How Much Does a Nanny Cost?
Let me guess… you’re a new parent and you’ve heard terms floating like as babysitter, nanny, au pair, nanny, daycare and you are confused.
You want the best care possible for your child and you have no idea where to begin.
We don’t blame you! The childcare world is complex and it can be tremendously difficult to find short and sweet answers.
Let’s begin with a few simple definitions:
Babysitter
A babysitter is simply “someone who cares for a child or children while the parents are away.” They are primarily responsible for providing a safe, secure environment for little ones and are not typically responsible for household duties or added responsibilities. They vary greatly in their education level, amount of background experience, etc. Most importantly, babysitters typically step in on a part-time, or temporary basis.
Nanny
Nannies are professional, experienced caregivers who aside from providing a safe, secure environment, are also generally in charge of light household tasks, organization, and/or maintaining a weekly schedule. Nannies are compensated on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, and are typically hired under the assumption that the position is long term, whether the agreement is several weeks, months or 1+ year. Professional nannies are likely certified in CPR & First Aid. They may have a college degree, whether it is in childhood development, early childhood education, or another related field. They enjoy incorporating crafts, educational activities, light meal prep, occasional organizing and are great at determining what activities are age-appropriate to encourage developmental growth. Nannies work part-time or full-time, and their hours and duties are set and best agreed upon in an employment contract. Many nannies are active members of the nanny community, i.e. attending local events, nanny trainings, networking events, etc. They often attend conferences and read articles to remain fresh in the field. Most have chosen nannying as their long term career and therefore are keen on receiving a set weekly pay with guaranteed hours, paid time off, and are often interested in legal pay (with taxes withheld).
Au Pair
An au pair is a young adult that travels from a foreign country for a defined period of time to take care of children in exchange for room and board. The au pair is there to support the family with childcare and light household duties. In addition to their own room, they are provided with a stipend, which is agreed upon between the family and au pair and depends on the amount of hours in which they are working.
If you’re seeking an experienced candidate that can be flexible with your schedule and grow with your family, you are likely thinking of going the nanny route.
So, how much does a nanny cost?
The answer here is dependent on several important variables. We should take into consideration:
Your geographic location
Nanny’s level of education
Years that nanny spent in childcare industry
Number of children being cared for in the family
Any additional duties required on a regular basis (aside from childcare and light housework)
A general rule of thumb: Find out what your friends and neighbors are paying for babysitters, consider the factors above and tack on a few dollars to that rate for an experienced nanny.
In the suburbs of Chicago, the average hourly rate for a career nanny may be between $25-30/hour, and up*.
In Chicago (city limits), the average hourly rate is around $25-35/hour, and up*.
*Prices updated as of November 2022.
To get a realistic look at what a nanny costs per week, be sure to calculate the hourly rate by the hours needed on a typical week. For a nanny at $25/hour working 40 hours/week, you are to budget $1,000/week. It is also important to remember that career nannies are looking for set weekly pay, which remains consistent on a weekly basis — budget accordingly.
If you still find yourself interested in hiring a full-time nanny but are weary about the cost, please visit our post about Nanny Shares (COMING SOON!)
