Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an Au Pair and a Nanny?
 

What is the average salary for a Nanny?
 

What taxes will I have to pay in my state?
 

Where do I start my search?
 

What is Nanny's Job Description?
 

How do I know if I've made the right decision?

What is the difference between an Au Pair and a Nanny?
Nannies are child care providers who are paid for their expertise and experience and they are employees of the family for whom they work. Au pairs, on the other hand, are participants in a USIA exchange program. Au pairs provide up to 45 hours of child care per week as part of their responsibility to their host family and are considered members of the family, NOT employees. They are required to attend classes while in the US and must return to their country after one year. They also must be under 26 years of age and must acquire a J1 Visa in order to come to the US as an Au Pair.

 

Back to Top

 

What is the average salary for a Nanny?
It seems that there is no “average” salary when it comes to hiring a nanny. A Nanny’s salary depends on so many variables it is impossible to supply averages. Some of the variables are how many children she will care for, the ages of the children, the years experience she has, whether she will be a live-in or live-out nanny, whether she requires health insurance or not, whether she is a US citizen or not and finally where in the country you live. All of these factors help determine the appropriate salary for a Nanny.  The International Nanny Association recently conducted a nanny salary survey.  You can find a brief overview of their findings here. Salary Survey

Back to Top

 

What taxes will I have to pay in my state?
According to Guy T. Maddalone, President of GTM Associates a National Household Payroll" Nanny Tax" Service, "State Employment Laws are pretty much the same when it comes to nannies and other household employees, in fact they are pretty similar to that of an office worker or someone working at a large corporation. All states have a state unemployment insurance tax which employers must pay generally in addition to the gross pay. This amount is a percentage of the Nanny's gross salary, anywhere from 1% to 4% on a predetermined wage level. In some states like NJ and CA, Nannies do have to contribute a small amount to disability or unemployment out of their own gross pay in addition to what their employer pays."
"As far as State Income Taxes go if the nanny requests and the employer agrees to have state income taxes withheld then the employer must withhold state income tax from the Nanny's gross pay. (this is the same rule to follow for federal income taxes). With the exception of NH, FL, WA, TX, TN and NV whom do not have a state income tax. If a Nanny does not want income taxes withheld but rather wants deposit her income taxes on her own, this is o.k., although we strongly discourage it."
"All Employers must give the Nanny a W-2 form at the end of the year indicating all state and federal withholdings including social security, Medicare and federal and state income taxes if any that where withheld so the Nanny can do her own taxes (Form 1040). The employer must also send a copy of the Employees W-2 and a W-3 reconciliation form to the Social Security Administration and their state. All employers will need to complete the IRS Schedule H and report the annual wages paid to any Nanny in their employ (whom they paid over $1,100 in the calendar year) on their own personal income tax return (Form 1040)".

Great Nanny Tax Resources: 

NannyPay Payroll Software, Do it yourself payroll software. 30 day free trial. 
Breedlove & Associates, Inc.

Legally Nanny®, 714-336-8864,info@legallynanny.com

 

Back to Top

 

Where do I start my search?
First, assess your family's needs. Do you need full time or part time help, do you require live in or live out help? What can you afford to pay? What are nannies making in your area? Will you be able to swing a pay raise each year, employment taxes, health benefits? Check out our Tough Questions page for all the preparation information you need.
After you've done your homework, you know what you can afford and what kind of help you need, start talking. Tell everyone you know that your are looking for a Nanny. Talk with friends, neighbors, parents at playgroup or daycare. Tell your hairdresser, your doctor, children's teachers etc. Find someone who has or had a nanny. Read all the books, web sites, materials you can. There are message boards and discussion groups that are solely dedicated to the Nanny Topic.
Find and talk with several agencies. "My original search 3 years ago started by looking in a local paper for nanny agencies. The last 2 agencies I used came from online surfing." Eileen, mom and nanny employer. "Obtain the agencies' reference lists to find out if other parents were happy with them. See our Agency Locator to research agencies in your area.
Post a note in your church newsletter. Post info on any internet lists that you are comfortable with. Advertise in the Nanny Classifieds and in your local newspaper classifieds. Go to local colleges which have a good early child development program and put an ad in the college placement office. Ask your friends and family to do all of the same. The agency route can be helpful but don't depend on it. If you advertise your position in the newspaper-- have people respond to a P.O. Box number or call a telephone line that you don't routinely use and have them leave a message -- this gives you the ability to screen calls. 

 

 

 

What is a Nanny's Job Description
To be honest, this really varies depending on the family, the age of the children and the nanny. 

First and foremost, a nanny's job is to keep your children, safe, well nourished and attended to.  Duties can include feeding the kids, bathing the children, monitoring TV time, computer time, planning activities for toddlers and preschool age children. Helping older children with homework.  Driving children to activities and arranging playdates.

Most Nannies will agree that housework directly involving their charges is usually their responsibility. Therefore, keeping the children's rooms clean, doing their laundry, preparing their meals and cleaning up the dishes after the meals is usually part of the job. But don't assume anything, discuss this in your interview and make sure it is in her job description and contract.

Now, if you'd really like her to vacuum the house once a week, prepare some dinners, or do more than just the kids laundry these things really need to be brought up during the interview. You should ask how she feels about doing these tasks and listen carefully to her response. If she gives a half-hearted answer of "Oh, that's ok." and you sense she's not really too thrilled about the idea, discuss it. "I get the feeling you may not like the idea of the added housework." It is best to really try to get an honest answer from her now, then find out two months from now that it's too much for her to handle and she's leaving for a job that doesn't require all the extra sweat.

Certain Nanny training schools require that a potential employer hire a cleaning service before they will place one of their nannies in the home.  If you can afford this option, it is not a bad idea. 

You can find a sample work agreement by clicking here. Modify the form to fit the specific needs of your family.

 

Back to Top

 

How do I know if I made the right decision?
The recurring theme when discussing almost every issue concerning you and your nanny seems to be when you hire a nanny to care for your child trust your gut instinct. If you have checked her references thoroughly, done a comprehensive background check, had her over to do a trial- run baby-sit, and generally feel you both "click" then it's probably safe to say that you have made the right decision. Relax a little. Do some spot checking the first week or two and keep those lines of communication open at all time. Get feedback, hear about her day, and show appreciation for a job well done.
If, on the other hand, your gut is telling you something else, talk to your new nanny about your feelings. If things do not change in a short period of time, begin looking for a new nanny. 

Back to Top