Au pairs provide live-in childcare for a host family, usually school pickups, meals, playtime, and light child-related housework. Most billing in this field is a fixed weekly stipend, plus reimbursements, agreed extras, and sometimes private-arrangement hours. Au pairs on a J-1 visa through a State Department-designated sponsor are paid under program rules and usually do not send their own invoices. Invoices mostly come from au pairs working outside that structure (for example, those with their own work authorization or in a private live-in arrangement) and from former au pairs doing similar live-in or part-time work.
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Au pair work is priced as a weekly amount, not by the hour, because the au pair lives in the home and the family also provides room and board. Under the J-1 program in the US, the minimum weekly stipend is set by federal rules (about $196 for the standard track at the time of writing, with weekly hours capped at 45 and daily hours at 10), and sponsors often set higher amounts. Check current figures with your sponsor. J-1 au pairs generally cannot take on paid work for other families, so extra work usually has to be cleared with the sponsor first. In a private live-in arrangement, pricing is typically a weekly rate for a set number of hours, with an hourly rate for hours beyond that, flat fees for overnights or weekend coverage, and reimbursement at cost for expenses paid on the family's behalf, such as activities, groceries, or mileage when driving your own car. Put the weekly hours, days off, and what counts as extra in writing before the first invoice.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly live-in childcare (up to 45 hours, room and board provided) | per week | $200-350 |
| Part-time live-in or partial au pair (about 30 hours) | per week | $150-275 |
| Extra evening or date-night babysitting beyond scheduled hours | per hour | $12-20 |
| Weekend overnight childcare | per night | $70-120 |
| Extra full day during school breaks (within legal hour limits) | per day | $80-140 |
| Driving to activities with your own car | per mile | $0.50-0.70 |
| Language practice or homework help sessions | per hour | $15-25 |
| Out-of-town family trip coverage | per day | $90-150 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live-in childcare, 45 hours per week (Mar 3-16) | 2 weeks | $250.00 | $500.00 |
| Extra evening babysitting beyond scheduled hours (Mar 8, Mar 14) | 6 hours | $15.00 | $90.00 |
| Weekend overnight coverage (Mar 21-22, parents out of town) | 2 nights | $90.00 | $180.00 |
| Mileage for activity driving in au pair's own car | 48 miles | $0.70 | $33.60 |
| Reimbursement: craft and art supplies for after-school project (receipt attached) | 1 each | $22.40 | $22.40 |
| Total | $826.00 | ||
Notes: Payment due within 7 days of invoice date by bank transfer or check. Extra hours were pre-approved by text on the dates listed. Receipts for reimbursed items are attached.
Shows the invoice matches the agreed schedule and makes it easy to check against any weekly hour limits that apply to you.
Extras are the most common point of disagreement, so each one should be visible with its date and rate.
Gives the family a record of when extra care was requested and approved.
Supports the reimbursement for driving your own car and shows it was for the children's activities.
Reimbursements are at cost, so attaching receipts avoids questions.
Clarifies which rules cover pay and extra work, since J-1 sponsor rules differ from private live-in arrangements.
Keeps payment records clear for both sides and for any tax reporting.
Au pair stipends are normally paid weekly, often on a set day, and under the J-1 program the host family pays the stipend directly, so no invoice is involved. In private arrangements, invoice weekly or every two weeks, with payment due in 3 to 7 days. Payment by bank transfer or check leaves a record. Cash is common but should be backed by a signed receipt. Deposits are rare, though some families prepay the first week. Late fees are uncommon and can strain a live-in relationship, so a clear due date and a reminder text usually work better. Check with your sponsor, an immigration adviser, and a tax professional about what payments you may receive and how they are reported, since this varies by visa type and state.
J-1 au pairs are generally limited to the program's childcare terms and typically cannot invoice other families. Confirm with your sponsor before accepting extra paid work or sending any invoice for services outside your host family arrangement.
Write down the weekly hours, days off, and what counts as extra. Most invoice disputes come from vague expectations, such as whether a Friday late night counts as regular hours.
A short message such as 'OK to stay until 11 on Saturday' gives you a dated record. Quote the message date on your invoice line.
Pay for family purchases with their card when possible. If you use your own money, save the receipt and invoice it as a separate reimbursement line, without markup.
Note date, destination, and miles each time. Check whether your car insurance and your sponsor allow driving children, and agree on a per-mile rate in advance.
Usually not for regular work. The host family pays the program stipend directly under sponsor rules. Any extra payment or work should be cleared with your sponsor, since the program limits hours and outside work.
Live-in au pair work is normally a flat weekly rate for a set number of hours because room and board is part of the arrangement. Use an hourly rate only for extra hours that were agreed in advance.
In many cases, yes. Au pairs on J-1 visas generally have US tax obligations on their stipend, and the rules differ for private arrangements. Check with a tax professional or the IRS guidance for your visa type.
In the J-1 program, room and board is provided by the host family as part of the arrangement and should not be deducted from the stipend. In a private arrangement, agree on this in writing and check your state's rules for live-in domestic workers.
Send a polite reminder with the invoice number and amount, and refer to the due date you agreed on. If it keeps happening, raise it with your sponsor's local coordinator, or in a private arrangement, ask to move to weekly payment by bank transfer.
Send a Au Pair estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Au Pair estimate template