To think nannies are overpaid?

[Fr0thandBubble]

Inspired by another thread about how much people earn. Plenty of nannies earning £50-£60k per year apparently and one on £120k!

Our nanny has just left us (youngest about to start reception, thank goodness) and we were paying her nearly £50k for 8:30am-6:30pm Mon-Fri. She would also pick up quite a bit of extra money babysitting evenings and weekends L. She didn’t even have to do anything from 9-12 each morning while my youngest was at nursery - and then only had my youngest to look after until school pick-up time when she had my eldest too. And nannies these days are very reluctant to help out with any cleaning or ironing so she really was doing nothing much at all in those hours.

She was lovely but has no qualifications and is in her early thirties.

It seems wrong to me that nannies are getting paid more than most teachers when they don’t need any qualifications. What do you think?!

The price of a job isn't dictated by its social value. Sad but true.

I wince when I think of what carers of say, severely autistic DC get paid compared to the two nannies of the average Chelsea child.

Nannies get paid more pa than teachers because teachers work fewer hours over a year. If teachers worked 48ish weeks a year, they would be paid much more than they are. When people moan that teachers get so much time off, they need to take into account that teachers are professionals who really don't get paid much, partly due to their short working year.

I’m a fully qualified and experienced nanny (nearly 20 years) I’m paid 46 gross (I think it’s around 32 nett) and I would be horrified if my bosses resented paying me that much. Sometimes I feel like I’m overpaid for what I do “on paper” (push a buggy, change a nappy, make a bottle, I even put the telly on sometimes!) but in reality, it takes an exceptional amount of brain and heart power to keep the show on the road. Keeping on top of the routine, meeting all the children’s emotional and developmental needs, keeping the house to the standards of the parents. Pre-empting and navigating any issues that may arrive for the family. All with a smile on your face no matter what.
I also know that other younger or less experienced nannies are on the same or more than me, and do less work than me. I am also not guaranteed pay rises bonuses overtime. It’s taken me this long to get here and my salary has probably peaked for the next 20 years by when families won’t want me because I’m “too old”

To those that have asked, I wanted a nanny rather than a childminder or nursery as one of my children has special needs (nothing major but I thought a nanny would be better). I wouldn’t have wanted them at a nursery all day when they were very little anyway - and I work very late every night so we needed flexible childcare.

I’m lucky I earn well really - I don’t know how most working couples are supposed to manage with childcare costs being what they are.

And I do get the supply and demand comments. I just doesn’t sit quite right that nannies in London get paid significantly more than most teachers!

More fool you for paying a totally unqualified person nearly 50 grande!

I'm in the wrong job. I work in a special needs school and earn just over 11k a year.

The problem is that anyone can call themselves a nanny. You don't have to have any qualifications. You can gain experience from job to job and increase how much you charge that way. I had a nanny who started off as a cleaner. The best nanny I had completed training when the NNEB was still around. She was worth every penny (my whole salary) and would never just 'do nothing' from 9 to 12. There was always the kids laundry and she would clean their rooms, sort out and tidy their toys, organise playdates etc. The nannies that I have had with a training in child care tended to be worth the cost. It's a hard job if it's done professionally.

Its hard work isnt it. And it requires lots of skills that people are quick to undervalue because they are 'soft' skills.

I think by starting this thread and basically stating you're nanny wasn't worth the money you are insinuating you're (much better paid) position with qualifications is more important.

How much should a nanny be paid? Should she be just scrapping by in London?

If you want cheap labor move to Dubai and get yourself a phillipina nanny/slave. Plus tax-free salary for you, now that's more like it!

An uber driver can make 40k on a good year - would you be asking that question if nannies were mannies?

But teachers don't provide flexible childcare, whereas your nanny did.

You are viewing this the wrong way. Teachers aren't paid enough, and their working conditions - especially right now - are pretty shit.

