KEY FINDINGS
The majority of folks (74%) say they are paying the same amount for holiday tips as they did last year, while 10% are giving more and 6% are giving less.
For K-12 teachers, $50 continues to be the most frequently given amount by parents. Learn more about holiday gifts for teachers, including dos and don’ts, in the Park Slope Parents’ website article How to Thank Teachers at the Holidays & End of the Year.
Giving your nanny one week’s pay as a bonus continues to be standard. Of those who report giving a bonus related to weekly pay, 72% give one week’s pay, while 28% give more than that. And 25% give a bonus amount unrelated to week’s pay.
A little (or big) thanks goes a long way. From crossing guards to hair stylists to accountants to after-school staff, tutors, and therapists, there’s a wide range of people with whom you’ve likely crossed paths over the past year. Everyone likes to feel appreciated, so if you can, take time to extend a kind gesture to those who have helped support your day-to-day life! If you’re able to tip folks, please do; if you’re not, a simple text, email, or phone message is a wonderful way to show thanks.
DETAILED FINDINGS
Personal Neighborhood Service Providers
Provider | 2023 Data Average Tip/Gift | 2023 Mode | 2021 Data Average Tip/Gift |  Mode* | 2013 Average Tip/Gift |
Superintendent | $148 | $100 | $140 | $100 | $97 |
House Cleaner | $156* | $200 | $137 |  $100 | $103 |
Daytime Doorman | $110 | $100 | $116 | $100 | $80 |
Dog Walker |  $107 | $50 | $93 | $100 | $72 |
Nighttime Doorman | $83 | $100 | $92 | $100 |  – |
Porter | $86 | $50 | $79 | $50 | $53 |
Hair Stylist | $71 | $50 | $78 | $50 | $48 |
Parking Attendant | $73 | $50 | $79 | $50 | $63 |
Cat Sitter** | $47 | $50 | $58 | $50 | - |
Package Delivery (non-USPS) | $38 | $20 | $48 | $20 | $26 |
USPS Mail Carrier | $23 | $20 | $30 | $20 | $30 |
NYSD Garbage/Truck Recycling*** | $34 | $20 | $36 | $20 | -- |
TOTAL | $930** | – | $928** | -- | — |
*Mode is defined as the most frequently mentioned tip/gift amount
**Cat sitter is a new category, and wasn't included in the totals to make more accurate cross-year comparisons.
***Note from a PSP member on tipping sanitation workers: Since it’s difficult to actually tip sanitation workers, you can “make a donation to the Sanitation Foundation instead. If you're not familiar with them, they're the not-for-profit wing of the DSNY (like NYPD Foundation or Friends of FDNY). Their mission is to support the DSNY workforce and advance the city's zero-waste goals - very cool. Highly recommend you check them out."
Daycare, Preschool*, K-12 Teachers, and Others
Participating in joint class gifts to K-12 teachers is still how the vast majority of people (79%) give teacher gifts. Most people (82%) are reporting that they are giving the same amount as they have in prior years, with 4% saying they are giving more and 9% saying they are giving less. For those who do combine gifts, parents use websites and apps including Venmo, Payit2, and SignUp Genius to organize and pool donations.
NOTE: If you have multiple teachers (as is present as happens in some classrooms), you can adjust your giving accordingly. Some classrooms can have up to 4 or 5 teachers and it makes sense that you can't pay as much with so many teachers.
Type of Teacher | Average Tip/Gift 2023 | Mode | Average Tip/Gift 2021 | Mode | Average Tip/Gift 2013 (10 years ago) |
Preschool/Daycare Head Teacher | $77 | $50 | $92 | $50 | $50 |
Preschool/Daycare Secondary Teacher | $59 | $50 | $66 | $50 | $42 |
K-12 Teacher* | $57 | $50 | $54 | $50 | $32 |
Special Services Teacher | $51 | $50 | $43 | $50* | $51 |
Crossing Guards | $21 | $20 | $23 | $20 | – |
Bus Drivers | $36 | $25 | $35 | $20 | - |
*Perhaps the rise of 3K programs could have negatively impacted the amount of thanks teachers are giving?
FAQ: *Is it against the DOE policy to give teachers gifts? NO (we’ve checked). It is NOT the case that Department of Education K-12 teachers cannot (or should not) receive gifts. Department of Education policy states: “Teachers may accept class gifts as long as parents are not asked to contribute more than a small amount of money towards the gift and all parents are given an opportunity to sign the card, whether or not they contribute to the gift.” However, be reasonable—extravagant gifts could get your teacher in hot water!
Note: Other school-support people include crossing guards, school staff, special services teachers, bus drivers, and crossing guards. If you’re looking to thank everyone who makes a school function, remember to include these folks!
Nannies
Virtually all of the respondents (95%) said they are using the holidays as an opportunity to give a yearly bonus or gifts to their nannies. Half (48%) also give a non-monetary gift of some kind. As always, a heartfelt note with sincere gratitude (perhaps a list of specific things you appreciate) always warms the heart and makes folks feel special. (Feel free to do this for EVERYONE in your life!)
Of the employers who responded, 83% give an amount incremental to a week’s pay. Specifically, 72% give a week’s pay, 26% give two week’s pay, and 2% give three week’s pay.
Nannies will receive an average of $1145 for their end-of-year bonus. For 81% of employers, the holiday bonus serves as a yearly bonus too. In addition, 15% of people give a separate anniversary bonus on the day of their nanny’s start date.
Hours Worked | Average Amount 2023 | Average Amount 2021 | Average Amount 2019 (Pre-Covid) | Average Amount 2013 (10 years ago) |
Full-time (over 40 hours/week) (63%of respondents) | $1449 | $1428 | $1043 | $662 |
Part-time (16-40 hours) (26% of respondents) | $832* | $629 | $605 | $504 |
Part-time (up to 15 hours) (12% of respondents) | $203 | $229 | $210 | $200 |
OVERALL Average | $1145 | $1023 | $688 | $522 |
2023 Range: $50 - $6,000
FAQ: Has your nanny worked for less than a year? If a nanny has worked for less than a year but more than three months, most employers give at least a half-week’s pay. If you give less than a week (most common holiday bonus), inform your nanny that you intend to give (at least) a full week’s pay next year. Also, if you give bonuses on anniversaries rather than the end of the year (most do not), remind them of that timeline.
Newer nannies (those who have worked less than three months) may feel left out without a bonus, we suggest giving a bonus proportional to the amount of time worked. Again, make sure to offer an explanation of your reasoning, and tell them what they can expect next year. Clarity about when your nanny can expect raises and bonuses is key.
ALSO IMPORTANT: A week off without pay is not something that your nanny will appreciate. If they are available, many would rather work for pay than lose a paycheck.
METHODOLOGY
Park Slope Parents collected 348 responses from November 30th–December 15th, 2023, via an online survey program (surveymonkey.com). The survey was distributed online through the Park Slope Parents website, PSP email groups and social media outlets, and other online parenting/neighborhood groups on platforms such as Facebook and Groups.io. The results are based on tips and gifts in Brooklyn only.
ABOUT PARK SLOPE PARENTS
- Park Slope Parents (PSP) is a Brooklyn-based community of more than 7,400 local families who offer each other support and community throughout the parenting experience.
- PSP online resources include a public website with member reviews, parenting advice, and online forums. Members also have access to an Advice/Community Group (for exchanging information about parenting and community issues); a Classifieds list (a local buy/sell/trade group for swapping kid gear and finding nannies); and a Career Networking Group, which connects parents to jobs and professional resources. PSP also has over members-only 150 subgroups, including expectant and new parent groups plus groups for dads, working moms, bilingual families, LGBTQ+ parents, workers from all industries, families with allergies, vegetarians, and more.
- PSP offers in-person and virtual events, including parenting workshops, clothing swaps, community fundraisers, and networking meet-ups.
- PSP partners with not-for-profits such as CHiPS, Women in Need, Little Essentials, Brooklyn Book Bodega, local mutual aid organizations, and Camp Friendship Food Bank to provide donations to those in need.
- PSP sponsors community events such as the Celebrate Brooklyn Concerts, Prospect Park Alliance events, and more.
- Park Slope Parents is open to all parents in Brooklyn and requires an annual membership fee of $55 to support ongoing services (like this Holiday Tips Survey).
Not a member? Parents in Brooklyn can apply for membership here.
