Nanny salaries - urgent help please!

[princesspeahead]

I've been thinking for a month or so now that my wonderful nanny is due a pay rise. I even spoke to dh about it, who said give her one for xmas - I said, no, we really ought to do it now. She has been with us almost 2 years, we didn't give her a rise last year because we paid her over the going rate for the first year (which she knew and was happy with). Anyway she has now brought it up and we are talking about it tomorrow am (I'm SO cross with myself that I didn't bring it up first as I SHOULD have done!) and I haven't called any local agencies to find out what I should pay her. So I'm using you lot instead!

Anyway. She is 28, NNEB qualified, with childcare experience as a nanny, nursery nurse and teaching assistant over the last 9 years. She is practically perfect in every way. She lives out, and we are in rural West Country where there isn't much in the way of nanny jobs. She looks after 3 children (2 at school) for 50 hours pw. In terms of perks she could have had a car but chooses to use her own which we reimburse her for at 40p a mile, we take her on exotic sunny holidays once or twice a year (which she loves, never having travelled before) and that is about it.

We currently pay her £265 (plus all taxes etc on top). I'm thinking £300 is the right number... but would be grateful for all comparators and opinions please!

I think that's a good raise. Don't have a lot of experience in that department, but it's over a 10% raise, which is good, I think.

And, as a nice measure, I'd make this year's Christmas bonus dependent on her new salary, not her old. (If that's how you do it!)

pph, have you called the agencies round your way to get comparative rates? I'm afraid I only know the rates for London but this might help

No idea as to what the rural aspect does to salaries. Here in South London £6 would be the minimum and £7.50+ more realistic for someone with her experience, though I guess it also depends on how much the car allowance amounted to on a weekly basis.

But £265-£300 is a 13% increase, which is quite hefty...I'm used to 5%-ish as a guide. Tinies would indicate that £250 is average and £300 is high here but then I don't believe their Central London numbers.

I worked with a 5% rise but also a Christmas bonus which seems to have a feel good factor.

thanks for those links cd and ladym. they suggest that £300 would be the top end for country salaries, but then again she is a top end nanny so that sort of fits. the raise would be about 13% which sounds too much for a single year, but I sort of feel that since it is the first one for 2 years? but since she was paid about £15 a week too much for her first year maybe I shouldn't go so high? £290 isn't quite 10%, but will give her £100+ a month extra in her pocket. but she is great and I'd rather err on the side of generosity than tightness...

jj, yes, I'd give a bonus based on the new salary, good point.

more thoughts anyone? it is really helpful...

Personally I'm happy to pay at the high rate to keep a good person, and it will also send a firm signal of how much you value her. A 13% rise would stop me grumbling!

Just think of how difficult/expensive/upsetting it would be to lose her over something so minor (assuming that you're not going bankrupt in the process).

PrincessPeaHead, I've worked as a nanny and now as a childminder and I'm an NNEB and I wish I worked for you ! You sound really thoughtful and a pleasure to work for and I'm sure your nanny realises this.

I'd advise going with your gut instinct and giving her £300, she'll be delighted you've recognised her worth, but the main people who'll benefit are your children

(ssd she's a right old boot actually )

CD, I'll take your word for it!

And with a nickname like yours I won't argue!!!

I happen to know from taking a little look that my boss and his wife pay their nanny (live out, own car) £17k or thereabouts (was last time I looked) for a 50 hour week looking after 2 children (3.5 & 1.5) not in sole charge as mummy is home too which equates to about £327pw

yes jampot but I'm talking about 300pw after tax, which costs me £436 once I pay tax, which is £22,612pa! but that does include employers NI so her gross is less, but certainly more than £17k!

Thanks for all your help everyone, I'll go with £300, she certainly deserves it and I would hate to lose her (or more probably not lose her, but have her feel undervalued) for the sake of £10 or £20 per week.

and thanks ssd, but CD is right, I'm a horrible old boot really!

Thanks for all your help everyone, I've told her she is going up to £300 per week backdated to the beginning of Nov, and she seems very pleased!

Ahhh you are lovely really PPH