Evaluating Your Job Offer

Understanding the Full Picture

The private service market has fluctuated dramatically in every city in the country since the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving many staff wondering if the desired rates they’re seeking are realistic, if they need to accept a job at a lower hourly rate than they would have previously considered, or if their qualifications match up to some of the “shiny” and highly competitive jobs that are still coming on the market. While in some markets, overall salary rates have gone down substantially from their 2021 peaks, those shiny, unicorn jobs are offering higher comp packages than ever, particularly with the rise in popularity of ROTA schedules for nannies.

Let’s be real—when considering a position at any stage, from the job ad to the written offer, it’s tempting to focus all your energy on the highest-paying one. But here’s the thing: the hourly rate alone, or even the annual salary, isn’t the whole story! To really understand what you’re being offered, it’s important to step back and look at the whole package. This isn’t about settling for less; in fact, it’s about the opposite. It’s about figuring out what matters to you when it comes to your total compensation package and finding the role that aligns with the life you want to live!

Your total compensation includes more than just your base pay. Perks like housing, healthcare, bonuses, and other benefits can significantly impact your day-to-day life and long-term well-being. A slightly lower salary could be worth way more if it comes with the right mix of benefits that cut down on your costs or offer extra financial security. When weighing offers, don’t just go for the highest number. Look at everything the role offers and ensure it matches your financial and lifestyle needs.

Remember: the best job isn’t always the one with the biggest paycheck; it’s the one that supports you as a whole! So, when that next offer comes in, take a moment to look at everything—because the whole picture will help you make the best decision for you.

First Things First:

The Math

The main area where we see candidates struggle to identify whether or not a job is the right one for them is trying to discern, based on the hourly rate posted in the job description, what the annual gross and net pay will be.

Calculating overtime and guaranteed hours in a position often has a significant impact on the annualized compensation. Too often, we see candidates turning down jobs advertised at $40/hr because they currently make $42/hr in a position that guarantees 40 hours per week. However, the math breakdown leads to a substantially different annual compensation, as shown below:

$42/hr x 40 hours/week = $1,680 weekly, $87,360 annually
$40/hr x 40 hours/week = $1,600 weekly, $60/hr (1.5x overtime pay) x 10 hours/week = $600 overtime weekly pay = $2,200 weekly pay, $114,400 annually

Whether or not the extra ten hours of work each week is worth an additional $27,000 in earnings is a personal decision – but without running the numbers or being fixated on an hourly rate, candidates can often leave tens of thousands of dollars on the table.

Location:

Where Your Adventure Begins

The job’s location isn’t just about where you’ll be working; it’s about where you’ll be living, exploring, and building your life. If the position is in a city or region you’ve always wanted to experience, that’s already a huge plus. Moving to a place where you feel excited and happy can significantly improve your overall satisfaction with the role. If you can, try to research and explore the city when traveling to a new location for a working trial.

Location affects everything else we’ll talk about, too—taxes, cost of living, and the perks of the job. Whether it’s a bustling city, a serene countryside, or a coastal town, where you work plays a role in shaping your experience and how well the rest of the compensation package fits into your life. So, consider where you want to live, who you want to be close to, and what kind of dollar amount you can put on those goals because it’s a big part of the overall offer. While $150k gets you a much different lifestyle in Arkansas than in the Bay Area, there’s typically a reason certain locations have a higher (or lower) cost of living – based on who and how many other people want to live there.

Housing and Cost of Living:

A Key Part of the Package

Once you’ve got the location in mind, let’s talk about housing—because this can play a significant role in how you experience that adventure. If the employer offers housing as part of the compensation package, whether it’s a private apartment, on-property accommodations, or a housing stipend to offset high rent–that’s a significant benefit you’ll want to consider.

Housing or a housing stipend doesn’t replace a fair wage, but it can help offset expenses, especially in cities or regions where the cost of living is higher.

