Because your hourly rate is only part of the deal.
There are a lot of other things you can negotiate before accepting a nanny job.
☆ Guaranteed hours
Getting paid $X/hour means very little if the family can cancel hours whenever they want.
☆ PTO
Don’t just ask, “How much PTO do I get?”
Ask how it works, when you can use it, and whether it’s clearly guaranteed in your contract.
☆ Paid holidays
Ask which holidays are paid days off.
If you’re expected to work on a holiday, you can negotiate double pay.
Make sure it’s in your contract.
☆ Sick days
You shouldn’t have to choose between staying home when you’re sick and losing a day of pay.
Ask how many paid sick days are included.
☆ Overtime
Your hourly rate isn’t the whole compensation package.
Clarify when overtime kicks in and how it’s calculated.
☆ Mileage + driving expenses
If you’re driving the kids around all week, your car is part of the job.
Mileage reimbursement can add up FAST.
☆ Bonus
Annual bonus. Performance bonus. Holiday bonus.
It doesn’t hurt to ask what the family offers and to get it in writing.
☆ Health insurance contribution
Health insurance can be expensive.
You can negotiate a contribution toward your coverage.
☆ Professional development
CPR renewal. Classes. Conferences. Certifications.
If it makes you better at your job, it may be worth negotiating.
☆ Travel + overnight pay
Traveling with the family? Staying overnight?
Those hours and responsibilities should be clearly discussed and compensated.
☆ Annual raises
Don’t wait until you’ve been with the family for years to bring up compensation.
You can negotiate when and how your rate will be reviewed and increased.
☆ And the BIG one: your job description.
Your rate should reflect what you’re actually being asked to do.
Childcare ≠ childcare + house manager + family assistant + dog walker + personal assistant.
Your hourly rate matters.
But it’s not the only thing that determines whether you have a GOOD nanny job.
Negotiate the whole package.
Not every family will offer every one of these.
But knowing what’s on the table gives you more room to negotiate the job that works best for you.
Know your options. Ask the questions. Negotiate from there.
What’s the best thing you’ve ever negotiated into a nanny contract?
