We are paying $15 this summer for someone with similar credentials. We live in a MD suburb of DC.

I'm a college student in the VA suburbs. I have less academic qualifications with children (I am a theater major) but a lot more work-experience with kids (I've been nannying or working in preschools for 5 years now). I generally make around $13-16/hr at summer jobs. And have never met any families willing to come even close to some of the rates PPs have mentioned here for their summer nanny. As another pp said, the market is definitely saturated. And a lot of the jobs are with older kids whose parents have the mindset of "oh they're older so it's easy!"

Some other things to keep in mind- very very few families are planning to pay a summer nanny on the books. I've only had it mentioned at one interview and that was because the DB worked directly for the IRS. So if this is important to you, you might have to look around a bit.

Make sure you get guaranteed hours. I've found in the summer if I didn't families were always cutting my hours for a long weekend or an appointment or whatever. But if I bring it up at the beginning, most are fine with it.

I also like to put a lot of really detailed things about activities in the contract that I wouldnt necessarily be concerned with in a year round position. This way we're all clear on how far I can drive with the kids and how much they're comfortable spending per week on various summer activities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you're in a super-depressed geographical area, btwn 18-25/hr.

I agree. Don't let anyone here talk you down - you sound like the type of nanny who can command this level of compensation.

We live right outside DC, where I believe the market is better than outside Baltimore and paid our great summer nanny $15/hour for 47 hours/week (we paid time and 1/2 for the last 7 hours).

I think $18-25/hour is laughable for a college student as a summer nanny. Nannies with 20 years experience, college educated, don't get paid that much (or if they do, just barely).

Go ahead and try, but don't be surprised if a family is simply unwilling to pay you anywhere close to $20/hour.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 27, live in Boston, care for 3 kids (but one is in school almost the entire time) and make $20/hour. I have 6 years experience but nowhere near your qualifications. If I did, I would expect more.

You are so undervaluing yourself -- 6 years full-time Nannying experience would kick the ass of the academic experience from the OP. Just sayin'.

+1

While some would disagree, if I were an MB, I would rather hire a nanny with 6 years experience over a nanny with a degree.

Anonymous wrote:I am 27, live in Boston, care for 3 kids (but one is in school almost the entire time) and make $20/hour. I have 6 years experience but nowhere near your qualifications. If I did, I would expect more.

You are so undervaluing yourself -- 6 years full-time Nannying experience would kick the ass of the academic experience from the OP. Just sayin'.

I am 27, live in Boston, care for 3 kids (but one is in school almost the entire time) and make $20/hour. I have 6 years experience but nowhere near your qualifications. If I did, I would expect more.

I don't live in DC, but in the cities that I have nannied in, I've found that the summer nanny market tends to be pretty saturated. Yes, there are more jobs (for school-aged kids) but there also are a lot more people seeking to fill them. Rates tend to be all over the place, as a family just looking for someone to drive their kids around and remind them to eat generally are willing to pay significantly less than a family looking for someone to supplement academic work and plan/run activities - and reasonably so! Since you do have specialized experience, I would contact a couple of agencies. If you are willing to travel to a family for the summer (e.g., Any interest in a live-in summer nanny job on Martha's Vineyard or the Hamptons?) I would contact agencies in NYC/Boston/etc.

So many different experiences and opinions here. Bravo!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Unless you're in a super-depressed geographical area, btwn 18-25/hr.


I agree. Don't let anyone here talk you down - you sound like the type of nanny who can command this level of compensation.

This is bad advice, OP.

You may have education, but you don't have any F/T nannying experience, so that works against you.

For your area (and I'm in DC, so it's familiar), I'd say ask for $14-$16 for 1-2 kids, and top out at $20/hr for 3, if the family has no camps and you are truly F/T with three. Most families will think $20 is too high, but I think it's reasonable to ask for 3 kids and see if they will counter at $18-$19/hr.

Good luck.

I'm happy to read that. $14-16 is quite generous, especially for full-time work. I would be happy to be making that, it would help put a dent in my tuition and travel savings! Thank you for providing a clear and concise answer.