Wednesday

Negotiation Tactics?

opinion dec
Hello, I'm applying to be a nanny abroad for the first time. I was wondering what a typical live-in American nanny makes. I have experience in childcare, teaching, and actually love children. Most of my offers have been really low, say $200 a week because of living in... and I'm looking for more. If anyone could give me some insight to this, or proper tactics of negotiation, it would be much appreciated.

14 comments:

Unknown said...

You said abroad, but not which country. I can offer my advice for France, where I worked as an au pair for ten months, taking care of three bilingual children (4, 7, 9). I was live-in, worked 35-45 hours per week, and earned 150 euros per week. My boss also paid for my mandatory French lessons (1000+ euros for the year), a travel card so I could take the train into Paris (1000ish euros for the year), and my plane ticket home for Christmas (700 euros).

But I was the exception. Most of my friends earned 80-110 euros a week, paid for their own classes, didn't go home for Christmas, and were only given travel passes that worked on the weekends & public holidays (mine didn't have restrictions).

Like I said, this is just my experiences in France, but I hope it helps a little!

Mandy98824 said...

I am a live out nanny working part time (30-40 hours)making 600 a week. Cut that in half for living expenses I would say live outs should make 300 a week minimum.

Hectic Nanny said...

It depends on the area that you are looking at. Au pairs makes considerably less than a nanny

Manhattan Nanny said...

In the U.S. salaries vary a lot in different parts of the country because the cost of living varies. Salaries are highest in San Francisco and the New York City borough of Manhattan. I think Boston may also be high.
Salaries also depend on your education, experience, and the needs of the family. These would be number and ages of children, hours, driving, travel with the family, 2nd language etc.

I suggest you look for web sites of nanny agencies in the area you are interested in to get information about rates in that market. If you are being offered $200, this is either a very small town, or they are really looking for an au pair rather than a nanny.

If you post back and tell us where you are looking, there may be a nanny from there who can give you more info.

dc nanny said...

I'm a live-in in Washington DC and I make $900 a week, working about 50-55 hours.
But like Hectic Nanny said, if you're from another country coming to work in the US, you can expect to be on the lower end of the pay grade. Au Pairs almost always make less.

Wow said...

dc nanny...

Ilive in NJ but I'm currently working as a postpartum doula in northern VA. What would be your recommendation if I decide to be a live-in nanny, or work another postpartum doula job in the DC/MD/VA area after this job ends? I have over 20 years total childcare experience, a degree in Early Childhood Education and 8 years of nanny experience. I only work with preemies and multiples, and first-time parents. Any advice or leads would be appreciated. Thanks!

MissMannah said...

DC Nanny, you live-in and make $900 a week?! That just seems like an awful lot to me. I used to live in Northern VA (Fairfax) and I worked as a live-out and was only making $700. I say "only" but I was perfectly happy with that amount. What is the norm for around there because I was under the impression that I was making the average amount. Or are nannies in DC making a lot more than nannies in VA?

Manhattan Nanny, I take issue with what you said about people paying $200 for a live-in. I think that is a reasonable amount, depending on the number of hours, part of the country, etc. It doesn't necessarily have to be a "very small town" as you said. I live in the Midwest now and am making just a bit over that as a live-out for PT hours. I agree that OP needs to tell us what part of the country she's planning to move to.

Dandelion said...

Au Pair and Nanny are two different things. Being a Nanny is a job, working as an Au Pair for a year or two is a cultural exchange. Au Pairs and host families have to obey a lot of rules and laws. AP are not allowed to work with infants under the age of 3 months, they are not allowed to be left alone with children over night, they can't work more than 45 hours a week...
But most important it is a cultural exchange!

The post can be taken two ways.
First possibility
This women wants to come to the US from elsewhere in the world and wants to know the going rate for a live-in. There is no such thing as a Nanny Visa. If you don't have the Green Card for whatever reason or are an American Citizen, your plan is illegal!

Second possibility
She wants to go to another country and work there as a live-in Nanny. But then it doesn't make sense that she mentioned 'American nanny' in her posting. Noone in Switzerland for example cares about what a Nanny in the US makes.

dc nanny said...

Yeah I'm not complaining about the salary. Trust me though when I say that I earn every penny and most of the time I think I deserve more for the crap that I'm put through.

My family is definitely way above average in the salary range. I work in a household with 7 full time staff including a chef, housekeepers, nannies, etc, and many part time people like trainers and tutors and stuff.
From what I've heard, it doesn't get much higher than this in the DC area.
(though one of the other nannies to this family has been working for them for 8 years and makes almost $1,600 a week)

This is the most stressful job I've ever had and I'm basically on call for assistant-type duties all the time. But yeah, the salary is great, and I love the people I work with, so I'll stick with it as long as I can.

Wow- do you work with an agency right now? I was placed through a non-local agency, but I know White House Nannies is right in this area and they work with the more well-off families. I would probably start there. I don't know of anybody who's connected to my family who's looking, but if I hear of any jobs I'll let you know!

Wow said...

dc nanny...

No, I'm not with an agency in this area. I was going to register with White House Nannies, but my current job came through first. I might still register with them in the future. Thanks for the advice!

daria said...

@Dandelion, I also got the impression that the OP is from a foreign country and wants to work in the US.
Besides having a J1 visa and work as an aupair, it is possible to have a G5 visa and work as a nanny for a diplomat. Diplomats can employ nannies from their own country. I have had both J1 and G5 myself.

daria said...

Also you can obtain a "nanny visa" if you get a nanny job for an foreign "artist" like a hockey player in NHL.
Only americans can employ foreigners through J1, and the foreigners can employ foreigners other ways, were the aupairs rules dont apply.

Tales from the (Nanny)Hood said...

If you want to come over as an au pair, you'll make minimum wage minus room and board. If you are trying to come over as a nanny, you may have a tough time, since legally I believe any family bringing you in according to the laws would have to prove NO ONE ELSE could do the job they are hiring you to do.

As far as nanny pay, you are legally entitled to minimum wage for every hour worked. If you live-in, you generally don't have the right to OT pay for hours worked over 40 per week. A live-out does get OT pay.

So an offer of $200/week would have to be asking for you to work 27.5 hours or less/week to be compliant with minimum wage laws. I bet that's far fewer hours than they want!

Nanny V. said...

The only other way (than the ones mentioned above) to get a nanny job in the US legally is if you start working for an America/half American family in your own country and then have them do the necessary paper work and take you back home to the US with them.
There's NO legal way however, to get a nanny job in the US without a green card.
Good luck :)