When considering a career path, most people start by reviewing their interests and what they have always been passionate about. For some, this passion may be caring for others, which may lead them to a career in healthcare. While others may love building things or solving problems, which may lead to architecture or a career in logistics management. For those who have always been passionate about working with children, some career options include teaching, coaching, or counseling. However, if you have an interest in working with children, but are not so keen on pursuing a traditional teaching role, there may be another option for you- a professional nanny. In this article, we will discuss what a professional nanny is and how you can become one here in the United States.
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What is a Professional Nanny in the USA?
Before we get into the ins and outs of pursuing a career as a nanny in the USA, let’s look at what a professional nanny is in the country. In the United States, a professional nanny is someone who cares for one or more children in their home while the child(ren)’s parents work. While a nanny is responsible for providing direct care for the children they work with, including diaper changes, feeding, playing, and helping with school-related activities, nannies are also often tasked with other duties in the home, such as cooking, cleaning, and household errands. As with other professionals, such as teachers and guidance counselors, nannies should not only safeguard “their children,” but also provide support for the child’s development.
Difference between a nanny and a babysitter
So, what is the difference between a nanny and a babysitter? While there is some overlap between the duties and other aspects of a babysitter and nanny’s role, the main distinction between the two seems to be the schedule, or more specifically, the number of hours and their role in the home. Generally, a family will opt to hire a babysitter to cover hours where the parents’ schedules overlap or to provide much-needed breaks for said parents. For this reason, babysitters will usually only work part-time hours whereas a nanny is contracted to work for a certain number of hours and length of time (i.e., 40-50 hours a week for a year). In some cases, nannies live with the families they work with, while other nannies will simply work their outlined hours and return home at the end of the day. Additionally, nannies tend to be more involved in organizing day-to-day schedules. What’s more, professional nannies can also opt to specialize in certain areas of the field. For example, a quick internet search will turn up results for certified newborn and infant nannies, night nannies, and traveling nannies.
What are the requirements to become a professional nanny?
While there are no official regulations for becoming a nanny in the United States, most organizations and families will require that you have a high school diploma or GED, a driver’s license with a clean record, experience in childcare, CPR certification, and a clear background check. However, if you meet all of these requirements, and are interested in obtaining more training while adding skills to your resume, there are additional professional certifications that you can obtain. Some of these certifications include:
- Certified Nanny and Childcare Provider (NCP)
- Certified Newborn and Infant Care Professional (NICP)
- Certified Professional Nanny and Childcare Provider (PNCP)
As with the general requirements of becoming a nanny, each of these certifications requires that you be either 18 or 21 years of age with a high school diploma/GED, CPR and first aid certified, a certain number of hours of experience in childcare, and a passing score on the certification test. If you’re not immediately eligible for one of these certifications, there are other programs available that will help prepare you to become a nanny, such as positive discipline and infant and toddler development courses.
How much are professional nannies paid?
According to Indeed.com, the average pay for a professional nanny in the United States is $49, 979 a year, which is about $21.79 an hour. Of course, there are certain factors, such as location, experience, and education, that play into how much you will earn. The two states with the highest pay for professional nannies are California and New York at an average of just over $28 an hour, with Seattle in Washington state and Chicago in Illinois following close behind at about $25 an hour. Some other factors to consider when calculating how much you can expect to earn as a nanny in the States are other compensations you may receive in addition to your base pay. As mentioned above, some nannies live with the families with whom they work, so naturally, pay is adjusted based on the fact that housing and utility costs are no longer a concern. Moreover, if an employer opts to also pay for transportation, this factor also impacts the base pay you can expect.
Can I Become a Professional Nanny in the US without any Experience?
If you’re interested in becoming a professional nanny in America, but don’t have any experience (or very little) in working with children, there are still some options for gaining relevant experience that will help you land your first nanny job:
- Take child care training and development courses: There are several online courses available that will teach you the basics of child care and child development as well as similar subjects. While employers do value direct experience, gaining formal education in the field will show your dedication to growing in your career.
- Volunteer: Another great way to get relevant experience is to volunteer at a local daycare center or camp. While you’ll likely have to pass a background check and provide personal references, you’ll get the opportunity to work with children of all ages, which will help bolster your resume when later applying to become a nanny.
- Sign up for CPR and first aid training: Most agencies and families will want you to be CPR and first aid certified, so getting this beforehand will show your dedication to starting your career as a nanny.
- Look for opportunities abroad: There are lots of opportunities to travel to other countries to work as an au pair. Not only will you gain firsthand experience in working with children, but you’ll also have the chance to experience (international experience) living in other countries.
- Sell your skills and list your services: Some people opt for listing their services on sites, such as LinkedIn or Care.com. On sites like these, you can play up your natural talents, such as being nurturing and organized, all while reaching potential clients.
- Ask for character references: Character references will highlight your strengths to any new employer. Via character references, previous employers will share qualities that highlighted your success in your position within their company. If you don’t have any previous work experience, a teacher, or tutor can also provide a character reference on your behalf.
What are the Benefits and Disadvantages of being a Professional Nanny?
Just as with any other profession, there are some aspects to being a professional nanny that are ambivalent. Some things to weigh out as you consider a career as a professional nanny are:
- Time commitment: Nannies typically commit to long-term arrangements with the families they live and work with. Depending on other life circumstances, this time commitment may or may not be appealing.
- Close bonds with the family: If you’re a nurturing person, forming close relationships with the children and family you work with probably doesn’t sound like a bad thing. However, when it comes time to move on, it may be a very emotional experience.
- Perks of the job: While each job will include different arrangements and benefits, some employers will offer perks, such as housing and transportation, while others may offer to pay for vacation travel expense with the family as you continue to work with “your children.” Whether or not these perks are appealing to you will depend on your life circumstances.
- Lots of responsibility: Working closely with children of all ages is an important job that comes with a great deal of responsibility. For some, the level of responsibility is rewarding and fulfilling while others may find the pressure to be too much.
Conclusion
In closing, a professional nanny in the USA is an individual who works closely with children to safeguard and nurture them as they grow and develop. In addition to direct work with children, professional nannies are also pivotal in planning and organizing household activities. While there are no specific regulations for nannies here in the US, many organizations and families will require certain criteria, such as a high school diploma or equivalency, a clean driving record, experience in child care, CPR, and clear background checks. In more recent years, programs began to offer professional certifications for nannies here in the US. These certifications have allowed nannies across the country to distinguish their profession while helping to advance their careers. While previous experience in caring for children is highly valuable, there are other means to stand out as a valuable nanny applicant, such as volunteering, taking child care courses, and obtaining CPR and first aid certifications. Lastly, while a career as a professional nanny can be very rewarding, some things to consider are the time commitment, close bonds with the family, the perks you may earn, and the level of responsibility included in being a child caretaker. So, now that you’ve learned all about becoming a professional nanny here in the good ole’ USA, do you think this career is right for you?
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