Hosting an au pair: All about the au pair stay (2024)

FAQs

How much do host families pay au pairs? ›

The average cost of Au Pair program for Host Families is as follow: Au Pair cost per week: 80 - 370 USD. Au Pair cost per month: 360 - 1650 USD. Au Pair cost per year: 4320 - 19800 USD.

For the first few days it felt like we had a house guest, and we did a little tiptoeing around. But we quickly decided that in order to feel comfortable in our own home and truly get to know our au pair, we would have to be ourselves. This includes quirks, fights, and anything else, no matter how awkward it might be!

Au pairs spend a year as fully integrated members of the host family and have the opportunity to extend their time up to an additional 12 months. The mutually beneficial relationship gives host parents live-in childcare coverage while offering au pairs a unique opportunity to be fully immersed in American culture.

Therefore, Au-Pairs are not responsible for the following tasks: Cleaning private areas in the household (e.g. the bedroom or bathroom of the Host Parents) Car wash. Doing the laundry for the whole family.

Au Pair: Au pairs tend to be a cost-effective option, often more budget-friendly than full-time nannies.

Au Pairs become part of the family, and not just a hired hand, through caring for the children and cooking for them, cleaning up after them, helping them with homework, taking them to and from school and other activities, and so much more.

Under no circ*mstances should the au pair sleep in the same room as the host children on a daily basis. Only in exceptional cases, such as in a vacation or holiday flat could this option be acceptable.

For your au pair, it's a good idea to have a curfew in place for their off-duty hours. Many host families set a curfew for weeknights and a separate curfew for weekends. Others have the same curfew every day of the week. Still others play it by ear with a “text-when-you're-heading-home” agreement.

What is the Two Year Home Residency Requirement? Some immigrants who come to the US on a J-1 visa are required to return to their country of nationality for two cumulative years before they can petition for permanent residence from abroad or adjust status from within the US.

Do au pairs pay for their food? ›

Host families are required to give au pairs food, lodging and $500 toward educational programming, and the agency that she signed up with assured her that her earnings would be enough to cover her other needs, including travel.

The new rules reduce the work week to 40 hours, with overtime pay for anything over that amount, and schedules must be set ahead of time. Any changes would require signoff from the au pair's sponsor agency; 14 agencies are authorized by the State Department to run the program.

Most higher profile recent controversies involve wages. Au pair companies set au pair wages at $195.75 per week for 45 hours of work, or $4.35 an hour—a number that comes from subtracting 40 percent from federal minimum wage for room and board.

The officially permitted length of an au pair stay varies from host country to host country. This also can be affected by visa stipulations. Typically au pair stays last between 3 and 12 months.

The au pair pays the costs of their journey to the host family, whether that's by plane, train or car. We advise, however, that the host family pays in part or for all of the return journey. In most countries, the au pair must pay for their language course.

Host Families can receive a monthly stipend of $1,000* (Varies by state) to assist with their expenses. Boost your monthly stipend and earn other rewards by referring qualified host families matched with a student.

Costs for the au pair

Host families, on their part, must pay a Premium Membership to establish personal contact with au pairs. The au pair pays the costs of their journey to the host family, whether that's by plane, train or car. We advise, however, that the host family pays in part or for all of the return journey.

The U.S. Department of State has determined that au pairs are required to receive from their host families at least $195.75 per week.