Today I’m sharing a guest post from my sister about how to become an au pair. She’s currently an au pair in Bologna, Italy, and writes about healthy living, travel, and personal finance at FITnancials.com. I asked her to explain how to become an au pair because it’s such a great way to travel affordably. Enjoy!
Hello! I’m Alexis, Michelle’s sister and the author at Fitnancials.com. For nearly two years I’ve been traveling about once a month, and my experiences have taken me all over Europe and beyond.
Right now I’m living in Bologna, Italy, a city of roughly 400,000 residents. Bologna is well known for its food, so every meal is a highlight and you’ll find plenty of great wine.
Travel isn’t always cheap—especially for a college student supporting herself—but learning about new cultures and seeing the world matters a lot to me, so I make travel work regardless of budget. Last summer I lived in Peru volunteering at a special-needs orphanage, living on about $20 a day. Recently I chose an even more affordable option: becoming an au pair, which costs me essentially nothing.
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Below are common questions I’ve received about becoming an au pair. If you have other questions, leave a comment.
How to become an au pair:
How much does an au pair expect to make monthly?
In Italy, an au pair typically earns around $250–$350 USD per month. In other countries like Australia or New Zealand, the equivalent amount may be paid weekly, not monthly. The pay differences depend on local norms and regulations. For me, experiencing Europe was a higher priority than working somewhere with higher pay.
What are the benefits of becoming an au pair?
One big advantage of being an au pair in Europe is how easy and affordable travel becomes. In a short time I visited Florence, Milan, Padova, Zurich, Munich, and Austria, and paid just 75 euro (about $85 USD) for transportation among six cities in four countries.
Many expenses are covered by the host family. With my agreement, I receive:
- An iPhone with texting, internet, and calls.
- Groceries and reimbursement for any special vegan items I need.
- Invitations to family trips, including visits to their beach house on the Adriatic Sea.
- Use of a small car (a Fiat) when needed.
- My own room and bathroom, free laundry, and general access to household amenities—free room and board in a home near downtown Bologna.
Immersion makes learning the local language much easier. I’m taking free Italian classes four hours a week, and attend language-exchange meetups regularly. Bologna also offers plenty of social opportunities, including university events and a sizable population of students and singles.
What are the negatives of becoming an au pair?
Being an au pair can be rewarding, but there are downsides:
- You’re essentially living with a family again, which means adapting to household rules.
- Your living space is also your workplace—you’ll often be on call for childcare duties.
- Children can be challenging—some days are harder than others.
- Work hours or responsibilities can increase without warning unless you communicate boundaries clearly with the family.
How do you find a host family and become an au pair?
I found my host family through AuPairWorld, a popular and free website for matching au pairs with families. The process was straightforward: I handled everything myself and completed it quickly.
Some people use agencies, but many I’ve spoken with regretted the expense and bureaucratic hassle. Agencies often require multiple forms of identification, background checks, and charge significant fees. I nearly went through an agency and submitted many documents, but ultimately chose to match independently and finalized my contract within three days following a Skype interview with the parents and a couple more meetings to meet their son, Tomasso.
My role is focused on speaking English with the child—no household chores or errands are expected beyond childcare in our agreement.
What questions should a potential au pair ask a host family?
Before accepting a placement, ask clear questions about expectations. Important topics include:
- Work schedule: In Europe, au pairs should typically work no more than five hours per day and receive at least one full day off per week.
- Specific au pair responsibilities and daily tasks.
- Whether the family expects the au pair to act like an older sibling and become part of the household, or more like a paid babysitter responsible for additional chores and errands.
- Family language abilities: How much English do the parents and children speak?
- Compensation policy for extra duties, like caring for a sick child or working evenings on parents’ date nights.
Other tips on how to become an au pair:
- Prefer families with references, but don’t dismiss families without them—everyone has to start somewhere. Some au pairs have found excellent hosts with no prior references.
- If you plan a short stay, choose a city with good transport links. Living in a small, remote town can limit your ability to travel during the week. Bologna’s central position and strong train connections make it an ideal base for exploring.
- Take current au pair references with some skepticism. Current au pairs are still living with the family and may feel pressure to report only positive experiences. Look for multiple perspectives and trust your instincts during interviews.
My au pair experience
My time as an au pair has been overwhelmingly positive. Immersion in Italian culture has taught me things I would never learn on a short vacation. Living like a local has expanded my worldview, made me more open-minded, and helped me adopt aspects of a different lifestyle.
Would I recommend others become an au pair?
It depends on your personality and whether you enjoy spending time with children. I personally don’t want children of my own someday, yet I love working with kids and spending time with them now. This role isn’t for everyone: you must be comfortable living under another family’s roof and following household rules.
If you’re unsure, try a three-month placement and extend if the fit is right. Becoming an au pair is one of the most affordable and immersive ways to experience a new culture.
Are you interested in becoming an au pair? Why or why not?
