job. And law students usually have loans. You find ways to get by. I think some nannies on this forum think they should make more, but they don't realize that the employer can't always afford to pay more.

Don't have children if you can't afford them.

Don't go into the 'nanny career' if you can't get by on market rate. Ohhh wait, that would mean you'd have to go get an education.

Don't be rude.

Plenty of us received a great education, and others are excellent nannies without having been to college.

[Anonymous]

You don't need a college degree to be a nanny. You need one to be lawyer. You need one to be a doctor. You need one to be a psychiatrist. The difference in salaries reflects this. Stop thinking that taking a few community college courses on child development makes you "more qualified."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't need a college degree to be a nanny. You need one to be lawyer. You need one to be a doctor. You need one to be a psychiatrist. The difference in salaries reflects this. Stop thinking that taking a few community college courses on child development makes you "more qualified."

Who are you responding to?

Also, having any knowledge of child development does make someone more qualified than a person who doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm always amazed by this thread, where everyone is shouting into a void. PP, I am an MB, and I agree with you. There are professional nannies, and they do have qualifications that are above and beyond. The reality of your profession, however, is that there is no universally recognized definition of "professional." So using that title isn't going to make me, as an interviewing MB, think anything more than that you have lots of experience until you tell me so. I'm a lawyer, so we have licensing and bar exams, and all that crap that is supposed to separate people who are qualified to do my job and people who aren't (we'll leave for a different day whether that actually does the job). What career nannies who are true professionals need is a governing body that legitimizes what you do.

But because there isn't, even people without your qualifications can be considered professionals, and that means everyone who is not you is not a glorified babysitter.

Also, it's worth mentioning that what I want, is actually, a glorified babysitter. I get that professional nannies are fantastic, and if my child had special needs, or if I was going to be as hands off with child rearing as the dad in the Sound of Music, maybe I'd pay far more than market rate for a nanny. But what I really need is someone who speaks English fluently, drives, and will meaningfully entertain my child. Take him to the park, to play dates, classes, love on him when he bumps his head, make sure he is entertained and healthy and learning all day while I am away, watch for health and safety issues I need to know about, and model good manners, good habits, and good self-care skills so that he can learn. Maybe that requires training in early childhood education, but I think someone who has good judgment, good organizational skills, and genuinely enjoys working with children also fits the bill.

And that is available in the DC area at $15-18/hour. If that's what I need, and I can get it at that price (with raises, bonuses, vacation, etc.), I'd be a fool to pay more without some demonstrable benefit above and beyond what I need. Unless a professional nanny offers that something and I need it, then no point in paying more.

Also, not in response to PP, but this idea that, in hiring an employee, an employer takes on a moral obligation to make sure that said employee can pay their bills on the salary offered, is (mostly) meritless. I say mostly because there really is no moral obligation, except if the employer chooses to take one on. I cannot go to my boss and say "please pay me more so that I can pay my rent." Instead, I have to say "please pay me more because I offer these skills and talents and have taken on these tasks above and beyond what is required for my current salary level." Nannies don't get a pass from having to demonstrate the same thing.

That said, MBs, the nannies work with our babies. While my kid is NOT a treasured snowflake in everyone's eyes, he's special to me. So is my home and so are my belongings. So, we pay my nanny market rate, but we are kind to her, give her bonuses, treat her well, and if she needed a raise when circumstances changed, we'd consider it. That's because she does care for my sweet boy all day, and I want her invested in doing so. I also don't want her feeling like she has to steal my toilet paper, or take my kid to a second job just to get by (not saying all nannies do this, just using examples from the boards here). So, while you don't have a moral obligation, this idea that we shout every nanny down with the "go to college" mantra when they lament the market rate is just as ridiculous as the nannies who say "don't have children if you can't afford them."

16:28 here and I really appreciate your post. I take no issue with an MB who acknowledges that she doesn't want the educated experienced uniquely skilled nanny, and pays market rate for the average nanny. What I do take issue with are the MBs who seek to hire the professional educated highly skilled nanny for what she deems to be a market rate (often the low end of market) and then screams entitled when someone suggests she is underpaying. You're absolutely right, there needs to be an across the board licensing, or certification system that will distinguish the real nannies, from those unqualified people looking to make easy money bogging down the market.

[Anonymous]

You know who has knowledge of child development? People who have raised kids or have had other long-term experience with children. Nannies don't make the world go round. They are a luxury for people who can afford it/find it necessary. I'm a nanny but it's embarrassing how many people think this should be taken seriously as a career.

Careers offer opportunities for advancement. With the exception of your $1 or $2 a year raise, where are these opportunities for nannies?

Your position will never be permanent. I could go to law school and become a lawyer for the next 50 years of my life. But being a nanny will always be a temporary job because children grow up and become dependent enough to not need to be under constant supervision.

It's great if you can get by for the rest of your life on this kind of money, but honestly it's not a very respectable job. And keep in mind, I'm a nanny saying this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know who has knowledge of child development? People who have raised kids or have had other long-term experience with children. Nannies don't make the world go round. They are a luxury for people who can afford it/find it necessary. I'm a nanny but it's embarrassing how many people think this should be taken seriously as a career.

Careers offer opportunities for advancement. With the exception of your $1 or $2 a year raise, where are these opportunities for nannies?

Your position will never be permanent. I could go to law school and become a lawyer for the next 50 years of my life. But being a nanny will always be a temporary job because children grow up and become dependent enough to not need to be under constant supervision.

It's great if you can get by for the rest of your life on this kind of money, but honestly it's not a very respectable job. And keep in mind, I'm a nanny saying this.

If you think raising kids means someone has knowledge of child development, you are sadly mistaken.

If you think it is a good idea to insult the very idea of your own livelihood, then I'd wager you're a pretty crappy nanny.

If you think it is appropriate to insult someone for working a job in retail, or construction, or any other type where the opportunities for "career advancement" are lacking - including nannies - then you're just a crappy person.

[Anonymous]

Working in retail allow you to advance to store manager, district manager, regional manager, etc. there is room to move up. Construction workers are typically in a union where there are different levels of expertise for them to advance to (foreman, journeyman, superintendent). So your post is invalid. I'm not judging anyone, I myself am a nanny. It's paying the bills for now. Who am I to judge? I just want people to stop spewing bullshit in hopes that nannying will one day be considered a respected profession. We are glorified babysitters, honestly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Working in retail allow you to advance to store manager, district manager, regional manager, etc. there is room to move up. Construction workers are typically in a union where there are different levels of expertise for them to advance to (foreman, journeyman, superintendent). So your post is invalid. I'm not judging anyone, I myself am a nanny. It's paying the bills for now. Who am I to judge? I just want people to stop spewing bullshit in hopes that nannying will one day be considered a respected profession. We are glorified babysitters, honestly.

If you (and your low-paying?) employers consider you a glorified babysitter, that's your business.
The parents who hire me, and pay my high rates, consider me a valuable resource for their endless parenting questions. They even ask if their friends can consult with me.

[Anonymous]

I make $17 an hour and I don't have much experience. I'm fresh out of college. Just because you're bitter doesn't mean everyone else is. I'm perfectly content with this job for the time being. Like I said, it pays the bills. I'm just trying to say that so many nannies try to turn what started as a convenient job for high school and college kids into a lifelong career. It was never meant for that. I'm not sure why anyone would willingly choose to stay in this situation. I'm happy for you if you're paid well and love the family you work for. But stop settling because of comfort and convenience and have some aspirations in life!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I make $17 an hour and I don't have much experience. I'm fresh out of college. Just because you're bitter doesn't mean everyone else is. I'm perfectly content with this job for the time being. Like I said, it pays the bills. I'm just trying to say that so many nannies try to turn what started as a convenient job for high school and college kids into a lifelong career. It was never meant for that. I'm not sure why anyone would willingly choose to stay in this situation. I'm happy for you if you're paid well and love the family you work for. But stop settling because of comfort and convenience and have some aspirations in life!

You may certainly speak for yourself, but that's about it. Sorry.


My salary/benefits are better than preschool teachers. Am very pleased that I get to follow my dreams of working with babies/young children, and make a good living. Lucky me and lots of other nannies to.