Many people think Au Pairs are only for the rich and famous. This misconception could not be farther from the truth. In reality, many parents choose Au Pairs because they are often times less expensive than day care, since there are no additional fees for multiple children.

The starting salary for a live-in Au Pair is defined by the US State Department. The average hourly cost of Au Pair child care is $7.58/hour. Although there are some set compensation values, application and managing fees vary from each agency. goAUPAIR is currently waving many of those fees to make the Au Pair program even more affordable for American families:

The first fee is the Host Family Application Fee. It covers the cost of the screening, background checks and matching processes as well as the in-home interview conducted by your Local Area Representative. goAUPAIR is currently not charging  families an application fee. In fact,  with goAUPAIR, families have access to the Au Pair Preview which allows families to search, review and compare hundreds of available Au Pairs. Unlike any other search tool in the industry, the Au Pair Preview is available at no cost. Plus, our Placement Coordinators are available to help families in their search for the perfect fit for their family.

Once families have matched with an Au Pair, they will pay an initial fee and thirty days prior to the Au Pair’s arrival, they will pay the remaining fees. goAUPAIR automatically divides the program fees into two affordable installments for our Host Families. Families may also take advantage of our Flexible Choice Program which offers flexible payment plan options.

Other fees are based on the Host family’s location, the domestic airfare surcharge accounts for the difference in arrival and departure airfare.  It is based on the Au Pair’s departure airport and Host Family preferred arrival airport.  goAUPAIR has recently reduced rates and even waived fees in some locations.

All Au Pairs are required to complete six semester credit hours at a university during their year. For most Au Pair programs, families contribute $500 for a tuition allowance. This amount is paid either to your Au Pair or directly to the school.

The average total cost of an Au Pair is only about $6,000 a year, which compared to the cost of nannies and day cares, makes it truly a very affordable option. You can expect to pay up to $20+/hr for a nanny depending on your location and standards of living. Nannies may also charge more depending on the ages and number of children. Costs for typical day care still range from about $100 to $400 a week for full-time care. Infant care, adds an additional $25 to $100 to that total besides additional expenses. In many areas of the U.S., day care can cost up to $10,000 a year per child and account for 10 to 25 percent of a household's budget. (http://hr.blr.com/)

Besides being a flexible and most importantly, an affordable option for child care, Au Pairs offer what other forms of child care can’t: cultural exchange. Children can learn a new language for free with native speakers, while broadening their perspectives and world knowledge; which in today’s world is considered to be priceless.

The Au Pair program was launched in 1989 by the U.S. Department of State. It consists of bringing foreign nationals between the ages of 18-26 to live with a family in the United States, take university credits and overall improve their English skills, while offering child care and performing light housekeeping.

Because the Au Pair program is carefully regulated by the U.S. Department of State, Au Pair and Host Family candidates must work with a designated sponsor of the Au Pair Program. These sponsors are responsible for background screening and training, travel, visas and managing Au Pair and Host Families interactions.  goAUPAIR was one of the original six Au Pair sponsor agencies designated by the U.S. Department of State.

At our headquarters office, our Placement Coordinators meticulously review the preferences and qualifications of each Au Pair to begin sending Host Families information about numerous Au Pair candidates who best fit the Host Families’ needs. They also manage the Au Pair application process and once a match has been confirmed, your Placement Coordinator will begin working on the Au Pair’s arrival process.

We also work with Local Area Representatives all over the U.S. Their job is to provide local support to our Host Families and Au Pairs. Local Area Representatives perform the initial interview in the family’s home before their Au Pair arrives, they are also responsible for an orientation shortly after the Au Pair has arrived. In addition to maintaining monthly contacts, Local Area Representatives also hold Au Pair activities as well as provide Host Family Day Conferences which every Host Family is required to attend at least once each year.

Currently, goAUPAIR represents hundreds families across the U.S. and works with Au Pair agencies in over 50 countries around the world.

Russian Au Pairs are a great option for any family considering Au Pair child care. For years, Russian Au Pairs have been known as hard working and friendly care givers. Many Host Families prefer Au Pairs from Russia because they experience minimal cultural shock due to substantial westernization in Russia. Host Parents also enjoy Russia Au Pairs because many have good driving skills and have exposed to similar driving rules in their home country.

