What Would You Pay/charge?

Updated on October 09, 2011
T.P. asks from South Beloit, IL
19 answers

I am going for an interview for a nanny/housekeeper. I am trying to come up with a fair hourly wage. It would be part time. Below is what I would be doing...

Occasionally help/support the Mom while she homeschools her 3 kids.
Meal prep, cleaning her house which involves dusting, mop/sweep, 2 bathrooms, vacuum, wash/dry/fold and put away laundry, strip beds and maybe a few other things.

Is $12 an hour asking to much? I was thinking $3 an hour per child and then the other $3 an hour would be for the housekeeping part. I don't want to appear greedy but I also don't want to sell myself short. I have to think of childcare costs as well. I appreciate your advice and thank you in advance!

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K.G.

answers from Boca Raton on

12.00 seems kind of cheap.. I paid 13.00 to my nanny with just one child and no housekeeping duties.. I would ask for 15.00 if I were you~

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

When I was a nanny that was how we did it. Some days there were less kids and other days there were more. It was fair to both of us since my day was much less work.

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C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

Sorry - to be a nanny and a house keeper? $12 per hour? I don't think so. Not here in Northern VA - going rate for our area is $17.50 and that's part time as well.

I don't know what the cost of living is in IL but I think $12 per hour is cheap. When we were having our house cleaned weekly by a service, it was $85 and they were here for 4 hours - so that's $21.25 hour - it was worth it to me...

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

In our area nannies make 25-35 per hour (or $2500+ per month when working full time with benefits), and housecleaners make apx 60 per hour.

For your pricerange... I'd hit up the local homeschool community and find a young lady or young gentleman (teen) who is probably going into Early Childhood Development, or is just looking for paying work with flex hours... to be a Mother's Helper. Lower wages and working for you can go on their resume &/pr school aps if they're ECD. OR Post in the ECD bulletin board at your local community college.

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G.G.

answers from Dallas on

You should charge at least $15 - $20 per hr for all the hard work.

Good luck:)

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D.D.

answers from Phoenix on

It depends on your credentials. Do you know CPR? Have you taken any courses in child development? What is your experience and age?

If you have the above and are going to be cleaning too, I don't think less than $15 for all of those responsibilities.

See, housekeepers are on a different pay scale than nannies.

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes372012.htm

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos170.htm

I think $15-20, at least--maybe $20-25, for all of those duties and paid holidays. Consider asking for other benefits as well like health insurance compensation, if you are credentialed with experience. If you are cash, you need to report your earnings so keep that in mind and you will have to pay out of your earnings. Don't short change your abilities or the nature of the work!!

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M.M.

answers from Fresno on

I think that is very fair. I have never done that nor have I paid someone to watch my kids because I have grandma who helps me but I know people who pay $15 an hour. It just depends. Maybe you could ask them first what they think is fair and go from there. Maybe they will offer more. And if they offer less then you can state how you came up with that amount. I think it's a very fair deal because sounds like you will be doing quite a few things. IDK like I said I have never done this or needed it. But my thoughts off the top of my head is that it's a very fair amount for what your going to be doing. MAYBE too fair....Good Luck!

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S.N.

answers from Minneapolis on

If So. Beloit is a nicer /more expensive town then I would charge at least $15 and hour if you're doing to be doing a lot of cleaning and a lot of child care. It's only part time so you won't be breaking the bank so to speak!! If it is a town of traditionally moderate means then $12 is fair...

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B.M.

answers from Chicago on

Find out what the going rate in your area is for someone who does the same thing she wants you to do.
If you're part time and she is homeschooling her kids - are you pretty much housekeeping only?
What are your actual responsibilities with the kids?
How old are they?

All those things will make a difference.

It doesn't really matter what other mamas pay in different parts of the country, because their going rate will be different than yours. If you post this just in the Rockford area, you might get a better idea of what is "fair" in your area.

