Salary
Average Salary: $20,000
Expected Lifetime Earnings: $500,000
You love kids. You're practically a kid trapped in an adult's body, like Tom Hanks's character in Big.
But unfortunately, you aren't a kid magically trapped in an adult's body. You're an adult. And that means you need a way to feed your adult self. Hello, nanny-ing.
Well…maybe. Your salary as a nanny depends on a lot of variables. First, do you want to be a nanny or an au pair? As an au pair, you won't be getting that cool thing that adults get called a "salary." But you will get a weekly stipend around $140, an educational supplement for $500, and room and board. The pay's a little better than your weekly candy allowance you had when you were a kid, we'll grant you that. But not a whole lot better.
As a nanny, you'll get a little more than chump change. Expect a salary of about $26,000 per year (source). If you have less than two years' experience or live in a cheaper city, you'll be earning at the lower end of the spectrum...maybe as low as $14,000 (source).
As a nanny, and as a member of a union, you'll also get some useful things like paid holidays off, health insurance, and at least two weeks of paid vacation each year. So you won't be barefoot. But you sure won't be flying first class, soaking in gold-plated Jacuzzis, or dining at all the finest restaurants.