Au Pair vs. Nanny
by John Philip Green • January 17, 2013Making a decision between hiring an au pair and hiring a nanny can be a difficult if you do not have all of the relevant information. Both au pairs and nannies provide housekeeping and childcare assistance to homeowners, however, the two provide different amounts of care and subsequently receive different pay scales.
What’s the difference?
Au pair
An au pair is a foreign student who comes to live with you, as a member of your family, in exchange for providing assistance in housekeeping and childcare. A nanny is an individual employed by the homeowner to provide caretaking assistance, housekeeping and childcare.
Residence
Nanny - Their home OR your home
Au Pair - Your home
Payment
Nanny - Regular payments
Au Pair - Housing, lower payments, and a small amount educational assistance
Work hours
Nanny - Full time or part-time depending on your needs.
Au Pair - Maximum of 45 hours a week
Vacation Time
Nanny - Can be agreed upon between the nanny and the homeowner
Au Pair - Examinations and study time must be taken into consideration
Services
Nanny - Provide most, or all, housekeeping and babysitting duties
Au Pair - Duties must be discussed with applicant prior to hiring
Where to find
Nanny - Sitter.com job posting, friends, family
Au Pair - U.S Approved Office or State Agency
Language
Nanny - Varies, usually proficient in English
Au Pair - Language proficiency depends on prior countries of residence. English is required.
Qualifications
Nanny - Often have several years of experience, CPR certified
Au Pair - Usually have minimal professional experience and often no certifications