Russian Au Pairs are motivated to come to the United States to improve their English as this will increase their opportunities back home. The majority of our Au Pairs pursue college degrees prior to their arrival and the education component of the Au Pair program is important to these Au Pairs as well. It is common for Au Pairs from Russia to drive prior to their arrival in the U.S. They also have great linguistic abilities, it is common to speak other languages like Turkish, German, French, Danish, Finnish and even Arabic.

The majority of Russians live in urban areas so most Russian Au pair are accustomed to big cities. In the past, initiative and working independently was discouraged in place of conformity in Russia, for that reason Russian Au Pairs work best when given specific instructions. Friendship is very important in Russia and helping friends whenever possible is expected.

The main meal in Russia is eaten at lunch, not at dinner. Culturally, Russians serve more food than they are able to eat, which means prosperity in the home, Russian Au Pairs may instinctively make large lunches and smaller dinners.

While the number of Russians who own cars is increasing, public transportation is widely used in urban areas. Russian Au Pairs from urban areas may prefer to use public transportation instead of driving. As with most Au Pairs, Russian Au Pairs may be interested in obtaining a cell phone while in the U.S.

Our Russian Au Pairs placed in the U.S. have experience with a wide variety of age groups. Over 80 percent of these Au Pairs have experience with infants and with children over the age of 10, but all of our Au Pairs in the U.S. have experience with children 2-10 years old. This comes from many of our Au Pairs from Russia working as teachers prior to their arrival in the U.S.

For more information about our Russian Au Pairs, contact one of our Placement Coordinators.

Oh, the world cup...

The largest and most lucrative sporting event in the world, The FIFA World Cup Championship brings together 16 national soccer teams from all continents along with it the passion for the largest fan-following-sport on the planet.

Soccer used to be much more popular in Europe and South America, but because of the international influence America has experienced in the last decades by immigration and cultural exchange programs encouraged by the U.S. government, like the Au Pair program, the perspective on sports has also being influenced. According to Nielsen Media Research, the USA vs. Ghana World Cup match drew the largest U.S. soccer audience in history with 19.4 million viewers.

With the World Cup in full swing, Au Pairs are providing their Host Families with a new outlook on this global event. Since soccer has yet to gain the popularity in the U.S. that is seen in most other countries, we asked our Au Pairs to share some of their opinions about the World Cup.

Do you have any traditions surrounding the World Cup?
In my country (France) everyone watches it. We get together at home or at a bar and we watch it!
-Sona, an Au Pair from France currently placed in VA

What differences have you seen here in the U.S. and in your home country in the way the World Cup is viewed?
In Germany, everybody knows the player’s names.  People are on the streets cheering for them, singing hymns and really enjoy the world cup. All commercials on TV are somehow connected to soccer and there are a lot of places for public viewing, where hundreds of people are laughing, singing and - if it has a bad ending - crying together.
-Linnea, an Au Pair from Germany currently placed in NJ

What is your favorite part about the World Cup?

Does not matter which team you like, the end is always fun and passion.
-Claudia Susana, an Au Pair from Mexico currently placed in DE

Well I am a huge follower of the World Cup this year as it is being hosted by my home country!  It is the first time a Cup is being hosted on the African continent and I think that is huge.  Not to mention all the buildup of excitement our country has felt in the past few years as we prepared to host the cup.
-Uresha, an Au Pair from South Africa currently placed in NY

My favorite bit is the fact that it helps raise our economy and will hopefully help strengthen the bridge between races now that they have to work together.
-Chane, an Au Pair from South Africa currently placed in CT

Au Pairs from China are quickly becoming some of our most popular Au Pairs. As the third largest country in the world, China provides dependable and hard working Au Pairs, who are able to make a smooth transition to life in the United States.

Most Chinese Au Pairs from goAUPAIR have worked or volunteered as tutors for younger children, so they are well prepared for their Au Pair experience. Education is very important in Chinese culture; therefore, it is common for older classmates and friends to help teach the younger generation. The Chinese government is also taking new steps to increase opportunities for higher education. In fact, all of our Au Pairs from China who are currently placed in the U.S. were either enrolled in college or already held a degree prior to their arrival. The education component of the Au Pair program is often appealing to Chinese Au Pairs and reassuring for Host Parents to know their Au Pair is eager to learn and grow.

