Anonymous wrote:Lots of illegal ladies are in the dc area who are happy with 5 or 10/hr, and lots of parents who can't afford a real nanny.

Here's the issue.

Great experience being a full time nanny not an occasional or part time sitter, American born, 2 yrs of college, CPR/First Aid certificates, good driving record, infant sign language. When salary comes up, the parents either first offer the low rate or when they ask me my rates they are disappointed to hear $18. They say they want to hire me but they have other candidates only looking for $12.

You need to look at how you're marketing yourself. If you're decently qualified and experienced, interview well, and know what you want, the jobs are out there. $15/hour has been my minimum since my first job and I've never been out of work. Finding a new job takes me anywhere from a week to a month.

Move to Boston thats the starting rate here

I made that rate in Maryland suburbs, and DC, one child, minimum housekeeping related to child.
I had no idea the market was so low until I came on DCUM

May I ask how recently you started your current job? I wonder if the market was better a few years ago. I still found it took a long time to find a $15 an hour job with basic benefits 3 years ago but now its worse

I made that rate in Maryland suburbs, and DC, one child, minimum housekeeping related to child.
I had no idea the market was so low until I came on DCUM

Are you looking for a job where you care for only one child?

Not being picky. 2 or even 3 kids is OK. Working under the table is not OK.

Lots of illegal ladies are in the dc area who are happy with 5 or 10/hr, and lots of parents who can't afford a real nanny.

Yep, it's a competitive market in the DC area. That's why so many jobs are under the $16/hr mark. Lots of nannies available so the rates stay lower.

Are you looking for a job where you care for only one child?

Anonymous wrote:I pay in that range in SF,CA.

I get paid that here in the Bay Area, CA.

That's my pay in Philly.

They are in the year 2007.

I pay in that range in SF,CA.

Where are the $16-$20 in DC,VA, or MD ??

There are plenty of crazy, lowball jobs near or under minimum wage. There are some $10-$14 an hour jobs. I found one $15 an job. I talked to an agency and they were higher but said to be prepared for $15 - $16 since there were so many nannies on the market in DC.