For what you are offering, assuming this is your first child and the nanny hasn't been with other children in your family (and thereby receiving raises over the years) $16-20 will find you plenty of candidates. Since it's usually 40, I'd say $18-20 because there isn't overtime pay.

Also, if you were one of the follow up posts saying you give a stipend to health insurance, that's a big perk!

Unless she's been with you for years (and no longer has the older children because of school) you definitely don't have to pay over $20/hr for one infant.

I live in NW DC and the range seems to be $16-$22 depending on whether the nanny is caring for 1 child, 2 children etc. and whether they will take on expanded duties like cooking or light cleaning. I've seen fantastic nannies that are being paid $16-$17. $20 and up seems to be for multiples.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Right, benefits are included. Generous vacation and health insurance.

We already have a nanny. I'm trying to get a sense of whether the rate I am paying is competitive, and when someone recently told me that the rate for one child is $20, I was shocked, so I wanted to get a sense of whether that was the rumor mill or really true. It will help me benchmark.

College educated, 10 years experience.

What are you paying her currently? You don't have to pay $20/hour to be competitive, but less than $18/hour and she has more options/potential better offers. I have a degree and 5 years of full time experience, and I have no problem finding an $18/hour job, $20 is more difficult.

We pay comfortably above $20/hour. To me, the question is whether the additional money is worth the additional work of two kids, driving to activities, etc. I guess it just depends on what the nanny wants/likes to do. And if the going rate is really truly $20/hour for one infant, then I would say that I need to reevaluate compensation.

If you pay "comfortably above $20/hr", you are at the higher - very much higher end of nanny compensation that usually implies special skills or unique disadvantages to the position (like very few hours or inconvenient hours). Bluntly speaking, you are paying above market.

The starting salary for an infant, even for an experienced nanny, is not $20/hr, it's closer to $15/hr. Infant care doesn't really require much from nannies. You get into needing more from nannies when kids are preschool or elementary age (more of a governess type), but at that point they are usually in preschool or school long enough to make full-time nanny care less than practical. If you have two children or other complications, that's different.

I totally agree with this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Right, benefits are included. Generous vacation and health insurance.

We already have a nanny. I'm trying to get a sense of whether the rate I am paying is competitive, and when someone recently told me that the rate for one child is $20, I was shocked, so I wanted to get a sense of whether that was the rumor mill or really true. It will help me benchmark.

College educated, 10 years experience.

What are you paying her currently? You don't have to pay $20/hour to be competitive, but less than $18/hour and she has more options/potential better offers. I have a degree and 5 years of full time experience, and I have no problem finding an $18/hour job, $20 is more difficult.

We pay comfortably above $20/hour. To me, the question is whether the additional money is worth the additional work of two kids, driving to activities, etc. I guess it just depends on what the nanny wants/likes to do. And if the going rate is really truly $20/hour for one infant, then I would say that I need to reevaluate compensation.

If you pay "comfortably above $20/hr", you are at the higher - very much higher end of nanny compensation that usually implies special skills or unique disadvantages to the position (like very few hours or inconvenient hours). Bluntly speaking, you are paying above market.

The starting salary for an infant, even for an experienced nanny, is not $20/hr, it's closer to $15/hr. Infant care doesn't really require much from nannies. You get into needing more from nannies when kids are preschool or elementary age (more of a governess type), but at that point they are usually in preschool or school long enough to make full-time nanny care less than practical. If you have two children or other complications, that's different.

Yes, OP, I think for a college educated nanny with ten years experience $20/hr is quite standard. Those nannies don't make up the majority of the market, though, which is why you hear lower rates quoted so often here.

pp, I would expect that you would pay more for TWO. This is a question on one.

I am also interested to know the range for one infant is... nanny share is looking more and more attractive!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Right, benefits are included. Generous vacation and health insurance.

We already have a nanny. I'm trying to get a sense of whether the rate I am paying is competitive, and when someone recently told me that the rate for one child is $20, I was shocked, so I wanted to get a sense of whether that was the rumor mill or really true. It will help me benchmark.

College educated, 10 years experience.

What are you paying her currently? You don't have to pay $20/hour to be competitive, but less than $18/hour and she has more options/potential better offers. I have a degree and 5 years of full time experience, and I have no problem finding an $18/hour job, $20 is more difficult.

We pay comfortably above $20/hour. To me, the question is whether the additional money is worth the additional work of two kids, driving to activities, etc. I guess it just depends on what the nanny wants/likes to do. And if the going rate is really truly $20/hour for one infant, then I would say that I need to reevaluate compensation.

No I think your rate is fine, maybe even high, but there are lots of nannies who prefer older kids, multiple kids etc. over being alone with an infant day after day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Right, benefits are included. Generous vacation and health insurance.

We already have a nanny. I'm trying to get a sense of whether the rate I am paying is competitive, and when someone recently told me that the rate for one child is $20, I was shocked, so I wanted to get a sense of whether that was the rumor mill or really true. It will help me benchmark.

College educated, 10 years experience.

What are you paying her currently? You don't have to pay $20/hour to be competitive, but less than $18/hour and she has more options/potential better offers. I have a degree and 5 years of full time experience, and I have no problem finding an $18/hour job, $20 is more difficult.

We pay comfortably above $20/hour. To me, the question is whether the additional money is worth the additional work of two kids, driving to activities, etc. I guess it just depends on what the nanny wants/likes to do. And if the going rate is really truly $20/hour for one infant, then I would say that I need to reevaluate compensation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You will not attract an experienced nanny without benefits.
It's somewhat difficult to "guess."
Reach out to nannies with the experience and qualifications you're looking for and ask what they want.

She didn't say no benefits, she said leave benefits out of the discussion. Try reading.

Try not being a complete asshole.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Right, benefits are included. Generous vacation and health insurance.

We already have a nanny. I'm trying to get a sense of whether the rate I am paying is competitive, and when someone recently told me that the rate for one child is $20, I was shocked, so I wanted to get a sense of whether that was the rumor mill or really true. It will help me benchmark.

College educated, 10 years experience.

What are you paying her currently? You don't have to pay $20/hour to be competitive, but less than $18/hour and she has more options/potential better offers. I have a degree and 5 years of full time experience, and I have no problem finding an $18/hour job, $20 is more difficult.

OP here. Right, benefits are included. Generous vacation and health insurance.

We already have a nanny. I'm trying to get a sense of whether the rate I am paying is competitive, and when someone recently told me that the rate for one child is $20, I was shocked, so I wanted to get a sense of whether that was the rumor mill or really true. It will help me benchmark.

College educated, 10 years experience.

Anonymous wrote:You will not attract an experienced nanny without benefits.
It's somewhat difficult to "guess."
Reach out to nannies with the experience and qualifications you're looking for and ask what they want.

She didn't say no benefits, she said leave benefits out of the discussion. Try reading.

What are you calling experienced OP? 10 years and a degree? Your benefits package can certainly affect the rate, but for a very experienced and qualified nanny, and only 40 hours per week, $20/hour is not unheard of, but $18/hour will find you great candidates.

You will not attract an experienced nanny without benefits.
It's somewhat difficult to "guess."
Reach out to nannies with the experience and qualifications you're looking for and ask what they want.

I know that there have been lots of posts on this over the years/months, but I was just told that the starting salary for an experienced nanny to care for a child in NW DC is $20/hour (pretax) for a 40-hour work week. This seems contrary to what I have otherwise read on these boards, and I want a sanity check about what the appropriate starting rate is in NW DC.

I want to keep this simple, so let's keep benefits out of this, assume no overtime. Assume responsibilities include solely child care plus laundry for the child. Thanks.