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BONANZA TIME FOR £30,000 NANNIES

Nannies' earnings are Soaring

Thursday January 24,2008

By Sarah O’Grady

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NANNIES can now earn more than doctors, police constables, teachers and Army officers with some making more than £30,000 a year.

The average annual wage of a fully qualified nanny rose by an inflation-busting 7.4 per cent last year, according to research.

The largest increase was in London, where the average pay for daily nannies went up 14 per cent. But parents are becoming more choosy about whom they employ, and only staff with professional qualifications and extensive experience can expect the top salaries.

“It’s become clear to us over the past few years that parents’ attitude towards their childcare has changed and they are now demanding fully qualified professionals to look after their children,” said Andrew Myers, managing director of Nannytax, the payroll service which commissioned the survey.

“Because of this demand we are now seeing a much higher calibre of nannies who have had specialist training and experience ranging from behavioural management through to caring for children with disabilities. Nannies now have the realistic potential to earn solid salaries that compare favourably with other professions.”

We estimate that there are about 5,000 British nannies working abroad

Oliver Black, director of Tinies

A junior lawyer in a top London legal firm earns an average £33,000, doctors start on £20,741, a newly qualified secondary-school teacher is paid £19,161 and an Army officer earns from £27,068.

Professional British nannies have at least one year’s training, although those who attend Norland, the elite college in Bath, study for two years, plus a 12-month probationary placement.

Overseas salaries have also risen – one nanny was recently offered an £80,000-a-year package by a wealthy Russian family. Tinies, Britain’s largest childcare agency, said it placed 313 staff in jobs abroad last year – up 57 per cent on 2006.

“The popularity of Jo Frost on Supernanny is one of the reasons why British child carers are seen as the best, and historically we have the Mary Poppins image of the traditional British nanny,” said Oliver Black, director of Tinies.

“We are seeing parents, many from America and Russia, coming over to London for a week, taking a suite in a hotel and interviewing candidates, and we estimate that there are about 5,000 British nannies working abroad.”