What Au Pairs Earn in the US—It’s Less Than You Think

For working parents seeking reliable, affordable childcare, an au pair can be an attractive option. Here’s how au pairs are paid and how they fit into the broader American childcare economy.

An au pair, a young person from a foreign country, provides live-in childcare services in exchange for room and board, plus cash and non-cash compensation toward their education.

Though au pairs are classified as cultural exchange participants under U.S. law, they often function more like full-time domestic workers. They provide up to 45 hours a week of childcare for a federally mandated weekly stipend of just $195.75—far below the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

But the other benefits of this arrangement for an au pair may make it well worth the seemingly low pay.

What Is an Au Pair and How Much Do They Actually Earn in the US?

Au pairs are nonimmigrant “exchange visitors” to the U.S. who live with a U.S.-based host family for 12 to 24 months while providing in-home childcare. In return, the host family provides room and board, an educational stipend, cash compensation for childcare services, and other benefits for the duration of their stay.

To qualify, au pairs must be between 18 and 26 years old and pursue formal post-secondary education at a U.S.-based institution. They’re placed through the exchange visitor (J-1) visa program. They can work up to 45 hours per week (30 if they are an EduCare participant), for a maximum of 10 hours per day.

Au pair responsibilities are typically limited to direct childcare and tasks related to childcare, such as transporting children to or from school and other activities, cleaning up after them, or preparing their meals.

The federally mandated $195.75 per week stipend for au pairs has remained unchanged since 2009, which means these individuals can provide reliable in-home care at a lower cost than a nanny working a similar schedule.

“This figure is derived from the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, [but] the calculation includes a [40%] deduction for room and board, which is provided by the host family,” explained Loren Locke, founder and managing attorney at Locke Immigration Law.

Locke added that some states have set laws that mandate au pairs to be paid in accordance with local minimum wage requirements, which may be higher or lower than the federal minimum.

Non-Cash Compensation and Benefits for Au Pairs

In addition to the weekly stipend, au pairs receive:

• Private room and full board (three meals a day).
• Up to $500 per year toward educational costs ($1,000 per year for EduCare participants, who must commit to 6 hours per week of formal education during their au pair exchange).
• At least two weeks paid vacation per 12-month term (prorated for six to nine-month extensions), plus one full weekend off each month/
• Health insurance that includes accident and sickness coverage (though not ACA-compliant and typically excludes preventive and reproductive care)
• Transportation costs and (if needed) car insurance.

Seann Malloy, founder and managing partner at Malloy Law Offices, LLC, noted that host families are required to provide these benefits to maintain J-1 visa compliance.

“Taking these factors into account, the State Department estimates that the value is worth more than $10,000 per year,” said Malloy.

How Do Au Pairs Compare to Nannies and Babysitters?

While au pairs and nannies both provide full-time childcare, key distinctions can be considered from a legal and financial standpoint. 

Au pairs provide temporary childcare under a J-1 visa, which expires at the end of their exchange program. As exchange visitors, au pairs do not receive the same protections as other childcare workers under U.S. labor laws, and federal guidelines determine their cash and non-cash compensation.

Nannies, on the other hand, provide childcare as a long-term career. U.S.-based nannies are therefore not only protected by U.S. labor laws but are also typically more highly compensated.

“Nannies specialize in childcare and are paid higher due to their expertise and experience in the field,” explained Danny Stone, a U.S.-based private educator and former nanny. “Nannies may [also] take on other roles within the household that are not expected with babysitters [or au pairs].”

Unlike au pairs, who always live in the host family’s home, nannies can have live-in or live-out arrangements. However, Stone explained, both live-in and live-out nannies typically receive (and expect) a living wage, along with benefits like PTO and sick time.

Hiring a babysitter may be the more financially sensible option for families who only need occasional childcare or a few hours of help each week.

“[Babysitters] are typically paid under the table, and the hours are not always regular,” said Stone. “These types of jobs are lower stress, tend to have lower hourly pay, and are often filled by younger people as a side job.”

Regardless of which type of childcare a family chooses, these expenses typically count toward the Child and Dependent Care Credit (IRS Publication 503).

Why Don’t Minimum Wage and Other Labor Laws Apply to Au Pairs?

Au pairs are not classified as employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Instead, they fall under the oversight of the U.S. Department of State as cultural exchange participants, which exempts them from traditional wage protections.

“The au pair program is … treated more like a cultural exchange,” said Malloy. “This difference enables the stipend to fall below the federal and state minimum wages.”

In 2023, the Department of State proposed significant changes to the au pair program, including greater labor protections. As Locke explained, these prospective updates included:

• Pay tied to local minimum wage laws
• A 40-hour weekly cap, with overtime pay for extra hours
• Mandatory overnight rest periods and limits on early/late shifts
• Guaranteed paid leave for time-off requests made four weeks in advance

These proposals were subject to an open comment period; as of the time of publication, no changes have been made to the program.

Misconceptions About Au Pair Arrangements

Au pair arrangements are legally complex, so both parties should thoroughly understand the program terms to ensure it’s the right fit and to avoid potential legal consequences for noncompliance.

According to Locke, one common misconception amongst host families is that the au pair is a “part of the family,” so rigid rules around work hours and duties don’t apply.

“Asking an au pair to perform heavy housework, manage household errands not related to the children, or work beyond the set hours (even for additional pay) is a violation of the program rules,” Locke emphasized.

Malloy added that misclassifying an au pair as a domestic worker or violating these hourly caps can result in a civil penalty or court hearing.

On the au pair side, Locke explained that there are two common misconceptions regarding income: that the stipend is tax-free, and that au pairs can take on side jobs like babysitting. Au pairs must file individual U.S. tax returns during their visa period through Form 1040-ES (NR) or a Form W-4 filed with their host family. Additionally, au pairs can only work for their assigned host families, since their visa is tied directly to that family.

“Working for anyone else … can lead to [the individual’s] termination from the au pair program and even removal from the United States,” said Locke.

The Au Pair Program’s Role in the U.S. Childcare Economy

Malloy described au pairs as occupying “a special niche for flexible, live-in care, especially for families where parental schedules are unpredictable.” 

“Legally, they do not replace professional childcare providers, but economically, they alleviate the pressure on a struggling childcare market by providing more personalized, easily accessible care,” he added.

An au pair’s hourly rate (based on the federal stipend) works out to approximately $4.35 an hour. Even with base agency fees—typically between $8,000 and $10,000, according to Malloy—and additional benefits, the overall cost is often less than what you’d pay for the equivalent amount of hours in daycare or with a nanny.

The average cost of a full-time daycare placement in the U.S. is $320 per week per child ($16,686 per year), while the median hourly pay for all U.S.-based childcare workers was $14.60 per hour as of 2023.

Beyond financial benefit, au pairs also provide families a unique opportunity to learn from and appreciate other cultures. According to Locke, whose family has participated in the au pair program, their au pairs “[offered] a window to the broader world by introducing our children to the languages, traditions, foods, and music of their home countries.”

The Bottom Line

For families seeking flexible, full-time childcare at a lower cost than traditional providers, au pairs can be a valuable solution. But they’re not a shortcut. The au pair program is a highly regulated system, and both host families and participants must fully understand the legal and financial obligations involved.

Whether you’re considering becoming an au pair or hosting one, clarity on the program’s rules and responsibilities is key to a successful experience.