# Potential Nanny Compensation **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 12, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960 "2009-01-12T19:19:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960/21 "2009-01-17T02:18:10Z")
Congratulations. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960/22 "2009-01-17T04:25:43Z")
Hadnā€™t posted but had been following along. Congrats on the job offer. It feels great just to be wanted. And it sounds like the timing is perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960/23 "2009-01-17T04:53:25Z")
Wow, thanks, you guys. Lost my nerve tonightā€¦tomorrowā€™s the dayā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960/24 "2009-01-17T04:54:27Z")
> [@purple\_haze](#): > > Iā€™m really happy that this opportunity came to you right now. It sounds like itā€™s just what you need! > > Will you keep us updated on how youā€™re doing? Absolutely! THANK YOU! ---
**Author:** ![Neeps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a183cd/32.png) [@Neeps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neeps)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960/25 "2009-01-17T09:37:26Z")
I remember your situation from another thread, and just wanted to offer my congratulations on the job offer and encouragement that if this is the right step to take, take it with courage. I hope everything works out for the best! ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960/26 "2009-01-17T09:49:27Z")
Iā€™m glad it is working out well - congrats on getting the job! It speaks well of you that you were picked - you probably had plenty of competition. Iā€™m adding my nudge to those saying you have to let us know how it goes ā€“ both telling your husband, then the job itself. Oh, and not to be the voice of doom here, just the voice of common sense: if you see signs that the nanny gig isnā€™t going to work well for you, start plotting your ā€œPlan Bā€ early. Live frugally and get yourself a nest egg if you donā€™t have one already, since I doubt youā€™ll want to head back to your husband if the job sucks. (Sorry for the unsolicited advice, Iā€™m just being protective of your interests.) And while **Hazleā€™s** made her choice, in case any one else is considering similar work, Iā€™d ask the potential employers: what happens if you get sick, does your pay get docked? Have they had nannies before, and if so how many? ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960/27 "2009-01-17T09:57:49Z")
Huh. I care for a 3-year-old from 10 am to 7:30 pm three days a week. I do the dishes, vacuum, tidy up after the daily hurricane, clean the litter boxes, you name it. I get $2 an hour. Now I _really_ feel unappreciated. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960/28 "2009-01-17T13:47:50Z")
> [@brujaja](#): > > Huh. I care for a 3-year-old from 10 am to 7:30 pm three days a week. I do the dishes, vacuum, tidy up after the daily hurricane, clean the litter boxes, you name it. > > I get $2 an hour. Now I _really_ feel unappreciated. Jesus! What third world country do you live in? šŸ˜› Four years ago, the Chicago Tribune newspaper ran a story on babysitting rates, and the average hourly wage for a sitter in Chicago was $14! ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960/29 "2009-01-17T15:04:19Z")
Congrats OP! After discussing the situation with my friend she agrees that this is a great opportunity! Just hoard money like a hampster! ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960/30 "2009-01-18T01:37:37Z")
> [@brujaja](#): > > I get $2 an hour. Now I _really_ feel unappreciated. Are you kidding? If your employers have any sense at all, they must appreciate the heck out of you! But depending on where you are it really does sound like you are being taken serious advantage of. If you donā€™t want to take it up with your current employers, you might try looking for another gig similar to the one you have that pays better - $3/hour would still be an incredible bargain and it would be a 50% pay increase for you! ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960/31 "2009-01-18T02:35:02Z")
> [@brujaja](#): > > I get $2 an hour. Now I _really_ feel unappreciated. Shoot, I will fly you out here, and you can work for me for _four_ dollars an hour! What a deal! (You really should ask for a raise.) As for the OP, I just wanted to say that I have followed your situation (Iā€™m not a stalker or anything), and I applaud you for having the courage to make these decisions and move forward instead of stagnating in unhappiness. I wish you good luck and hope that your new life works out great for you. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960/32 "2009-01-18T04:07:28Z")
Oh, thank you, everyone! Especially those of you who remember my situation. Well, I did it. Iā€™m replying to this from my home away from home ( i.e. the local Super 8) until Tuesday morning, when I go back to the apartment for my first load of stuff. I will spend my first night in my new digs Tuesday night. I have never been more scared or excited in my life! I canā€™t really go on, right now, but just wanted you all to know how much I appreciate your support and the fact that youā€™re ā€œhereā€ day or night. I feel displaced and weird right now and I know that there are some tough days ahead. One day at a time for now. Laterā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960/33 "2009-01-18T04:51:13Z")
Iā€™ve employed a live-in nanny for the last two years (she left a month ago - she planned on only staying the two years, and we _were_ looking for a replacement - but my wife, who works in the financial sector, lost her job, so we gave it up). If you have any questions from the POV of an _employer_ of nannies, ask away. Our situation was perhaps not all that analogous, because we were employing my wifeā€™s distant relation from Ukraine - not a stranger (my wife lived with her a bit years ago on a visit to Ukraine). We compensated her as follows: - She lived in a nice, large and furnished room - admittedly in the basement. - We paid for all meals, and basically bought whatever she wanted for cooking or any other supplies she needed for herself or the house. - We paid CAN $1200 a month, plus extra when she worked overtime, on an ad hoc basis. - When she left, we gave her a bonus present of a monthā€™s extra salary. Her duties were: - Take care of our kid, which she did from age 1 to age 3, during the day monday to friday (usually, that worked out to from 8 am to 6 pm, but sometimes later - if later, we paid extra); - Cook the kidā€™s meals (but not ours); - Do the laundry, and vaccum and dust the place. Turns out that her _hobby_ was guardening, so she did that too. She was the perfect nanny in almost every respect; the only drawback was, her English was minimal and I donā€™t speak any Ukranian (the kid is growing up bilingual). We had none of the stuff that I suppose one ought to have, like a written contract with details spelled out. We all really loved her - she was like a grandmother to our kid, who was understandably very unhappy to see her go. I do think the feeling was mutual. For us at least having a nanny was a very positive experience. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960/34 "2009-01-18T22:34:37Z")
Hazle - just popping back in to say YAY! on getting the job. Given the situation with the spouse (I donā€™t know if youā€™ve discussed details elsewhere on the board, but I gather this moving-out is not a spur of the moment thing), the timing couldnā€™t have been better. Some of the huge plusses of the job are that you can live _very_ cheaply - donā€™t need fancy clothes to do nannying, just blue jeansā€¦ and you donā€™t even have to drive your car to get to work unless you really want to. Oh, and the trips to Europe arenā€™t exactly chopped liver! šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960/35 "2009-01-19T05:45:18Z")
Congrats on the job!!! I hope it all works out great for you. PS - You might think about starting a journal to write about your new nanny experiences! ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960/36 "2009-01-19T06:26:18Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > Congrats on the job!!! I hope it all works out great for you. > > PS - You might think about starting a journal to write about your new nanny experiences! Get out of my head! Iā€™ve been thinking about getting back into journalling. My brother has been encouraging me along those lines, as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-nanny-compensation/480960.md?page=1)