Having housing provided can save you thousands of dollars a month in high-rent areas. This means you get to maintain your quality of life in an exciting new place without needing a significantly higher wage to cover living expenses. It’s not just about what you’re getting paid—it’s also about what you’re not paying out. When evaluating the job offer, think about how having housing included eases both the financial pressure and stress of needing to find a new home in an unknown city or how a housing stipend might allow you to enjoy living in a high-cost area without breaking the bank. It’s also important to factor in the quality of the housing – most staff prefer private, separate accommodations to a room or apartment attached to the home, as they can create a better sense of professional boundaries and better work/life balance during your off-hours.

Healthcare

One of the most valuable components of many compensation packages is healthcare assistance. Many employers offer monthly stipends for healthcare costs, often ranging from $300 to $550. This stipend is tax-free, which means you’re saving money directly on something you’d otherwise have to budget for. A tax-free stipend is a payment that is not subject to income tax, which means you get to keep more of the money you receive.

When comparing job offers, it’s important to understand the full scope of the healthcare benefits being offered. While some employers provide a healthcare stipend, others may offer comprehensive healthcare plans that cover much more. If a job includes full health insurance—covering medical, dental, vision, and even life insurance—this can be a massive financial benefit. A fully paid healthcare package can often be worth far more than a monthly stipend, especially if it includes top-tier coverage or low out-of-pocket expenses. These types of benefits provide long-term security and peace of mind, and they’re an invaluable part of your overall compensation, often saving you thousands of dollars annually. Be sure to ask for details about what exactly is included, as it can be one of the most valuable parts of your package.

Bonuses and Travel Pay:

The Extras That Add Up

Beyond annualized base compensation, many positions offer bonuses that can significantly enhance your overall earnings. Bonuses are often tied to performance, tenure, or even holiday gifts, and they can really add value to your total compensation. Be sure to ask what kind of bonuses are offered and how they’re structured—whether it’s a percentage of your annualized base compensation or a fixed amount. These extras can provide a nice financial boost throughout the year.

If travel is part of the role, travel pay is another important factor to consider. Many employers offer daily travel rates to cover the extra responsibilities and time you’ll be away from home, dedicated to work while on the road. These rates can vary, but knowing how they fit into the offer helps you see the full scope of compensation. While bonuses and travel pay shouldn’t replace a fair base annualized base compensation, they can be valuable additions that make a meaningful difference in your total earnings.

Compensation Tied to Experience:

Understanding Your Place in the Range

When it comes to hourly rates, many job offers are structured around experience and qualifications. Employers typically have an hourly rate range in mind, and the higher end of that range is usually reserved for candidates who not only meet but exceed their expectations—covering both the must-have and nice-to-have skills for the role.

If you’re on the lower end of that hourly rate range, it doesn’t mean you’re undervalued, but it could reflect where you currently stand with your experience in relation to what the employer is looking for. This is an important distinction to make, as it’s not about your worth but about matching the position’s specific needs.

That said, it is essential to ensure that the base hourly rate offered still reflects a comfortable living wage for the role. Benefits like housing, healthcare, and bonuses should add value to your overall package—not be used to make up for a lower base wage. The goal is to see the full picture, where your experience aligns with the compensation, and the extras help create a balanced and rewarding offer.

Tax Considerations

State taxes can substantially impact your take-home pay, particularly in higher-tax states like California, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Virginia, Hawaii, and Oregon. These states tend to reduce your paycheck more than states like Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming, where there is no state income tax. At first glance, a job in a no-tax state may seem like the better financial choice, but it’s important to consider the full scope of the compensation package.

In higher-tax states, employers often provide additional benefits, such as housing or other perks, which can help offset the tax burden. This means that even if you’re paying more in state taxes, you might still come out ahead with housing provided or other lifestyle benefits included. So, instead of focusing solely on the annualized base compensation or the tax rate, make sure to look at how these factors work together with the full package, including any benefits that can help balance the higher taxes.

Professional Development:

Investing in Your Growth

A professional development stipend is another valuable benefit that can significantly enhance your career. If the employer offers support for continued education, certifications, or even attendance at industry conferences, they’re investing in your future growth.

This adds value to your current role and helps you build skills and credentials to benefit your long-term career. Whether you’re looking to expand your expertise in childcare, gain new qualifications, or stay up-to-date with industry trends, a professional development stipend allows you to keep learning and growing. It’s a benefit that shows the employer is committed to supporting your career, both now and in the future.

