Anonymous wrote:Are you still available? I would be very interested in talking to you. We have a young son with special needs and are in search of a new nanny.

I am still looking please feel free to email me at smmof1@gmail.com

Are you still available? I would be very interested in talking to you. We have a young son with special needs and are in search of a new nanny.

After many years working for agencies I am almost convinced that not all the jobs they advertise exist. Most do - but you will be surprised how often whenever you ask for the one you want (often a great salary and very attractive sounding job) they will always steer you off towards another less attractive role. Or they will flat out say the position is filled and leave the add up running - you can tell it's a fake job because if you send in several requests under different alias emails they all say the same thing - that the position is filled but never remove it from their site to keep getting more nanny traffic.

Yes their are great roles out there that pay high but they are RARE and not as common as we hope.

I am 40 yr old nanny who has 20 years experience.
Firstly, I would start telling families and agencies YOUR rate. Tell them, don't let them dictate your worth. Some will like it, some won't but it will immediately place you where you need to be - access to the jobs that are in this pay bracket.

Second, look for life skills - musical instrument - skiing - swimming - tutoring english TESOL - riding a horse - Art. Something that sets you apart from other nannies. English is in high demand if you work overseas.

Third - tell the agencies & families that you are a 'career nanny' and seeking positions that can advance your career - when the agency or family offer you a regular job tell them that you have reached that level already and are looking for something more fulfulling - ask them if they have any VIP family jobs going and tell them you want to be put forward for those.

Fourth - Travel alot and tell the agencies you are experienced travelling with children.

Five - Take up martial arts - then promote yourself as 'ninja nanny' for the Hollywood Elite.

OP, for your age and experience, what you are making is about right. You could maybe go into the $15-18 range, but not anymore than that.

That's a pretty high rate for a standard nannying position in PWC. But, with your special needs experience I would think you would be highly desirable to a family who needs that kind of expertise (and interest/care) - and for that you could certainly expect significantly more.

The hard thing with special needs positions is that the family is usually unable to pay higher rates. These situations involve very expensive therapies and even medical expenses that aren't always covered by insurance, one spouse needing to stop working or go part time. I know several families with special needs kids and they went the route of au pairs with professional school and work experience in nursing or special ed therapies or chose a nanny without special needs experience but interest in learning and then spent a good amount of time training her. While I'm sure that they would love someone with experience, there is just no way that they could swing the higher end of the rate spectrum.

As these parents are also very well read in the their child's condition you would need a good amount of knowledge and experience to show them that you really were knowledgable about the condition.

That's a pretty high rate for a standard nannying position in PWC. But, with your special needs experience I would think you would be highly desirable to a family who needs that kind of expertise (and interest/care) - and for that you could certainly expect significantly more.

Good luck.

You are paid pretty good / normal for that county I would think. No way nannies are as common in PWC and it is a long hike from NWDC where rates are highest and drop as you move out.
Biggest thing will be to move closer to DC but unless you are live in you will have much higher rent costs. Keep that in mind. If you are looking in DC or other closer areas before you move make sure to stress you will be moving to X if you get the job. Particularly for high hour number jobs MB may want to make sure you are not burnt out from commuting and longer commutes also make it more likely you will be late since bigger traffic uncertainties.

OP don't feel bad. I've been wondering too where all these $16-$20 jobs are in DC. Its hard to find a $15 one that isn't a share.

OP, in order to make the money you want to make, you need to move to DC and be willing to work with 2-3 children (in a share or a single family). While the degree is nice, you could make what you want, if you are an energetic and skilled nanny, by doing just those two things.

I recently became a substitute teacher during a period where I wasn't looking for FT employment for various reasons. I've found having this on my resume has made me a much more appealing candidate, for very little effort (becoming a sub was a really easy process).

Most counties usually require some college credits though (usually about 2 years worth) you mentioned going "back" to school, does that mean you already have some credits?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the $18-22 range you'll probably need at least a college degree, 5+ years experience, and to present yourself well. Tutoring experience, knowing a musical instrument, and/or being skilled in sports or arts also helps.

I have about half of those things and am at 25/hr dc area. It really depends on what the parents want and can afford.

OKAY.

All of you people posting saying "half that"... I listed three things she should have: a college education, 5 years or more of experience (note: I did not say FT experience. babysitting, tutoring, PT experience all flies), and the ability to present herself well. Which one and a half things do you all have? The latter list, as you may be able to see upon rereading, I said "also helps" - not mandatory, just something that sweetens the pot and is easy to add to a resume if OP already has that background but just hasn't listed it. I was trying to be helpful, so you can GFYs.

My analysis is based on my real-world experience and the guidelines given to me by the five different agencies that I've worked with in my time as a nanny. If you have a lot of experience, that can take the place of a degree. If you have a good degree, that can take the place of experience. God some of you are insufferable.

I agree OP should be at $15/hr minimum.

I'm a previous poster who said I have all of those things except one. I have 5 years FT experience, a BA (so just one degree, not multiple degrees), have tutoring/teaching experience, play the piano and violin, played varsity sports in high school and club in college (I'm 25 so not that long ago) and have also coached youth sports. I was not trying to be argumentative, I always actually attempting to support your argument.

Then my rant is not directed at you sorry.

Op here... I welcome all advice.

Pp I'm glad to know what you have found important.

I have an appointment schedule to see what I can transfer and how long a degree would take to finish.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the $18-22 range you'll probably need at least a college degree, 5+ years experience, and to present yourself well. Tutoring experience, knowing a musical instrument, and/or being skilled in sports or arts also helps.

I have about half of those things and am at 25/hr dc area. It really depends on what the parents want and can afford.

OKAY.

All of you people posting saying "half that"... I listed three things she should have: a college education, 5 years or more of experience (note: I did not say FT experience. babysitting, tutoring, PT experience all flies), and the ability to present herself well. Which one and a half things do you all have? The latter list, as you may be able to see upon rereading, I said "also helps" - not mandatory, just something that sweetens the pot and is easy to add to a resume if OP already has that background but just hasn't listed it. I was trying to be helpful, so you can GFYs.

My analysis is based on my real-world experience and the guidelines given to me by the five different agencies that I've worked with in my time as a nanny. If you have a lot of experience, that can take the place of a degree. If you have a good degree, that can take the place of experience. God some of you are insufferable.

I agree OP should be at $15/hr minimum.

I'm a previous poster who said I have all of those things except one. I have 5 years FT experience, a BA (so just one degree, not multiple degrees), have tutoring/teaching experience, play the piano and violin, played varsity sports in high school and club in college (I'm 25 so not that long ago) and have also coached youth sports. I was not trying to be argumentative, I always actually attempting to support your argument.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the $18-22 range you'll probably need at least a college degree, 5+ years experience, and to present yourself well. Tutoring experience, knowing a musical instrument, and/or being skilled in sports or arts also helps.

I have about half of those things and am at 25/hr dc area. It really depends on what the parents want and can afford.

OKAY.

All of you people posting saying "half that"... I listed three things she should have: a college education, 5 years or more of experience (note: I did not say FT experience. babysitting, tutoring, PT experience all flies), and the ability to present herself well. Which one and a half things do you all have? The latter list, as you may be able to see upon rereading, I said "also helps" - not mandatory, just something that sweetens the pot and is easy to add to a resume if OP already has that background but just hasn't listed it. I was trying to be helpful, so you can GFYs.

My analysis is based on my real-world experience and the guidelines given to me by the five different agencies that I've worked with in my time as a nanny. If you have a lot of experience, that can take the place of a degree. If you have a good degree, that can take the place of experience. God some of you are insufferable.

I agree OP should be at $15/hr minimum.