U.S. au pair agency with the largest selection of au pairs from 30+ countries.
Your au pair agency of choice since 1989
Welcome an au pair as part of your family and your budget
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Childcare comparison
While the cost of hiring a nanny or enrolling in daycare varies, hosting an au pair provides a consistent, flexible, and affordable solution.
Au pair
Nanny
Daycare
Flexible live-in care
Affordable cost
Personalized care
Cultural exchange
varies
varies
No waitlist
An older sibling, a mentor, a helper
Find the right au pair for your family
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SofyItaly, 21
2,000+ hrs childcare experience
Competitive alpine skiier
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AmberSouth Africa, 22
Special needs experience
Cares for brothers and cousins
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VillemoSweden, 19
2,000+ hrs childcare experience
Advanced English level
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BraianArgentina, 22
Advanced English level
Loves singing, dancing and theater
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KarlaMexico, 21
Worked as a summer nanny
Studies architecture
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PaulaSpain, 21
7,000+ hrs childcare experience
Loves dancing salsa and bachata
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DanielaColombia, 24
Studying to become a nurse
Volunteers for at-risk teen center
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EmaSlovenia, 22
Dance teacher for 3-6 year olds
Loves hiking, cycling and skiing
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ArdenisGermany, 20
Advanced English level
Played club soccer for 4+ years
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OleSouth Africa, 19
Infant qualified
Enjoys cooking and baking
Specialized matching resources built for busy families
Flexible childcare from $1,7851 per month
Annual program fee2
$11,245
Paid to Cultural Care. Based on a 52 week program.
Minimum weekly au pair stipend3
$195.75
Paid directly to your au pair.
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Host family support: from application to arrival and beyond
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Local Childcare Consultant
Your Local Childcare Consultant (LCC) is your go-to for in-person support. They conduct in-home interviews, facilitate orientations, and organize events. LCCs are members of your community and offer families and au pairs year-round guidance.
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Cultural Care staff
Our office team—which includes Matching Specialists, the Host Family Preparation team, and Customer Relations Managers—is available to ensure every step of your Cultural Care journey is easy and rewarding.
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Emergency services
We provide 24/7 emergency assistance, so you can be confident that help is always available. Your LCC and Customer Relations Manager will also work with you to offer personalized solutions when needed.
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Download our app
The easiest way to find the right au pair for you
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Hear from our host families
“We really can’t place our finger on the exact moment Camila felt part of our family, because our boys fell in love with her almost immediately.
She earned their mutual respect with quiet, kind, and calm authority. We now eat arepas and listen to Guayacán, a Colombian orchestra. We are actively planning our family vacation to the coffee region of Colombia, as well!”
Nicole, host mom in CA
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“For any family who wants a unique approach to childcare and to learn and host someone from a different country and culture, this program has no match.
The support that Cultural Care provided during the application, vetting and matching process made us feel at ease with the concept of having an au pair, and our experience with Cultural Care has always been one of high quality.”
Brandon, host dad in DE
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“Prior to having an au pair, I worried about things like having someone we didn’t know living in our home, will our au pair be engaged with our children, etc.
All I can say is I wish we had taken the leap of faith YEARS ago. It’s such an amazing experience.”
Danielle, host mom in CA
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“This program has been the best thing for us as we moved to Minneapolis with little family to help, and we will be in it for years to come!
We have another pair of hands in the house to help out with dinner and pitching in around the house, but we also have a person in the house who loves our kids just as much as we do. When our kids are raised and off, they will remember having an au pair as a wonderful and unique part of their childhood.”
Stephanie, host mom in MN
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“There is nothing more magical than watching your kids get excited about a new culture, learn languages, and love someone as much as they love their au pair.
Having an au pair is flexible, we get to share and experience culture, and it is always dependable. We can’t imagine doing it any other way!”
Kara, host mom in CA
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What our customers are saying
Questions?
Our team is here to help.
How will hosting an au pair benefit my family?
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Au pair program FAQs
Cultural Care Kids First Foundation
We create a brighter future for kids all over the world by providing opportunities that enrich children's lives.
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1Monthly minimum average cost to host an au pair, regardless of the number of children the au pair cares for. This cost includes the agency fees and the minimum weekly stipend paid directly to the au pair for 52 weeks, including 2 weeks of paid vacation. Does not include incidental costs of hosting an au pair, such as meals, insurance, and other amenities. Read more about our au pair program pricing.
2https://neurocolor.com/
3Au pairs pay a smaller program fee to the foreign company that screens them, but no portion of that fee is used to pay for the costs of their international airfare or domestic U.S. transportation. Au pairs may be charged additional fees in the event of special travel requests.
4The U.S. Department of State has determined that au pairs are required to receive from their host families at least $195.75 per week. Host families and au pairs are free to discuss and agree to compensation higher than the required stipend minimum; however, this cannot be in exchange for the au pair exceeding the regulatory limits on working hours (10 hours per day; 45 hours per week) or performing duties beyond childcare-related tasks. The State Department formula is based on the federal minimum wage and applicable room and board credits. Any change in the federal minimum wage or the applicable credits will result in an increase in this minimum stipend amount. Please note, should a family extend beyond the first year, they would be responsible for the stipend for each week of the extension term.
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