Tuesday

Calling all Berkley and Oakland Nannies....

Received Tuesday, June 15, 2010
perspective and opinion I have a question and I hope you'd be willing to consider posting it, even though it's of a local nature.

I've worked part time as a nanny for the last few years and want to do it full time as a career. When I started I did a fair amount of research into normal wages for my area (California - Oakland/Berkeley) and found that rates start at $15 an hour. Today I responded to an ad for a part time summer nanny posted by the outgoing nanny. We talked for a few minutes and she said she gets $500 a week, which is $11.11 an hour, and in her experience $11 - $12/hr is normal for this area. She said she's been doing this for 10 years, has lots of nanny friends, and $15 an hour is pretty unusual.

So my question is, is what she's saying right or is my other research right? I'd appreciate it if nannies in my area would chime in.

6 comments:

couple years back said...

When I used to babysit in that area, I got $15 an hour.

Mckl said...

Berkeley patents network has a nanny salary survey in their archives, they also have weekly listings for nannys and families - so youight start there. I run a child care center in Berkeley and I'd say that nanny's who were hired more than 18 months ago are probably making $15+, but lately rates have dropped because there are SO many nannys looking for work. Our center isn't cheap
, $1400-$2000 per month, and we have a huge waiting list, but compared to a nanny at $2600... We're a bargain.
Good luck

allie said...

I nannied in berkeley the past 4 years and always made $15/hour at the very least (and definitely for only one child with no other responsibilities). I am away for school these days (since fall) but when ever I come back all the families I used to nanny for or babysit for ask me to babysit and pay me at least my old rates. However, when I was considering looking for a summer nanny job here I was finding that the rates were more around $12/hour which didn't make it worth while for me to come back to berkeley for the summer. I think that a year ago or even 6 months ago $15/hour was the baseline, but now with so many more nannies looking for work the rates have fallen unless it is with families that are already paying that much....

pro-nanny mama said...

I am in the area and pay $15 an hour right now. I have top quality child care and I am grateful for it. Maybe rates have dropped due to the economy but I am not nickel-and-diming when it comes to my kids.

Mom who employs p-t nanny said...

You should leave that family and find one who treats you with dignity like a human being.

OP said...

Thanks for all your advice. Yes, the BPN survey helped a lot. Thanks for all of you who said rates were falling. As I've been looking for jobs and seeing that many people were paying less than $15/hr I wondered if I was crazy since I thought that was the norm. Thanks for all your help.