I still don’t think that’s great pay for a 50 hour week in London tbh, especially not providing exclusive childcare for multiple children. I do like your lawyerish obfuscation around what the concepts of school holidays, laundry and lunch involve, as if us mums won’t be familiar

I am seriously starting to think about this.
I have 30 years experience as an NHS professional, some of it in a school for children with special needs, I have raised 3 DC, who are all well adjusted, engaging people.
I love being with children and it never feels like work.
I can cook, bake bread, name all their perennials.
I earn nothing like £50k.
Oh and i'm old enough not to be a threat to the woman of the house.
I can be yours for £45

You've had a lot of snarky replies OP. I think it's a lot. When you think carers get £8.93 an hour on average in London for arguably a much more stressful job. I know which job I'd find easier. Also nannying jobs are more sociable as nannies meet up with each other in the parks and at after school activities.

I do think you may need to negotiate a bit better with your next nanny. You'd expect them to do a bit more work during the day when the youngest is at nursery. I'd also think they shouldn't take more than three weeks holiday in term time.

I’ve been a nanny for 20 years and I can assure you we DO work hard. I work 48 hours in 4 days. The parents trust me with the most precious things in their world. The responsibility is huge. I do the children’s washing and ironing, cook for them, arrange their social life (!), educate them and entertain them, Food shop, errands for the parents. I can’t even list everything I do as I’d be here forever! Nannies don’t get lunch breaks/coffee breaks. I can honestly say I earn every penny of my £12 net/hour. The parents come home every night to a tidy house and 2 very happy and healthy children. I don’t think you can put a price on that.

Can't get the staff these days, dear me, not the kind of staff you want. What happened to all those nannies like Ress Mogg has? Oh yes, they got lives of their own, got paid a fair rate, and forgot to be grateful to employers like you OP. If your children are well and thriving I suggest you give her a farewell bonus.

To those that have asked, I wanted a nanny rather than a childminder or nursery as one of my children has special needs “

So, she looks after two children, one with special needs?

Can only ask again, an answer would be appreciated. Why did you employ an unqualified person?

@Palavah Yes I stand by what I said. My work is more difficult, more stressful and requires a higher skill level “than keeping someone else's children alive” as you put it.

Most adults manage to “keep a child alive” - it’s not that hard.

That doesn’t mean I don’t think my nanny is great and I don’t appreciate her because I do - but my job justifies a higher wage because it’s something you need to be highly qualified to do and which requires me to work very long and unsociable hours. The stress level is much higher - I don’t get to switch off when I’m not physically at work, I’m constantly checking my emails, taking calls at all hours, waking up in the middle of the night worrying I made a mistake, etc!

It’s simply supply and demand.

Despite the decent pay there aren’t many people who enjoy the job. It’s long hours, lonely and intense because you’re with the children 1-1 or 1-2 for 50 hours a week. There’s no career progression, no appraisals to tell you you’re doing a good job. You’re very much seen as a cost rather than benefit to the family. And by its nature it’s relatively short term and insecure.

In all honesty, i think you are overpaying, OP. I am off nannies for a year or so, but the total cost of employment before was around £32K - £33K (live in), or ~£500 net / week, and there was a lot of interest from qualified candidates. My friend has a fantastic nanny on min wage at the moment. I am also in London.

@itsaratrap The special needs are mild - he doesn’t require any special care from a nanny; I just thought it would be easier for him.

And in answer to your question, in my experience most nannies in London don’t have qualifications.

I'm assuming nannies often work in affluent parts off the country where living costs are high (London/se ), therefore it is only fair they earn a reasonable salary.
Whether nannies salaries are too high, or teachers, nurses etc salaries are too low is the real question.

I'm clearly in the wrong job.. I'm a qualified SEN teacher in a special school with 8 years post graduation experience and your nanny was earning almost double my yearly wage!

@Ilovecranberries

In all honesty, i think you are overpaying, OP. I am off nannies for a year or so, but the total cost of employment before was around £32K - £33K (live in), or ~£500 net / week, and there was a lot of interest from qualified candidates. My friend has a fantastic nanny on min wage at the moment. I am also in London.

If you’re underpaying like your friend then the nanny will soon find out from her peers, feel resentful and leave. Most people want a nanny for stability so it’s not a good idea really

@Blackcurrant66 Yes that’s a good point, jobs are generally short-term which must be a real downside.