Money · Au pairs and families
Pocket money, hours and time off by country
What host families are expected to pay each week, how many hours they can ask for, and the minimum days off — for the main European and English-speaking destinations.
8 min read · Updated January 2026
How to read these numbers
Pocket money is not a salary. It sits on top of a private room, all meals, and usually a travel card and a contribution to a language course. Figures here are typical current practice, not legal advice — always check the host country's official guidance before signing.
The weekly hours ceiling
Almost every European country caps au pair duties at 25–30 hours a week, including babysitting. Anything beyond that is overtime and should be paid separately or swapped for time off.
Count the hours honestly. A school run at 8am and pick-up at 4pm is not two hours of work if the au pair is on call in between.
Time off you must give
The standard across most host countries:
- At least one and a half to two full days off every week
- At least one full weekend off every month
- Two to four weeks of paid holiday per twelve-month stay
- Free time each day to attend a language course
Extras families usually cover
A monthly public transport pass, a share of the language course fee (often €50–€100 a month), health insurance where the au pair is not covered by the state system, and the cost of any travel the family asks the au pair to join.
Ready to put this into practice? Look through real au pair and host family profiles — no account needed.
Browse profiles