Retirement Benefits:

Preparing for the Future

One of the most valuable long-term benefits an employer can offer is retirement contributions. If an employer provides a 401(k) match or another form of retirement savings plan, they’re helping you build a secure financial future. This is something that can provide real peace of mind, knowing you’re setting yourself up for the years ahead.

Retirement benefits might not feel like a big deal right now, especially if you’re focused on the day-to-day aspects of the job, but they are a critical part of your financial well-being down the road. An employer that invests in your retirement provides more than just a job—they offer support far beyond your time with them. This can add significant value to your overall package, giving you both short-term rewards and long-term security.

Work-Life Balance and Wellness:

Finding Support Beyond the Paycheck

In addition to housing and healthcare, there are often other benefits that may not immediately stand out but can greatly impact your overall well-being and job satisfaction. Paid time off, wellness stipends, and similar perks are designed to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance and take care of yourself.

For instance, a wellness stipend can help cover costs like gym memberships, fitness classes, or even therapy, giving you extra support for your mental and physical health. When it comes to paid time off—whether it’s vacation days, sick leave, or personal time—these benefits are essential for maintaining balance and avoiding burnout. While these perks might not feel as immediate as a paycheck, they add up over time and play a major role in how supported and fulfilled you feel in your role.

Everyday Perks:

The Unexpected Extras

Sometimes, a job offer comes with extra perks that may not seem like a big deal at first, but over time, they can add up. Think home gym access, off-duty car access, or even access to fully stocked gourmet kitchens with private chefs. These kinds of perks don’t replace proper compensation, but they do enhance your lifestyle in ways that might make a difference. If you value wellness, having access to a home gym or private chef could be a game changer for your ability to balance your priorities at home and work. Access to a car for personal use? That’s a huge win if it saves you from the costs of maintaining one of your own. These perks are the little bonuses that can make life more enjoyable and flexible.

Travel Perks:

Work Meets Adventure

For staff who love to travel, being offered the chance to join an employer on their trips can be an exciting bonus. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or an international adventure, travel perks can add some serious fun to your job. While it’s important to remember that you’re still working during these trips, many employers will try to give you some time off to explore the destination on your own. In some cases, they may even cover extra fun activities or excursions as part of the perk.

Additionally, some employers offer a really great bonus—access to their airline miles or points. This means you could book personal travel during your off time using those points, adding even more adventure to your downtime. While travel perks definitely bring excitement and new experiences to the role, they should always be viewed as bonuses—never as replacements for fair pay or proper working conditions. If adventure is your thing, these perks can make your job feel all the more fulfilling.

Luxury Perks:

Special Access and VIP Treatment

Some employers might offer you access to luxury events or exclusive experiences—whether it’s attending a gala, going backstage at a concert, or enjoying VIP treatment at high-end events. These perks can definitely add a layer of excitement and exclusivity to your role, but they also come with a level of trust and responsibility. Being invited into these spaces means that you’re expected to be discreet and professional at all times. While these opportunities can make the job feel extra special, it’s important to remember that they’re still just perks—they should never replace the core compensation or working conditions you deserve. Enjoying these unique experiences is a bonus, but your pay and job expectations should always reflect your value as a professional.

Final Thoughts:

Benefits vs. Perks—Seeing the Full Picture

When it comes to evaluating a job offer, it’s important to look beyond the annualized base compensation and understand how benefits and perks fit into the whole package. Things like housing, healthcare, bonuses, and retirement aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re core parts of your total compensation package. These benefits can offset costs and boost the value of your job offer, especially when considering relocation, cost of living, and state taxes. They should be factored into the full financial picture.

Then there are the perks—things like travel opportunities, exclusive events, and luxury experiences. These fun extras can make the job more enjoyable but aren’t meant to replace fair pay or benefits. They’re just that—perks that add a little something extra to the experience.

So, take your time and weigh both the benefits and perks, but remember that the benefits are what truly shape your financial and personal well-being. You deserve to know your worth, and understanding the full scope of what’s being offered will help you make the best decision for you.

By Shenandoah Davis, CEO + Co-Founder of Adventure Nannies

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