The interview question Nannies hate?
“What is your current salary?” (or “What was your previous salary?”)
Let’s be honest:
Your current or previous salary is nobody else’s business.
But in an interview…
you can’t exactly say:
“that’s not your business” 🙃
So most nannies answer it anyway.
Even when they feel uncomfortable.
Here’s why that’s a problem:
Your past salary can be used to set your future pay.
And nanny salaries also vary a lot.
Different families, expectations, and levels of underpayment.
So that number?
It doesn’t actually reflect your value.
It reflects a past agreement, not your current market value.
The focus shouldn’t be:
“What did you make before?”
It should be:
“What is fair for this role?”
It’s a tricky question.
What you earned before doesn’t represent your true value…
And sharing your past or current salary can lead to a lowball offer.
Experienced nannies don’t base their rate on past salaries.
They base it on the role, their skills, and the value they bring.
So when this question comes up…
Keep the focus on what you charge now.
Not what you accepted before.
💡 Example of how to shift the conversation:
Instead of:
“I used to earn $20/hour.”
Try:
“Based on my experience and the responsibilities of this role, my current rate is $20–$25/hour.”
Or:
“I’m looking for something in the range of $20–$25/hour depending on the full details of the role.”
This keeps the focus on the present role, not your past pay, and helps you avoid being anchored to a lower number.
You’re not your previous salary.
And you don’t have to negotiate from it.