Having said that - Sittercity.com gave me a rate of $10/hour when I put in 3 kids all over 5 years with your zip code. They will factor in additional duties - it's still the same rate.
Also - if you click on the babysitters on sittercity you can get an idea of what they are willing to do for what rate of pay and that can give you an idea of what the going rate is from their perspective.

As far as housekeeping help - again... I would find out what the going rate is in your area. If you were to hire a service (where the employees are bonded, have keys, they bring their own supplies etc the rate is always more than if you hire someone independently - but you are using her supplies also).

Remember too, if she is paying you in cash no one is claiming or paying taxes (decide if you want to take that risk, btw). However, you would want to figure that into the rate differential as well. If you went to work for a nanny service you might get $12/hour, but your take home would be much less - around $9? Because they will take out taxes, insurance etc. So if you are clearing $12 it's the equivalent of making around $19, but you're not paying taxes or insurance etc. However, then you don't have that benefit, so that's also something to consider.

Good Luck!

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S.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

I think its fair, but it depends on minimum wage in your area. I read Jan R.'s response and was thinking "wow over $10 an hour at Mcdonalds? my hubby get $10.48 an hour for working a management posistion at a grocery store."

K.L.

answers from Medford on

When I was doing daycare I charged $15 a day per child, $25 for 2 from the same family. I was cheap. Now that I have a gal coming to help me clean, and I do clean along side her, I pay her $22 an hour and after the first of next year we will go to $25 an hour. I think you arent asking enough for doing a combo of both jobs, but since the M. is home it cant be full price as a daycare of house keeper might charge. Id go in with at least $18 an hour in mind but see what they are offering to start with and go from there. If they offer $12 explain to them the going rate is higher but you should be willing to start slightly less and work up to higher pay as tme goes. If you tell them you want $12 an hour and they jump at with joy,, you know you were too low.

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

I would think $12 to $15 an hour is a fair wage for what your doing. I would not split it up per child unless your ready for her to say well on "x" day so and so won't be home so it will only be $9 an hour. Your right in figuring out child care costs before doing this. If your not making enough to cover your child care and then make some money it might not be worth doing.

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J.R.

answers from Sacramento on

I did this for a family with one child and I asked $15 an hour and no problem getting it. I think you can go to McDonald's and make over $10 an hour. I think people who work with children and households tend to undervalue themselves. I think you should start at $15.00. If they can't afford that then you should probably keep looking.

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J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

My teenage daughter babysat a 3 year old while the mom homeschooled the older brother and she got paid $10 an hour. Also, I got paid $15 an hour to clean an apartment for my husband's aunt back in 1995. You know the cost of that would be higher now a days. Anyway, I think you're fine at $12 an hour. I think after a couple months of this, you should get a raise. I'd hire you for that and I'd be happy to pay you more!! Good luck and congratulations!

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R.S.

answers from San Antonio on

I pay my part time house keeper $10 an hour just for the cleaning. She doesn't watch my kids or anything extra. She comes two days a month.

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C.Z.

answers from Omaha on

First off, don't explain it to the mother as $3/hour/kid. Simply give her a set amount (no less than $15/hour) and then also ask for a guaranteed amount per week. Let's say that you were going to work for 8 total hours a week. Ask that she guarantee $105/week so that when they take off on vacation/holidays, you are still guaranteed a paycheck. It is only fair.

Good luck!

J.✰.

answers from San Antonio on

CASH? Sounds reasonable to me, if not bumping it up a bit. But if she pays you cash, perhaps you can give her a discount.

J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

I would say to them that it is negotiable, but you can’t take less than a certain amount. I don't believe that it would be fair to ask for more than you think it is worth since they are in a nicer or more expensive area.

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J.T.

answers from Victoria on

for my two kids we pay full time day care 800 a month and that is on the cheap end!!! We took them out. I paid a maid to deep clean our house (fans base boards, toliets, the entire house not including laundary or meals, or even beds! It cost us 175. I do not think that 12 is asking too much at all. 20 dollars a day for the kids is basically what dc charges but in bigger cities its about 25 dollars a day. I am not sure what dc runs in IL. I would think 12 an hr was a bargen to help with all of what your saying!

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