Anonymous wrote:OP, funny how everyone seems to keep saying you should be able to find a nanny, but none of them can tell you where.

Do you mean like websites or what? There are plenty of avenues such as care.com and neighborhood listserves.

OP, funny how everyone seems to keep saying you should be able to find a nanny, but none of them can tell you where.

OP, I am a highly experienced (multiples, twins, special needs and teaching background) nanny. I recently took a job with a family that I fell in love with, despite the pay starting lower than where I previously finished. Your benefits sound standard and $17/hour should be getting you some great candidates, just make it clear that this is all you are offering. If someone really wants/needs the job, they will make it work-just like I did. Let's all be honest here, this is childcare, not rocket science. Yes we should be compensated well, but the rates some nannies are requesting are becoming exorbitant.

Anonymous wrote:We are looking for a nanny and found someone we like. We offered $17/hr with 5 sick days, 2 weeks vacation. This is for 2 kids (infant and toddler) and we would need someone probably 37 hours per week over 4 days, but we offered to guarantee 40 hours per week even though the nanny would most likely not work 40 hours most weeks unless one of us was running late. A nanny that we really like turned us down and said she needed $18/hr. I wish we could pay more, but we can't, and I just want to make sure what I'm offering is reasonable. Will I be able to find good candidates with experience? Is there really a big difference for nannies from $17/hr to $18/hr?

You'll definitely be able to find someone in Arlington, with experience, for $17/hr and good benefits. You've heard some good explanations for why that $1/hr difference might matter to a nanny (pay history being my own #1 issue) so don't be disheartened, there will be other strong candidates without a doubt!

OP you can absolutely find a great nanny for $17 an hour in Arlington.

Anonymous wrote:OP where are you located? If you are anywhere outside NW DC, even Bethesda then $17 as a starting salary is super high.

Arlington. This was only one nanny (a great nanny) and the first we made an offer to, but I am confident that there are others out there so we will just keep looking.

OP where are you located? If you are anywhere outside NW DC, even Bethesda then $17 as a starting salary is super high.

I think your rate is fine but not every nanny is willing to work for that if they were making more at a previous job. I've had a nanny who pushed my initial rate higher than what I originally wanted, but we went ahead and paid what she wanted because we liked her. A few months later she asked for a raise and for money toward health care. Clearly she wasn't happy making what we were able to pay her, even though she said she liked working for us. After months of being nickled and dimed, and her going through financial issues, we let her go and found someone else who was happier with our pay structure. We felt bad, but it was the way it had to be for our own financial well being.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're willing to lose a great nanny for $40/week? Ok.

My thought exactly. Are you sure you can afford the caliber you want? Sounds like maybe not. Otherwise, posters who claim you can, should also tell you where to find one, don't you think?

PP, can you explain how I should lower the caliber I'm looking for? Are you saying at $18/hr, I can get a great, experienced nanny but at $17/hr, I should expect an inexperienced, "low caliber" nanny? What exact qualities make a nanny qualified for $17 versus $18 per hour?

One size never fits all in the nanny world. So if you honestly want to know how much does a nanny cost, there's no avoiding the obvious. You must:

1. Find someone you want and is available.
2. Ask her what her rates are for the job you hope will interest her.

"Market rate" is a myth based on random claims by parents and nannies. In order to have dependable market rate data, you need verifiable facts based on paystubs and/or tax forms.

Anonymous wrote:How is there a big difference between $17 and $18 for a nanny but not one for the employer? Most nannies I know are not married and don't have kids. I made it work on $17 2 years ago. An employer with 2 kids has a lot of expenses as well. Sometimes they are already giving up all they can in order to have quality care for their children.

I really hate the attitude of some of the nannies on this board. It doesn't paint nannies in a flattering light and then you wonder why people look down on nannies.

What are you talking about? No one said that. OPs initial post asked if there's that much of a difference between $17 and $18/hour for nannies as though it shouldn't be a big deal. She then came back later saying that she can afford $17/hour but $18 will break her budget. It goes both ways.

How is there a big difference between $17 and $18 for a nanny but not one for the employer? Most nannies I know are not married and don't have kids. I made it work on $17 2 years ago. An employer with 2 kids has a lot of expenses as well. Sometimes they are already giving up all they can in order to have quality care for their children.

I really hate the attitude of some of the nannies on this board. It doesn't paint nannies in a flattering light and then you wonder why people look down on nannies.

PP, I didn't say that. I understand that $17 versus $18 makes a difference for a nanny, which is why I'm totally accepting of the nanny not wanting $17 and needed $18, and we both move on. I was asking if there is a difference in the quality of nannies from the two price points (but I'm not sure I made that very clear in my initial post.)

No. Its very bizarre but quality and price often don't match with nannies. We interviewed plenty of nannies asking for much higher rates who honestly didn't seem qualified to be more than entry level nannies or who had questionable job histories. I don't think you can find a great nanny for minimum wage but the differences between the $14-$18 an hour nannies isn't that large.

OP-you do not want to start at the very top of your budget. You want to leave for raises along the way. No matter what you are offering, you'll need to weed through lots of candidates, more if you are offering higher rates.

The issue isn't wether there are nannies available at $15,$16,$17, or $18. Your issue is what particular qualities you are looking for and requirements of your particular job that make your price point realistic or not. I agree that you could likely find great nannies at $17/hour. But that depends on your definition of "great". Like I said earlier, if the candidates YOU like, not these other MBs, are unwilling to accept your offer, something isn't lining up. Be it your expectations, requirements, or your compensation package.

Anonymous wrote:OP, stop worrying - $17/hr is more than reasonable. I'd say you could probably even start someone at $16 so you have room to grow/offer raises.

You will find many qualified applicants at these price levels.

Do you or your nanny know of anyone?

OP, stop worrying - $17/hr is more than reasonable. I'd say you could probably even start someone at $16 so you have room to grow/offer raises.

You will find many qualified applicants at these price levels.