How much do nursery workers earn?

[SidandAndyssextoy]

Just wondering if anyone could tell me what someone working in a London nursery might be earning per hour? And what hourly rate might tempt them to come and be a nanny?!

[anewyear]

Im in Hertfordshire, only I work in a private
Pre School, Im on £6.35 ph as are 2 of my collegues, 1 who attained her level 3 several years ago, and the other has no child qualifications at all..
I guess it all depends on who you work for! and where!

[OutragedFromLeeds]

2-3 years is fine. Most nannies do want long-term jobs, but they are very few and far between. 2-3 years is the time between going back to work after ML and the child starting nursery, very common job duration ime.

Wish you should reconsider when you're a bit older/bit more experienced. Nannying is the best job in the world and you'd be earning at least double what you are now!

[Wishuponastar011]

Too much responsibility, at nursery e have policies and procedures to adhere to. If something goes wrong is rarely 1 persons responsibility.

I couldn't be the one person in charge of the main most important thing of someone's life.

[BackforGood]

Link again for you


Not that I'm sure an extra 5p an hour will put you into a different tax band

[MinnieMooMoo]

Wish you should be on £5.03

[valiumredhead]

Wish, just out of interest why not?

[BackforGood]

The £2.68 is apprenticeship money.
Many nurseries are using them as cheap labour now.
Of course, compared with their peers who get nothing for studying in the 6th form, then actually have to pay to go to university, £2.68ph is great so my ds seems to think.

[Wishuponastar011]

And no, £8 per hour wouldn't tempt me! I wouldn't be a nanny ever.

[Wishuponastar011]

Unfortunately the £5 wasn't a typo! I'm under 21 so minimum wage is currently £4.98 I think!

My work are currently funding my Level 3 aswell, once I'm qualified I will be on approx £6.40.

I'm with a big company too!

[SidandAndyssextoy]

And yes, sick cover will be a pain, but then we have to do that now if our daughter is ill. It would be the same with a childminder. Holiday cover is more or less sorted with our work although we'll probably have to trade a few favours, like everyone in our situation.

[SidandAndyssextoy]

Yes, I've done lots of reading and figured all those sorts of things in, including extra heating bills etc.

I think a couple of years round here is pretty common. Friends of mine have used a nanny to bridge the 'two kids at home' gap which is pretty small, rather than having a nanny from birth to school. There's a period where a nanny is a comparable cost to two sets of nursery fees, but it's not very long. Also, the turnover at our nursery is horrific, so I rather think working there depends how long you can put up with it. The children are very happy but the poor staff...

I am horrified at the low pay. I knew it wasn't a great deal but I assumed at least NMW.

[rubyslippers]

i've employed a nanny for nearly 4 years

it has been at times a very steep learning curve for everyone - covering illness is a real headache as if she is off work, then it tends to fall to me to pick up the slack

We pay her monthly, we then are liable for her tax and NI which we pay quarterly to HMRC

another cost is the payroll company which for us is £115 per year which gets us payslips etc

also, we give her a kitty which is £20 per week but which can go up and down depending on school holidays

travel card - rarely used as she walks everywhere but still the odd £2 here and there

food - she does eat with the kids so slight increase in food bills

we paid for her to do further training which was £250 and OFSTED costs around £110 to register

the hidden costs do stack up - also, she has had pay increases along the way

it can be a really beneficial childcare option but it is pricey

[TiggyD]

If they're young and you train the a bit, I know a few girls on £3.40. Nurseries like trainees.

You must all be glad your children are being looked after by highly trained and motivated professionals.

[Artandco]

The thing as a nanny that would put me off ( apart from low wage), is that you say 3 years max, 2 years if no other child.

Most nannies want long term positions and min 5 years IMO ( ie baby- school age). As the hassle of finding and settling in a job takes a while. I think it takes at least 1 year for everything to be ironed out, children 100% happy, everyone on same ideas etc, so to Leave after 2 years almost seems like a waste.
Would you not need someone to cover holidays/ sickness etc?

[SidandAndyssextoy]

Thank you. At the moment I'm trying to find my contract to see how outrageous my actions would be.

[valiumredhead]

Good luck OP, hope she says yes! Let's us know the out come

[SidandAndyssextoy]

£2.68????!

[SidandAndyssextoy]

That's the reasoning behind the £8 - it gives me somewhere to go. We are hoping to have a third so if that happens we will need her for at least three years. If not, at least two, as our youngest will only be one when she starts.

[oliveoctagon]

It can be anything from 2.68 for apprentice to about £7 for manager of a big nursery of about 50/60 places where I am.

[nannynick]

Why not just ask her what she is currently earning? She may simply tell you.

Work out what you can afford and offer less than that so there is room for a rise after probation, after 1 year etc.

Does she want to be a nanny, if so then she may take quite a low salary to get the experience. Be honest with her about how long you would need a nanny for, such as until youngest starts school. Would you switch to a childminder or afterschool club? Or keep nanny?

[SidandAndyssextoy]

Yes, will be a gross offer. And yes, have thought of extras. Like I said, above average holiday for one thing. Also, niceness of us. We have rave reviews from previous employees. And we will support her if she wants to do additional training. More likely she won't want to, but will want to know that we won't leave her stranded when we don't need a nanny any more.

[Artandco]

Yes £8.50 is low if net in London but super low if gross. The £9/10/12 per hour you see listed is net so what they get after tax

So £8.50 net will cost you around £12 per hour after tax and ni

An average £500 net per week wage of nanny actually costs employers approx £700-740 after paying tax, ni and employers ni

[Minnieisthedevilmouse]

Sorry have you factored in all other extras? Sounds a bit salary focused which will tempt her but not keep her. Once she leaves, she might quickly widen her views. Have you ticked other boxes? Contracts? Holiday? Sickness? Etc....!

[HSMMaCM]

And when you make an offer, remember to offer a gross wage, not net, as you have no idea what her tax code is (or what tax and NI announcements will be made in the budget).

[SidandAndyssextoy]

Sorry, of course she's qualified. I was thinking of Ofsted registered, which of course she wouldn't be yet. Sorry to talk nonsense.

Well, fingers crossed there's a way forward. The advice on here has been great, although I remain depressed by the wages some are earning. I forgot to say too that we will be offering more paid holiday than most would, which might help the hourly rate look a little better. And I'll do my sums and see where £8.50 might get us.