Find an au pair in Illinois

No, the cost of the au pair program for families in Illinois is the same as most of the rest of the country. In total, the estimated annual cost of hosting an au pair in IL starts at $21,424, or about $1,785 per month. The total cost of hosting an au pair is calculated by adding the program fee paid to Cultural Care Au Pair ($11,245) and the minimum weekly stipend paid directly to the au pair ($195.75 per week, totaling $10,179 per year).

As a host family, you should also factor in additional costs related to room and board, insurance (if applicable), contributions toward your au pair’s Education Requirement (up to $500 annually), and any other “extras” that will help make your au pair’s time in the U.S. more enjoyable. Host families in IL typically find the cost of hosting an au pair to be comparable or even less expensive than daycare or nannies.

An au pair lives with your family and provides childcare based on a schedule you set—up to 10 hours per day and no more than 45 hours per week. In addition to caring for your children, they can assist with child-related tasks like laundry, meal prep, tidying play areas, and driving to school or activities. More than just a caregiver, an au pair becomes a part of your family.

In order to become a host family with Cultural Care, Illinois families must:

1. Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents

2. Pass a criminal background check

3. Provide a private bedroom for their au pair

In addition, families must be willing to embrace the spirit of the au pair program, which involves actively participating in a cultural exchange and investing time in building a meaningful relationship with their au pair. Opting for au pair services allows families to enjoy flexible childcare while fostering a unique bond and gaining a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity.

All au pairs arriving from overseas commit to spending a full year with their host family and travel on a legal J-1 visa that allows them to live and work in the U.S. for those 12 months. At the end of their first year, au pairs can decide extend their stay for an additional 6, 9, or 12 months—either with their current host family or a new one—as long as they've completed their Education Requirement and remain in good standing with the program.

If you match with an extension au pair looking for a new family, they'll be able to stay with you for the duration of their extension term—so 12, 9 or 6 months—after which they'll return to their home country.

Finding an au pair is simple and convenient with the Cultural Care app. Once you register in the app and create a profile, you can search for au pairs using filters to narrow down your search. You can favorite the candidates you like best and start a chat or video call right through the app. It usually takes 2-3 calls to determine that a candidate is the right fit, and at that point, you can extend an offer to join your family. And if you have questions or need help along the way, our team of Matching Specialists is available throughout your search.

The time it takes to find a match is different for every host family. Sometimes families find their au pair after just a few days or a week, and for some families, it might take longer. Families looking for au pairs with specialized experience—like caring for children with special needs—may need a bit more time to find the right match.

One of the best ways to speed up your search is to stay actively involved. The more time and energy you invest, the faster you’ll find the right fit—and the more likely an au pair will say “yes” to joining your family.