As a nanny I have always had my health insurance paid by my employers. They give me the monthly equivalent .

The PP is exactly right. By law (FLSA), even the best, most experienced, college-educated nannies are not true ("learned") professionals. If they were, they could be paid a salary instead of an hourly wage and they would be exempt from overtime.

Some people use the term "professional" nanny to refer to a "career" nanny, meaning someone with several years of experience. Of course, strictly speaking, anyone who gets paid to work in a particular field is a professional in that field.

I think nannies and nanny-employers alike would benefit from a legal system that recognized nannying as an early childhood education specialty with a formal education requirement and a licensure requirement. However, and sadly, Congress just doesn't see nannying as skilled labor.

And that is the problem. What OP doesn't know, and apparently you don't know either, 19:33, is that there is no such thing as a professional nanny.

There is no certification, education requirements, or anything else that defines the nanny profession. Anyone can call themselves a nanny. This does depress wages, obviously, and is a difficult situation for nannies, as well as families who want to pay a fair rate but not be sold a bill of goods by a nanny who calls herself professional but sleeps on the job, watches TV, snoops in her employers' computer, or any of the other things nannies here cop to doing.

Because there is no such thing as a professional nanny, the only thing a nanny has to recommend her for a high rate is her experience, references, and flexibility. That's it.

Anonymous wrote:

15:08 is not well-informed. Just about all professional employees are offered health insurance, don't you think?


uh, no. millions of enployees actually are not offered health insurance. offering a nanny health insurance is not the standard

Ok, so not only are you misinformed, but you don't read very well either. This thread is about professionals.

You don't read very well. This thread is about nannies.

In DC, OP, count on paying in the mid 50s pretax for an experienced nanny. Offer guaranteed hours, PTO, and any other perk you want to. Health insurance is nice, sure, but not at all common for nannies.

"Hiring a PROFESSIONAL nanny"

15:08 is not well-informed. Just about all professional employees are offered health insurance, don't you think?


uh, no. millions of enployees actually are not offered health insurance. offering a nanny health insurance is not the standard

Ok, so not only are you misinformed, but you don't read very well either. This thread is about professionals.

You don't read very well. This thread is about nannies.

In DC, OP, count on paying in the mid 50s pretax for an experienced nanny. Offer guaranteed hours, PTO, and any other perk you want to. Health insurance is nice, sure, but not at all common for nannies.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15:08 is not well-informed. Just about all professional employees are offered health insurance, don't you think?

uh, no. millions of enployees actually are not offered health insurance. offering a nanny health insurance is not the standard

Ok, so not only are you misinformed, but you don't read very well either. This thread is about professionals.

Anonymous wrote:We have two children and are considering a third. I've never had a nanny before, and I would need to hire one if we have a third child.

I've read posts about different compensation packages, and I've seen posts about nannies who are educated commanding a larger salary. How much are we talking about, fully loaded (taxes, health care)? $60K, $70K, $80K, or more?

How old are your children, OP, and how old might they be if you have a third child?

Anonymous wrote:15:08 is not well-informed. Just about all professional employees are offered health insurance, don't you think?

uh, no. millions of enployees actually are not offered health insurance. offering a nanny health insurance is not the standard

We're in the DC metro area (Arlington) and hired a nanny to take care of our two children, ages 6 months and 2 years, for $750/wk for between 45 and 50 hours per week. She has 3 weeks flex leave (can be used as sick or vacation time). One week must be taken during the summer when we go on vacation. We offer an $800 bonus twice a year. The nanny is incredible and we could not ask for anything more.

I hired a nanny with no college, no nanny experience, but someone who conducts themselves as a professional. I pay $15 an hour for 50 hours a week. We provide an unlimited monthly metro pass because they take the babies all over the city during the day. We also provide enough money for an HMO health insurance.

A professional nanny is likely to expect $18-$20/hr for a single child, plus a health care stipend, regular benefits (vacation, sick time, holidays) and, of course, guaranteed hours. If they'll be responsible for all three children under school age I'd expect to see the hourly rate easily move up to $24-$25/hr, and somewhere in-between if you'll have a baby, toddler, and one child at school. Annual costs will obviously depend on how many hours a week you need the nanny to work.

15:08 is not well-informed. Just about all professional employees are offered health insurance, don't you think?

What do you mean by educated, and how many hours per week do you need? You can get a nanny with an undergrad degree for $15-20 per hour in DC. If the nanny will be responsible for all three kids at the same time, expect to pay $18-20 per hour. $20 per hour gets you many above-average options--educated, experienced, has car and can drive your kids as needed. A few nannies can command rates higher than that outside the context of a two-family share, but they are the exceptions.

Health insurance is not required, but if you choose to offer it, expect to pay $100-250 per month. You'll also need to pay worker's comp insurance.

So, for three kids, once you factor in taxes and assuming you need at least 45 hours a week, you're looking at a minimum of mid-50ks.

$60-100K+, really depends on who you want and what your needs/expectations are.

We have two children and are considering a third. I've never had a nanny before, and I would need to hire one if we have a third child.

I've read posts about different compensation packages, and I've seen posts about nannies who are educated commanding a larger salary. How much are we talking about, fully loaded (taxes, health care)? $60K, $70K, $80K, or more?