Another reason why Chinese Au Pairs are so popular is their English skills. English is now a compulsory subject in Chinese primary and secondary schools and it shows. Chinese Au Pairs usually have very good English skills before entering the program, which makes for clear communications between Host Families and Au Pairs. Fluency in English is a highly prized skill in the Chinese job market; which is one of the reasons Chinese Au Pairs choose to come to the U.S. instead of other countries.

Perhaps another reason why Au Pairs from China are so popular is due to the recent emphasis on increasing our international relations with China. While visiting China, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton encouraged young Chinese adults to strengthen their exchanges with their American counterparts.

"We need Chinese and Americans of all ages [and] professions...to get to know one another, to understand each other better, to connect and collaborate,” said Clinton.

“The relationship between our two countries will change the 21st century. We want it to be a positive, cooperative, and comprehensive relationship. We want it to be based on our people-to-people outreach and understanding. Our people represent our greatest resource in both of our countries. And encouraging their mutual engagement will better ensure that the United States and China make the most of this exciting time in our shared history.”

Whether families are looking for a chance to help their children learn Chinese or they want to help our country’s diplomatic relations, hosting a Chinese Au Pair is sure to be a great experience.

As states across the country continue to recovery from a global recession, some states and industries are bouncing back slower than others. The child care industry in Silicon Valley, CA is no exception. Nannies have taken a notable hit in hourly pay; however, some people argue they have no reason to complain about their hourly wages.

The Wall Street Journal reports that hourly rates in Silicon Valley have dropped to $18 to $20 an hour down from $18 to $25 just two years ago. However, some don’t think $18 to $20 sounds too little. A reader commented on the Wall Street Journal article and said, “25 bucks per hour? That is great salary. If I am able to intern in Big four, the highest salary for me is $25 per hour. They earn more than college graduates!”

Is the price of child care in Silicon Valley too high? Well, that depends what you consider high, but when you consider the hourly cost of a nanny compared to an Au Pair, the cost difference is tremendous. At only $7.58 an hour, Au Pairs are a bargain compared to Silicon Valley nannies. The savings are even more noticeable if you consider the cost of an Au Pair and Nanny for 45 hours a week - $341 for an Au Pair and $810 to $900 for a nanny.

Au Pairs and nannies are similar in many ways; however, there are some notable differences between them.  One of the greatest advantages of an Au Pair is the close relationship your Au Pair will have with your children. As a live in child care provider, your Au Pair will have a greater opportunity to bond with your children. You may be surprised how soon your children would consider your Au Pair an older brother or sister rather than just a caregiver.

Parents can also have peace of mind knowing the U.S. Department of State oversees and regulates the Au Pair program. There is no need to worry about your caregiver’s illegal citizenship status, withholding taxes, or background checks. The Au Pair program takes care of all those and more.

We’d love to hear from you. How does your child care rate compare with that of an Au Pair?

We are happy to announce our first donation to the Park City Education Foundation. As part of our commitment to bettering our local community, we made the decision to team up with the Park City Education Foundation in conjunction with a special offer for the Park City Local card. We committed to donate $100 to the Park City Education Foundation for every family that resides in Park City, UT and matches with an Au Pair from goAUPAIR.

“We are excited to have another family in Park City. We have a great cluster with Au Pairs from all over the world and a family with a German Au Pair will only add to the great diversity,” said Erin Mortensen, Local Area Representative for the Park City Area.  “It's nice because all our new families in Park City indirectly help the local community with goAUPAIR’s donation to the Park City Education Foundation."

We hope our donation will increase awareness and participation from the community to contribute to the Park City Education Foundation’s efforts. Due to recent budget cuts, Park City’s schools are looking for more private support. Tax dollars are just not enough. goAUPAIR appreciates the effort of non-profit organizations like the Park City Education Foundation and values their dedication to increase the quality of education in the community.

About the Park City Education Foundation

The Park City Education Foundation (PCEF) promotes and recognizes excellence in Park City schools. By using contributions, PCEF is able to support top-level educational programs and opportunities for students and teachers at all seven schools in the Park City School District. The Park City Education Foundation raises money to bridge the educational funding gap to measurably improve student achievement in math, science, languages and arts. 

For more information, visit the Park City Education Foundation.