Why being a nanny is a great career move - and why you should be proud of it
Professional doubt among nannies is real
As a top nanny agency whose mission is just as much about supporting nannies as it is helping families find childcare, we’ve had numerous conversations with great nannies who have begun to doubt the future of their career. There’s a sense sometimes that nannying is something one only does short term, because it is not as real as other professions.
And as a top nanny agency, we can tell you that’s just not true.
We have placed hundreds of professional nannies in long-term jobs where they stayed for years, grew as an employee, earned top salaries, and changed the lives of the families they helped. Does that not sound like a rich, rewarding career?
We have placed nannies in jobs with
6 figure salaries
Paid time off
Health care and other benefits
Bonuses and regular pay raises
Solid contracts, W-2 forms
Nannying is hard work
Nannies, we see you!
Managing family logistics, planning excursions and activities for children’s development, staying on top of the latest guidelines about peanut introduction and elimination communication. Organizing playdates, keeping supplies stocked, potty training, sleep training, and holding fussy babies for hours at a stretch, all so the kids can grow up to be secure, curious, and strong individuals - and the parents can do what they need to do with the peace of mind that you are taking care of it.
It’s easy to get so used to the daily grind that you don’t realize how much you are doing. But take a moment one day to sit down and think about all the job responsibilities you have and what would happen if you were not there to do them.
Sit down
List all of your job responsibilities
See how much you do at your job
Nannies are in demand
As long as people continue to have children, childcare will continue to be a profession that is in demand. With a competitive job market, massive increases in average salaries hint that the outside world is starting to wake up to it, too.
New numbers show that average salaries for professional nannies have increased by 20% in the last five years, and the job growth rate is about 4%, meaning they will continue to be in demand. You are in a solid field, with job security and financial stability during what is some shaky times in the overall economy. Not bad for a career.
A solid nanny contract sets you up for success
Many people who work as professional nannies today started out by babysitting in the neighborhood during middle school or high school. While still a paying gig, it was most likely much less formal than the set up of a regular, professional nanny job. Perhaps that is part of why some people have a hard time seeing private childcare as a career - the idea of the “glorified babysitter” lingers.
One way to alter the perception of your role - both for yourself and for your employer - is to make sure that you start every hire with a proper contract. A nanny contract helps make it clear that this is a professional hire; you will be getting paid regularly at a guaranteed rate, you will accrue benefits, and your responsibilities are outlined to show what an immense effort nannying truly is.
And proper compensation, too
Another thing that elevates the nanny role is compensation, aka getting properly paid for the work you do. A five-dollar-an-hour cash payment at the end of each shift might work in middle school, but in a professional nanny role, you should get paid market rate for the city you are in, with a higher rate for special requirements of the position or based on your expertise and special skill set. And as we’ve shown above, that rate is growing across the board. This, too, helps both you and the family acknowledge that your nanny work is your actual work, and a job that requires skills, experience, and dedication to the role.
Can we support you, too?
We know your work makes a difference.
At the end of the day, we get that social perception - or your own ideas before getting into this line of work - can have you wondering if your next steps should be something else. But as a nanny agency who has been impressed by the caliber, dedication, imagination, and love displayed by our nannies for well over a decade, we see it differently. Families need you, and by staying in this career you help elevate the whole profession. That’s why we work every day to support you in your role, because we know your work makes a difference.
If you are not yet a nanny with Smart Sitting, and you are looking for a nanny agency to help you find a nanny job where your work is respected, come join us! We are always looking for experienced, dedicated nannies who want to excel in their career. In return, we help you get a job that aligns with what you’re looking for, as well as a community and a resource that is always there when you need it.
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