• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Nanny Care Hub

  • additional sites
    • Nanny U
    • A to Z Nanny Contract
  • nanny groups
    • nanny group directory
    • how to list your group
  • podcasts
    • practically perfect podcast
  • blogs
    • general
    • parent blog
    • nanny blog
  • about
  • my account

Do low nanny wages mean low quality care?

December 6, 2020 by Lora Brawley Leave a Comment

Spread the love

I’m asked this question surprisingly often. Parents want to know if they can hire a great nanny for a low wage. It isn’t a simple yes or no question. I always need more details about their definition of “low wage” because that term means different things to different people. Kinda like the term “light housekeeping”.

The earning range for nannies is huge. Entry level caregivers in the Midwest can expect to start out at $12 to $15 an hour. Experienced nannies in large metropolitan areas can command $35 to $40 a hour plus a generous benefit package and a nice end-of-year bonus. That’s why the most common answer to the question “How much should I pay my nanny?” is “Well, it depends.” Because it depends….on the location, the job description, and the type of caregiver the parents want to hire. So low wages in one area can mean market value in another. That difference doesn’t affect the quality of care.

But there are jobs that pay so far below market value, the ones that pay $5 to $8 an hour or a weekly stipend of $100 plus room and board, that it’s next to impossible to find a quality caregiver to accept them. Why would she when she can go to an agency or online site and at the very least, double or triple her hourly wage? Remember, when I say quality care I’m not talking about a warm body that watches the kids. I’m talking about someone who consistently provides a high quality caregiving environment. In this case the age old adage “you get what you pay for” is generally true. In this case low wages generally mean low quality care.

That’s not an insult to the women working in low wage jobs. You can be an amazing person and not have the qualifications for a particular job. Or be caught in circumstances beyond your control that make finding a job equal to your qualifications near impossible.

It’s also not an indictment of parents that can’t afford to spend $30,000 or more a year on childcare. They’re only trying to do what’s best for their children. However the reality is nanny care is the most expensive type of childcare and it’s out of reach for many families. It’s a much better choice for parents with a limited budget to invest their childcare dollars into quality family care or day care rather than into a unqualified nanny.

It is an indictment of parents who have ample resources and choose to pay their caregiver a far below market wage.  Shame on you. (Someone had to say it.)

  • About
  • Latest Posts
Lora Brawley
Owner at Nanny Care Hub
Lora’s passionate about helping nannies and parents effectively navigate the search and hiring process, building long-term, positive nanny / family relationships, and improving the quality of nanny care through supporting, connecting, and training caregivers.
In her 30 years in the nanny industry, she’s earned a reputation for providing a unique blend of common-sense strategies, intuitive guidance, and real world tools to her parent and nanny clients.She’s also a certified mediator, conflict coach, communications trainer, and positive discipline parent educator.
Latest posts by Lora Brawley (see all)
  • How to Ask for a Reference Letter When You Quit Your Job - April 21, 2021
  • Conscious Discipline class - April 1, 2021
  • Asking Your Nanny to Use Paid Sick Time and Vacation Time for COVID - January 29, 2021

Spread the love

Filed Under: wages

Previous Post: « Nanny Care Wisdom 2020 suggestions
Next Post: Can I Afford A Nanny? »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

I'm a 30 year nanny veteran, industry leader, trainer, and consultant specializing in helping nannies and parents effectively navigate the hiring / job search process and build long-term, positive nanny / family relationships. How can I help you today?

follow me

Footer

Join our mailing list and get new stuff delivered right to your inbox.

Copyright, 2007 Lora Brawley