May 15, 2013 · 3 min read

Comparing au pair agencies: Understanding au pair agency costs

Key takeaways

Au pair agencies are federally regulated, meaning all programs follow the same U.S. Department of State rules and requirements.
Agency fees cover more than matching, and often include screening, training, visa support, and ongoing program oversight.
Weekly au pair stipends are standardized, with costs set by the government rather than individual programs.
Cultural Care offers savings including a military discount and referral bonuses.

This is the first article in our three-part series comparing au pair agencies. Not all au pair agencies are the same, and we hope to help you understand some of the primary differences between them so that you can choose the best au pair agency for your family. This article will cover differences in au pair agencies’ costs.

Au pair agencies—the basics

The U.S. Department of State officially recognizes 14 au pair agencies. According to their website, au pair agencies or sponsors are required to screen host families and au pairs, provide au pairs with training and orientation and ensure that au pairs do not work more than 45 hours a week and 10 hours per day. However, au pair agencies are not all the same. Agencies can vary significantly on many aspects including costs, how au pairs are recruited, screened and trained and the level of support they provide to host families.

Au pair agency costs

Au pair agencies charge fees to host families in exchange for recruiting, screening and training au pairs as well as managing the matching process, visa process and travel arrangements for the au pair and host family. Once the au pair arrives to the host family, au pair agencies provide year-round support to the au pair and host family, both locally and from the central office. Au pair agencies do not all cost the same, however. Fees can vary significantly. Some of the fees au pair agencies generally charge are:

Registration fee: This fee is generally charged by au pair agencies when a family registers be part of their program, and is ready to start reviewing and interviewing candidates.
Processing fee: Many au pair agencies also charge a processing fee to secure the match once a host family has chosen their au pair. Upon payment of this fee, the agency will begin helping the au pair obtain their J-1 visa and making travel arrangements for their journey to the U.S.
Program fee: The program fee covers the costs of the services the au pair agencies provide. The Cultural Care program fee includes:
- Recruitment and thorough screening of your au pair
- Your au pair’s training at the Cultural Care Au Pair Training School
- The matching services of a dedicated Matching Specialist
- Host family and au pair orientations
- Round-trip international airfare for your au pair¹
- Medical and travel insurance
- Year-long support from Cultural Care Au Pair office staff and your Local Childcare Consultant

It's important to note that some au pair agencies charge extra for different programs. For example, they may charge a higher fee for au pairs who are infant qualified or for au pairs who have professional childcare experience. Cultural Care Au Pair does not charge for additional qualifications.

Au pair weekly stipend

Au pair weekly stipend: In addition to what the au pair agencies charge, you are responsible for paying a weekly stipend directly to your au pair. This minimum stipend amount² is determined by the U.S. Department of State and will be the same regardless of which au pair agency you use.

Additional costs

Additional costs: The U.S. State Department requires host families to contribute up to $500 towards their au pair’s Education Requirement³. It’s also important to consider the additional cost of utilities and food, adding your au pair to your insurance policy if they are required to drive, as well as the costs of including your au pair in family outings and experiences.

Au pair agency discounts

Au pair agencies may have discounts you can qualify for. For example, Cultural Care Au Pair offers the following au pair agency discounts to host families:

Military family discount: save $1,500
Make the Switch: Families who come to Cultural Care from another au pair agency save up to $2,500
Pre-arranged match discount: Families who find their own future au pair are entitled to a $300 program fee discount
Host family referral program: earn $250 for every family you refer who welcomes an au pair

Most families find that the cost of hosting an au pair is competitive with hiring a nanny or babysitter and offers improved quality of life and great benefits! Learn more about the program cost on our website.

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.

²Au 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.

³The 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.

⁴This contribution towards an au pair’s education requirement is determined by the U.S. Department of State, and families agree to comply with any increase that is issued.

¹Au 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.

²The 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.

³This contribution towards an au pair’s education requirement is determined by the U.S. Department of State, and families agree to comply with any increase that is issued.