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12-27-2006, 8:44 AM missxashlee Joined on 12-27-2006 Be nice - I'm new! Under-paid Hello. I live in North Carolina, and i'm currently a nanny of three wonderful children. Trey & Samantha are twins (2yrs 6mths old) and James (1yr4mths). I work for the family part-time, generally 22-25 hours a week, this includes watching the kids, preparing dinner, washing dishes, clothes, and getting them ready for bed. I'm currently working on my early childhood associates degree and will graduate in may. The family i work for pays me on average 140.00/wk which works out to about 7.00/hr. With my experience and education (also the amount of time with the family) I feel my pay should be higher. I used the babysitter calculator and they determined my pay to be 13.50/hr. What is a reasonable amount to ask for?    Report

12-27-2006, 2:37 PM babyd Joined on 07-08-2006 Your Go-To for Advice Re: Under-paid Because the job is part time yet regular $8-10/hr should be fair for three young children and light housework. The babysitting calculator is always higher than what most rates are. Hope this helps! Does anyone else have an opinion?!    Report

12-27-2006, 3:56 PM Chosen7Stone Joined on 10-21-2005 Tallahassee, FL Super Sitter!! Re: Under-paid Things like watching the kids, preparing their dinner, washing dishes you made, helping children clean up, and preparing children for bed are things that most babysitters and nearly all nannies do, and is not above and beyond typical childcare responsibilities. If you are washing the family's dishes or preparing dinner for the parents as well, this is housekeeping.  Anyone's laundry, children's or parents', is extra, too. When you get your Associate's, you'll be able to raise your rates 25-50 cents/hour.  (Sorry it's not more.) Right now, you should be paid about $9-10/hour.  $7-8/hour for one child and $1/hour for each additional child -- it's regular work, so that's a little discounted actually.  If you're doing one or more of the "housekeeping" extras I listed in the 2nd paragraph, add 25 cents/hour. You need to: use your judgment to decide if the family can afford a pay hike, compare your desired rate with other childcare providers in your local area, and make a list of your reasons for a pay raise, and set aside a time to sit down with both parents and explain to them why you deserve a raise. Reasons for a raise, when you speak with them, can include your tuition and other general expenses that have increased for you lately, you should list your responsibilities in their home and show that you are underpaid compared to other local childcare providers (if this proves to be the case -- go to your local craiglist.org to see what other childcare providers are charging). Hope this has helped you. *Love in Christ from Mary* 1 Peter 2:4-5 Vote my agency, Seminole Sitters, the "Best Overall Business" in Tallahassee for the 2007 Tally Awards at EverythingTallahassee.com!!!    Report

12-28-2006, 10:49 AM missxashlee Joined on 12-27-2006 Be nice - I'm new! Re: Under-paid Thank you for the information. It was very helpful. I was a little confused because for my degree it's mainly focused on child care programs (working in or owning), so I wasnt sure if the pay would be about the same. You stated a good point that I didnt even realize, since it's my last semester I will not be full-time, therefore, I will not have insurance...& as I look around individual insurance plans are high.   Again, thank you.    Report

12-30-2006, 8:27 PM amber_wild_fire Joined on 07-20-2006 Super Sitter!! Re: Under-paid i really think you should be getting around 10 dollars an hour at least.  or 9 because you are there alot.  i think you are getting under paid.  well i know all places are different but where i live people especially working there way though university etc. are making $10 plus an extra $1 for each addition child.!!!!! i usually get anything from 150-250 a week and i'm in high school.  you should  really ask for more. good luck    Report

01-31-2007, 12:46 AM ohxmybeautiful1 Joined on 01-30-2007 jlksdfnmlks Getting to Know Us Re: Under-paid I highly disagree with the above comment.  Tuition and general expenses have nothing to do with what the family should pay you.  It has no relevance whatsoever to the work you do and what you contribute to the family.  Also, you shouldn't compare anything to local childcare providers- you shouldn't have to.  If you are doing your expected duties and going beyond what is asked, then the family would notice.  The only thing you should bring up is your responsibilites in the house and what you contribute to the family.  If you show them your strengths, then they should be more than willing to negotiate with you.  If they are hesitant, then maybe they aren't all too impressed (no offense) by your work. If you are unhappy with your pay, bring it up with the parents and don't hold back.  Let them know that you feel you should be getting paid more money, but of course be open and understanding to whatever they say.  A good idea would be to list your strengths.. (i.e. "I feel I should be getting paid x amount of money because I always try to ensure that ___ is taken care of, etc etc.) Good luck and I hope all works out :)    Report

02-02-2007, 7:35 PM amber_wild_fire Joined on 07-20-2006 Super Sitter!! Re: Under-paid i never said that you should be getting more becasue you are going to school. it's just that people in university are older.  (i'm 16).  and the people that are in college/univ.  here (going by age group) are making that much $. i do think that it does have something to do with it.  having a raise doesn't really.  but charging more does.  they need to be making more bills, tuition etc.  while other younger babysitters don't NEED as much.    Report

02-02-2007, 11:01 PM ohxmybeautiful1 Joined on 01-30-2007 jlksdfnmlks Getting to Know Us Re: Under-paid Sorry, I wasn't talking about your post- the order of the posts were messed up.  I talked to a moderator about it and the forum was set up to have the replies reviewed before they went public.    Report