zoestephens Last updated: Love Working with Kids? Here Are the 5 Best Places to Au Pair
Do you want to travel but don’t have enough money?
Maybe you dream of the freedom that comes with living abroad but are nervous about moving away from a family environment.
Or you’d love to learn a new language but don’t have the time or money to enroll in a class.
Working as an au pair abroad could be the solution to all your problems! This job satisfies both your wanderlust and your bank account.
Finding the best places to au pair often depends on what you want to get out of the experience. Think about where you want to live and what types of responsibilities you want to have at your new job.
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
What’s an Au Pair?
Defining au pair is easier than it sounds, because every family has different expectations for what their au pair will do on the job.
Basically, an au pair is a live-in nanny. And they’re generally people from different cities or countries who live and work for a family.
All families expect you to take care of their child or children. Some families will want you to do a couple hours of housework per day. Others will want you to travel with them. Then there are families who expect you to become a part of the family yourself and work 24/7.
Luckily, there are plenty of great websites, such as AuPairWorld, that help you find your perfect family.
You can also pay to go through an agent, which is often a safer option but can be more expensive.
There are a lot of different websites out there, so be mindful when searching for a family. Going through a registered agent or website and signing an official contract are the best ways to ensure safety.
When you first start searching for au pair jobs and locations, it can be a bit overwhelming. So we have put together a list of the five best places to au pair. Hopefully, this list will help you make your decision and get jet-setting!
Love Working with Kids? Here Are the 5 Best Places to Au Pair
Au Pair in Australia
Key feature for au pairs: Money
Being an au pair in Australia: sun, sea and surfing. Could you really ask for more?
As an added bonus, you have the opportunity to snag one of the world’s highest paying au pair jobs. As an au pair in Australia, you can earn up to 1,000 AUD (711 USD) per month. That’s much higher than in other countries!
Maybe that still doesn’t sound like a lot of money to you. But you won’t have to cover expenses like accommodation and food, so you’ll have cash to pay for those surfing lessons or cocktails on the beach.
Of course, it’s important to remember that salary varies from family to family!
Another huge bonus: Australia’s official language is English. This is perfect for native English speakers who find the thought of moving to a country with a different language daunting. It’s also great for non-native English speakers who want to practice their English language skills. You may end up speaking English that has a fun Australian twist!
Au Pair in Germany
Key features for au pairs: Speedy visa and easy process for EU citizens
Germany is one of the best places to au pair for several reasons. It’s a diverse country with a lot to offer, from the seaside to gorgeous mountains and landscapes. And there are some great places to ski in the winter!
Plus, did somebody say “Oktoberfest?” Take part in the world’s biggest beer festival in Bavaria, in the South of Germany, and you’ll never taste beer the same again!
With German being the official language, working as an au pair in Germany is great if you want to learn the language.
The German language can be as diverse as the country’s landscapes. North to South, East to West, you’ll find different accents and variations of the language wherever you go. Working as an au pair and living in Germany offers you the opportunity to live in and travel around this amazing country.
Au Pair in Denmark
Key feature for au pairs: Work less, play more
Being an au pair in one of the happiest places on Earth? Yes, please!
Denmark is frequently voted as the happiest place to live in the world for its friendliness, unity, gastronomy, supportive government and welfare model.
Not only that, but you could also live in one of the happiest cities on Earth! People also consistently consider Copenhagen to be the happiest city in the world.
So it’s only appropriate that Denmark is included on our list of the best places to au pair in the world. Being an au pair in Denmark, you’ll have a serious injection of happiness.
Traveling Scandinavia can be a pretty pricey affair. But with free accommodation and food with your au pair family, you’ll have minimal expenses. You’ll only have to work as few as 18 hours per week (and max 30 hours.) Use all that free time to travel!
Danish may seem like an obscure language to study, but if languages interest you, you should know that Danish is surprisingly easy for native English speakers to learn. Pick up a second (or third or fourth) language while you enjoy living in the happiest place on Earth!
Au Pair in China
Key feature for au pairs: Easy way to obtain a Chinese visa
Moving to Asia may seem intimidating, but moving there as an au pair gives you a certain security that other jobs in China might not offer you. Plus, landing this job is an easy way to score a work visa for China, which can prove to be quite difficult.
Also, if you’ve ever wanted to live in Asia, working as an au pair is one of the most comfortable ways to do so.
You’ll be living and working with a family, so you’ll have a support system from the moment you arrive. The family can help you set up your life in the otherwise alien country, assisting you in getting a phone, setting up a bank account and learning about the town or city.
Being an au pair in China will give you a whole new skill set. You can pick up one of the most valuable business languages out there (Mandarin) and learn all about a vastly different culture. Working in China will open up a world of other opportunities for you in China and Asia as a whole!
If travel is your thing, exploring China is unlike traveling in any other country. China is a massive nation. Traveling from province to province in China in itself is like traveling around multiple Asian countries. Each province is extremely different from the others, with its own take on Chinese culture and language.
Au Pair in Switzerland
Key feature for au pairs: Location
Switzerland is one of the best places to au pair for many reasons. Too many to list here!
Bordered by five countries, this nation is one of the best places to live if you’re interested in European travel. Depending on where you’re based, you can walk over the border for a pint in Germany or drive to France for some shopping.
Take a couple of days off and explore the many breathtaking landscapes in the country. Or choose which surrounding country you’d like to explore during a free weekend!
Worried about moving to a country where people speak a different language? No problem. The language education system in Switzerland is like no other.
Many young people speak near-native level English. However, a lot of them also speak two or three languages, so this is a great chance to stretch yourself. Pick up a new tongue or become fluent in one you’ve already started studying!
Switzerland has three main languages: German, French and Italian. Your location will determine which language is the most sensible to study.
Working as an au pair is like no other job in the world. You’ll experience life in a foreign country, live with a new family and pick up another language.
It’s a journey you’ll never forget. So what’s holding you back?
Choose from one of these best places to au pair and begin your adventure!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
Zoe Stephens lives in Beijing, where she works in Chinese social media and as a freelance tour guide for North Korea. She began freelance writing when she moved to China over a year ago. Driven by her love for traveling and learning about new cultures, she’s tackling her fourth language: Chinese.
