Once you have a profile of your ideal Nanny, what salary to offer to your new Nanny or Babysitter? So many of us have been struggling with this question mainly because there is no set fee for this service, and salaries vary from nanny to nanny and family to family. The main factor of course will be your budget. There are important factors to consider before you decide on a set amount. There are listed below. Read them and take notes of your answers, they will help you define a salary bracket that is realistic as truly reflecting the job at hand.
How old do you want your babysitter or nanny to be? Typical teen babysitters are paid much less than older babysitters. A salary of a teen babysitter is often considered as pocket money. Those that are older more often consider babysitting as a job and a real source of revenue. They have a much greater choice of jobs available and they expect a comparable salary.
How much experience do you want? Experience can vary: from babysitting siblings, to previous nanny work with other families or being employed in daycare centers. The more experienced you need the higher the salary you will need to offer.
How qualified you sitter needs to be? A minimum required is a first air course, and a babysitting course for teen sitters. However, several babysitters and nannies have skills well above the minimum: certification in early childhood, school teacher education, classes in special children care. The more qualifications you require, or your sitter posses, the higher the offered salary.
Is any special care required? A child with special needs might require specific care skills and more work from the Nanny/Babysitter. Make sure that this is reflected in the salary offered.
How many children in care? The more children the sitter takes care of, the more work is required, and the higher the salary should be.
What is the age of children in care? The younger the children, the more supervision and assistance is needed and the wages requested are generally higher.
Besides care, are there any other tasks required? If you required your babysitter or nanny to do other tasks than child supervision (preparing meals, errands, cleaning), expect to offer a higher salary. Sitters consider extra tasks as extra responsibility and they expect to be paid for it.
What are the hours of work? Will your sitter be working regular hours, during the evening, occasionally? The quantity of hours and time of the day influence greatly the salary.With more hours, you can offer a daily or weekly fee rather than hourly. With little and irregular hours, an hourly fee is the norm. The more you require her/him for weekends, evenings or nights, the more you might have to pay.
Where do you live? The pay in urban centres is typically higher than regions. Also, if you live in remote areas, and transport by the sitter is required, expect to pay more.
Finally, what are the reviews and references of other parents? A good Nanny/Babysitter that kids love and parents appreciate will be in demand. Do not be surprised if she/he might ask for above the average salary as she/he knows that other families can offer these higher rates.
That said, salaries of babysitters and nannies usually are negotiable. To build trust and a long-term relationship between the child minder and the family, it is better to be open and clear about the reasons a given salary offered. When both parties know the full scope of the job at hand, it is easier to come to an agreement. It is also recommended to regularly assess wages (once every 3-4 months) to ensure that all changes in the job are reflected in the rate. Again, a transparent and honest communication between the Nanny/Babysitter and the family is encouraged, and really the only way to go.
It is always better to reward a Nanny or Babysitter that you like with a higher salary. After all, a Nanny/Babysitter affects directly the development of your child and the well being of your household. If all is working well it is worth to keep the person in the family as long as possible.