Nanny Salaries – What to Expect

One of the questions most frequently asked is what kind of salary should be offered. It's an excellent question, but tough to answer in brief, because many variables come into play when considering salary.

• A nanny's salary range in the U.S. is from $300 to $800 per week.
  If paid hourly, the range is $7.25 to $18 per hour. Many factors are taken into consideration, such as your experience level, amount of schooling/education and also whether you live in a large urban area, where the cost of living is higher. Remember that the nanny salary is normally quoted net of taxes. Find out more in our article on nanny salary ranges. Here is a link to an excellent nanny salary survey done by the International Nanny Association. http://www.nanny.org/2006salarysurvey.php

• What does the nanny salary include?
  Are you planning to pay the nanny's taxes? What about health care? (Some families offer it and some don't.) You should also decide ahead of time whether paid vacation and sick time are included, and whether to compensate for overtime. Link to nanny taxes articles

• What else does she offer?
  Does she have CPR and first aid training? Education that pertains to childhood development and years of experience? Will she also do general housekeeping duties for you? If you answer yes to any of the above, then the nanny you are considering should land on the higher end of the pay scale.

• Get creative!
  Maybe you really like the nanny and she's well qualified, but her salary requirement is out of reach. It's time to get creative! Many families make other arrangements that are just as satisfying. For example, maybe you can pay college tuition and a small salary in exchange for a live-in nanny. Or, you could exchange your professional services for childcare. If you're a dentist or a doctor, perhaps you can offer free medical care as part of the agreement or the use of a car by the nanny.

If you start off the relationship with honesty and open communication, you'll lay the groundwork for a good relationship for many years to come. E-mail us directly if you have any questions or need help at info@enannysource.com.