Anonymous wrote:The problem in defining the nanny market is that the "product" varies so much--every nanny is different. And every "consumer" is different as well.
A given consumer may be willing to pay more for a nanny who:
Is a specific nationality or ethnicity
Is a specific age
Is fluent in a specific language
Has long-term experience
Has infant experience
Has many years of experience in childcare
Has many years experience nannying
Has exclusively long term, glowing references
Has experience with potty training or sleep training
Has a certain educational background
Has experience with a certain age group
Is willing to run errands
Is willing to cook
Is willing to clean
Is familiar with public transportation
Can drive or has her own car
Is educated in a particular parenting philosophy or approach
Has tutoring ability or experience
Has experience with large families
Has experience with special needs or a particular diagnosis
Has experience dealing with childhood allergies or asthma
Has a medical background
Has experience with multiples
Has experience teaching or playing a particular sport or instrument
Has a particular communication style or background
Has a particular family arrangement or home life
Has a particular religious background
Is familiar with or adheres to dietary restrictions or special dietary needs
Is comfortable with or enjoys working with a certain kind of pet
Lives in a certain area
Enjoys traveling for work
Offers an ability to be flexible in her schedule
Is interested in and in regular schedule Or an unusual schedule
Is interested in working particularly long or particularly short hours over 50 or 60 hours or under 20
Has similar family or even political values
These are just off the top of my head. I am certain there are more which I am leaving out. Things that would be a strong pro to one family (such as being openly gay, being a particular religion, or being from a certain culture) Would be a strong call for another family. This is a big reason why the market varies so much. The best advice for both nannies and families is to create a short list of deal breakers. Know what your minimum wage requirements are (for a nanny) or your maximum pay requirements (for a family). No your basic requirements as two hours and level of flexibility or variation. After you have created the list of essential deal breakers, create another list that describes your ideal nanny job or nanny. Advertise or search for this ideal. If at, after a time, you cannot find the ideal, Cross a few things off your list and look for a less than ideal but still better than a basic dealbreaker Nanny or nanny job. If you cannot find someone who meets these requirements, continue to look for someone who is closer to your essential dealbreaker requirements. If you cannot find someone who meets your inessential dealbreaker requirements within the pay range you have specified, then you have priced yourself out of the market.
As a nanny, you must know that the families who pay the best often have very good reasons to do so. Be honest with your self about the requirements that you do or do not meet.
As a nanny employer, you must know that many families do really pay very well. Upwards of $20 may seem incredibly high, but it is not unheard of. If a nanny is excepting a surprisingly low rate, there may be a reason.
Anonymous wrote:"Yawn"
Trolls like you are the reason we got kicked off the main site.
Anonymous wrote:To the pp 'making 63k' - who says you deserve 63k? I have multiple graduate degrees and am a nce person so i say I deserve to make 200k. But I don't.