Reply to Ask nanny reference for pay rate?

Forum Index » Employer Issues

Reply to "Ask nanny reference for pay rate?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote]

OP, there isn't anything particularly wrong with checking a nanny's salary history, so you can ask if you want. The thing is, it probably isn't going to give you much information. What you need to do is research the market rates in your area, decide what the job will entail, and what sort of extras you are looking for in a nanny. Once you price out the job, that's the range for the job. Nannies are responsible for their own finances and are absolutely able to decide if your job is worth accepting.

Don't start by asking the possible nanny her rate unless you have done your research first. They will inflate the rate and you can easily end of overpaying and that will not guarantee you a higher quality nanny.

For example, nannies in the DC are make $15-17/hr for one child and $16-18/hr for two kids with no housework other than cleaning up after themselves and kids (including kid laundry only)

Unless there are three or more kids and extra chores or duties, there isn't a reason to pay over $20/hr in DC. Actually, I would pay $20+/hr for a nanny with special needs experience.

A nanny who has 15+ years experience might think she is worth $25/hr...and maybe she is, but not to me. My job doesn't require that experience and is not worth paying extra for. However, the FTM with triplets down the street might be very willing to pay more for that experience.

In the end, the nanny's salary history is irrelevant. Each job is different and it is the job and its requirements that set the rate. That's why nanny rates are pretty consistent in a geographic area.

You aren't a nanny, so quoting what YOU would pay and stating it as an average, would be as ignorant as me telling you what I think you should earn. I often wonder if some of the parents on here, missed the humanity gene, but overdosed on the self-centered and selfish one instead.[/quote]

Apparently, you don't have much experience in the work world. ALL jobs have market rates, and smart candidates know, going into the interview, what those market rates are. Some nannies here seem to think they are not subject to market rates, but they are wrong. Smart employers will have done their research and know where their job is in the market rate. If they want extras, they will price their job on the higher end. If the nanny believes she is worth more (and every worker in every industry thinks they are worth more), she can decline the job. She will soon learn that market rates are real and take a job, or find an uneducated family who hasn't done their research who overpays them. Overpaying, sadly does not result in a higher quality nanny. It just results in throwing money away.

Verifying salary history is also extremely common in the work world. I happen to think it isn't helpful in the nanny world, and I articulated why. But it is common and no matter what I think I'm worth, a potential employer is going to take my salary history and the market rates for my job and make me an offer. I can take it or leave it. But I'm the job seeker and I'm not necessarily in control. There are often many more applicants than positions. This is especially true in the nanny world.

The real problem in the nanny world is that the barrier of entry is low, and competition can be fierce in areas where people pay illegally under the table. There are no licenses, no minimum education requirements, no assurances that a nanny is high quality, and no guarantee that experience is worth more in a new job. Nanny quality is determined solely by a NF's experience. Furthermore, childcare is an easy job that almost anyone can do. Now, as I say that, please know that I respect there are individuals who are exceptionally gifted at childcare and can provide enrichment and educational experiences above and beyond and they should absolutely be compensated more for their skills if a NF desires these skills. The sad truth is that most families don't need or require those skills and are not willing to pay more than market rates for them. Honestly, I think that nannying is not a good career choice because of it lacks, by definition, the opportunity for automatic job growth due to experience.

In spite of your insults, PP, I'm actually quite sensitive to the difficulty of nanny employment, both from the NF side and the nanny side. I want to encourage both sides to educate themselves and find the best situation they can for the best development of the children. Obviously, you feel differently.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics