The Nanny Survey provides data on pay rates and responsibilities for nannies that helps ALL parents in Brooklyn in the process of hiring. By providing this data to the community, we aim to uplift families and domestic workers alike by helping parents be the best and fairest employers they can be.
IMPORTANT:
Park Slope Parents reports the data as fairly and accurately as possible. Each family needs to make its own decision about hiring a nanny and paying a nanny. We urge you to follow laws (see below) around hiring a nanny as well as paying a fair living wage.
PSP recognizes that some families pay on a guaranteed weekly pay basis and others on an hourly basis. To normalize the data across all situations, we developed hourly rates based on typical hours worked for those families who pay a salary. NOTE: Employers are legally required to report and pay by the hour for domestic workers.
Through the summary tables provided in this report, we try to show both the wide variation (sometimes a spread of more than $8 per hour between the lowest and highest hourly rate) in the market as well as the “typical” market rates paid to nannies.
Pay rates vary depending on a wide variety of factors, including some not obvious in these data (e.g., how demanding the employer is, responsibilities, nanny’s ability to be flexible with hours, etc). Take those into consideration when hiring a nanny.
All data are independently arrayed. This means the number of hours reported for a given statistic is not necessarily the number that is associated with the pay rate as that same statistic.
DEFINITIONS
- Average: Shows the overall market tendency, and is influenced by high and low data points as well as skewed data.
- Median (50th percentile): Shows the middle data point, outliers at the top and bottom end of the distribution are less emphasized.
- Percentiles: Shows the proportion of data points that fall above and below this point (e.g., 10th percentile show the point at which 10% of the data fall below and 90% of the data fall above).
TIME OFF
- Seven in ten (71%) pay their nanny for 52 weeks a year regardless of how much time the nanny receives off.
- The average number of agreed-upon days off is 11 days, while the reported number of days actually received is 19 days. (The vast majority of nannies are paid for all 19 days they receive off.)
- Over 6 in 10 say that their nanny gets more time off with pay than originally agreed upon.
- Seven in ten (69%) let their nanny schedule time off at the nanny's discretion (something for which PSP advocates.)
RAISES & BONUSES:
The most common first-year annual increase is $1 per hour.
Giving end-of-year (in December) bonuses continues to be standard, with 1 week's pay being the most common amount given.
The average bump in pay when a second child arrives is $2 per hour.
- Data includes nannies paid on and off the books.
- Rates do NOT reflect Nanny Shares, where a nanny takes care of kids from 2 families at the same time.
NOT A MEMBER OF PARK SLOPE PARENTS? You're missing out!
If you're a parent in Brooklyn (almost half of all PSP members live outside Park Slope), Join Park Slope Parents today!
PSP Resources for Hiring a Nanny
The Park Slope Parents website offers comprehensive advice about how to hire a nanny, carefully outlining the parent to domestic employer transition.
STEPS TO HIRING A NANNY ON PSP:
Step 1: WHAT do I want, WHAT can I expect and WHAT will it cost me?
Step 2: WHERE can you find Mary Poppins?
Step 3: WHO is it going to be?
Step 4: HOW can we seal the deal?
Step 5: HOW can I make this a great working relationship?
WORK AGREEMENT:
Learn more and download the Sample Nanny Work Agreement
ON THE BOOKS INFORMATION:
PSP/HomeWork Solutions Guide to Paying On The Books
NANNY SHARE INFORMATION:
The PSP Guide to a Successful Nanny Share
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS SURROUNDING HIRING A NANNY:
These laws apply to all domestic workers, regardless of whether they are paid on or off the books or their eligibility to work in the U.S.
- New York Domestic Workers Bill of Rights This bill spells out mandatory overtime compensation over 40 hours, paid time off, and more.
- Wage Theft Protection Act This act requires new employers to provide written documentation of their wage rates at time of hire (including nannies paid off the books) and current employers notification by 2/1/2012.
- Unemployment Eligibility Workers paid on and off the books are eligible to file for unemployment benefits even if they have not paid taxes on their income.
- Worker's Compensation and Insurance A nanny who works 40 or more hours per week for the same employer must be covered by workers’ compensation insurance and disability benefits.
- NYC's Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law. Domestic workers with must be provided 40 hours a year of paid sick days and be given time off for getting COVID vaccinations for themselves and their children.
HELPING YOUR NANNY FIND A NEW JOB:
- Here's information to help your nanny find a new job.
- Requirements for posting on Park Slope Parents
- How to End the Nanny Relationship Positively
INFORMATION FOR NANNIES:
PSP offers tips for nannies including where they can look for a job and post about their availability, as well as resources about the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, information about negotiating their next position, and other great resources.
Disclaimer: This post has been written for educational purposes only by Park Slope Parents and is not meant to be legal advice and should not be construed as legal advice or be relied upon. The post may contain errors, inaccuracies and/or omissions. We recommend checking with a professional for specific advice.
