Nannies earn up to £22,000 plus perks, says report

Nannies are earning salaries of up to £22,000 and receiving perks such as the use of private jets and country cottages, a study suggested yesterday.

Nannies are earning salaries of up to £22,000 and receiving perks such as the use of private jets and country cottages, a study suggested yesterday.

Shortages of child carers mean that salaries in central London have risen to an average of £22,000, compared with £15,000 in 1997. The average wage for nannies outside the capital is now £15,000, a 30 per cent increase over 1998.

The study, by the magazine Nursery World and the payroll service Nannytax, surveyed 3,000 employers of nannies and examined questionnaires from 62 of the biggest nanny agencies in Britain.

Shortages have arisen from nannies being asked to work longer and more anti-social hours, the report says.

Liz Roberts, editor of Nursery World, said: "There is a big shortage of child care of all kinds at the moment - even the Government recognises that. Parents are asking for more anti-social hours and a lot of nannies do not want to do that.

"A nursery-care worker could go and work in a nursery where they know they will go home at a normal time each night. A nanny used to know they would work regular hours, but now they might be asked to work only after school hours."

In outer London and the Home Counties a nanny can now earn more than £17,700, a 14 per cent increase since 1999. Nannies in these generally more affluent areas can also expect perks to go with the job.

Ms Roberts said: "The perks exist more in London and the Home Counties. In the country, a nanny will often have the use of a horse, while a car and a phone are getting pretty standard for all nannies."