When it comes to childcare, families have a lot to consider. From daycare to nannies and family assistance, options vary widely in price and quality.
One option that is often overlooked is au pairs. While they may cost more than other forms of childcare, they can provide unique benefits for the entire family.
Upfront Placement Fee
While au pairs aren’t the most affordable childcare option for a single child in the Bay Area (or many other costly places), they can be a more budget-friendly solution than daycare. But before you decide to host an au pair and pay the upfront placement fee, it’s essential to understand the upfront costs.
Now, how much do you pay an au pair? Au pair compensation typically includes room and board, a stipend, and opportunities for cultural and educational experiences as part of the arrangement with the host family. Depending on your country and program option, you must pay a one-time match processing fee (new au pairs or repeat host families), a program fee, and a weekly stipend for your au pair. In addition to these fees, an airfare surcharge will be added for au pairs traveling from certain countries.
Your au pair must also participate in a credited language course in the program. Host families are responsible for paying their stipend toward these classes. Some programs may also require au pairs to purchase additional insurance coverage. It’s always best to consult your Program Manager about these specifics and other different cost components that may come up during your au pair stay.
Match Processing Fee
A host family will pay a small, one-time program fee to work with a federally regulated au pair program. This is a necessary expense to ensure families are correctly matched with an au pair. The programs sponsor the visas, do all interviews and background checks, provide au pairs with travel documents, arrange their flights and training, and support them during their time in their family’s home.
Families also contribute to their au pair’s educational component stipend of a hundred dollars per month for the EduCare and Extraordinaire programs and the EduCare Plus program. This is an additional stipend to their regular pocket money and a separate amount from their education allowance, which can be used towards cultural classes or language courses.
In addition, many hosts add a little more to their au pair’s pocket money each month to cover items like particular toiletries or a cable box in their room, gas money for driving the children to school and au pair meetings, and a car to get around town (or even for their excursions). Considering these extra expenses, au pairs still average cheaper than daycare or hiring a nanny.
International Flight
An au pair is an excellent solution for families who need flexible, affordable childcare. They can help with cooking and cleaning and save you time from rushing around to prepare the kids for school, practice, and outings. Au pairs often form close, supportive relationships with children and have been shown to impact early brain development positively.
Unlike babysitters or daycare centers, au pairs live with their host families and are required to have one and a half days off each week and at least one whole weekend off each month. This is especially important for families who have young children with busy schedules or whose children are involved in extracurricular activities.
Host families also must provide their au pair with a private room, free meals, and a weekly stipend that varies by country. Additionally, the program requires that hosts contribute towards their au pair’s language studies. Depending on your location, this could be an Uber/Lyft credit, car payment, or other means to ensure your au pair has transportation to and from classes.
Au Pair Stipend
As part of their program, au pairs are paid a weekly stipend tied to the minimum wage of their host country. They are also provided a private bedroom, meals, a monthly weekend off, and two weeks of paid vacation. They may take up to a maximum of 10 hours per day to care for children, but they are not meant to be a substitute for a live-in nanny.
This stipend and other program costs are typically considered “wages” for tax purposes, though there are exceptions. Both host families and au pairs must understand the arrangement before it starts so there are no surprises when it comes time to file taxes.
For many families, au pairing can be less expensive than hiring a live-in nanny if they need 45+ hours per week of childcare. But, families must compare all the fees and costs before deciding on one type of childcare. This will help ensure they get the best possible value from their au pair program.
Additional Fees
An au pair is more than just a childcare provider; she is a temporary family member who provides a unique cultural exchange experience. They share their home countries’ traditions, language, and culture with your children.
While a nanny can cost over a thousand dollars annually, an au pair program is much more affordable. That’s because the programs sponsor au pairs visas, do interviews and background checks, and provide a support system when they are in your home (au pair meetings, events, etc).
It’s important to remember that while the room and board fees are standard, the weekly stipend is not. It is up to host families to decide how much to pay their au pair beyond the minimum wage. Some additional expenses include mobile phone/electronic device costs, personal car use/automobile insurance, toiletries, and a contribution to any educational courses they want their au pair to take. These additional expenses can add up quickly and make the difference between an au pair and other forms of child care. However, they are typically less flexible than nanny or daycare options.
