Talking about pay can be an intense, and in some cases awkward, conversation. Though a very important one—it’s imperative that you advocate for yourself. In some cases, you may come to a rate that fits both the family and you quickly. Other times, you may find it is difficult to come to a rate that works for everyone. Getting paid an appropriate rate not only makes you feel validated in your experience and work, but also normalizes nannies being paid a fair wage they deserve.
While it’s important to discuss proper rates in the beginning stages of contract negotiations, it may also arise after you’ve worked together for some time. It’s good to have some professional ways to address this.
Negotiating Your Pay in the Beginning
When you’re first being offered a position, one of the many topics that will be discussed is pay. When discussing your desired rate initially, it’s important to mention important topics that factor into the rate.
Average Rates in Your Area
Nanny rates vary in every state and city. It’s important to know what the typical rates are in your area to start. You can also tie this in with the cost of living in your area.
Your Experience
Your experience and years in the field play a big part in determining your rate. A nanny of 6+ years has more professional experience to bring to the job than a nanny of 2 years in the same area.
Education & Certificates
While a degree is not needed to be a great nanny, having one that pertains to the job and children definitely factors into getting a higher rate. There are also many continuing education opportunities for nannies. So mentioning other certifications you have also helps. (NCS, CPST, Early Childhood, etc)
Number of Children
Naturally, the rate goes up the more children there are. More work and more to manage means more compensation.
Duties
It’s important to pay attention to the duties that will be assigned to you. There are many levels to nannying. So, if your duties include housekeeping or house managing, that would increase the rate as well.
Negotiating Your Pay During A Contract
There are other times in which negotiating your pay will become necessary.
Your Job Duties Change
Sometimes, the originally agreed-upon duties of a job may evolve or increase. When this happens, renegotiating your pay will become necessary to match the new job. When you notice a consistent change in your job responsibilities, that’s the time to discuss a raise.
How To Approach This:
- Clearly lay out the duties that have been added
- When adding on a child, duties increase as well
- If you’re doing additional duties that have a specific work field, bring up those costs individually. (Ex. Housekeeping, cooking, etc)
- Make sure to also touch on your experience again and what you bring to the table in those areas.
Time Passes
Another scenario is when you have been working for a family for a long while at the same rate. Being with a family long-term is a truly great thing. But, like any job, after being somewhere a while you have accumulated more experience and expertise since you were hired. You want that work to be valued and that’s usually shown in the form of a raise. It’s customary to get an annual raise in most jobs. While this is still on the road to being normalized in the nanny community, it’s a fair time frame you should advocate for. If you notice it has been more than a year since your last raise, this is a conversation that needs to be had. Being proactive in bringing it up also helps to avoid potential nanny burnout.
How To Approach This:
- Touch on your highlights and success with the family
- Show cost of living increases
- If you feel you started at a rate lower than your worth, go over your experience and what you bring to the table for the family
- Show rate examples of similar jobs
Advocating for yourself is not always easy. But, with a clear plan and confidence in your strengths as a child care professional, you can efficiently negotiate your pay to fit you.
