What does an Au Pair actually do? A day in the life
An au pair helps a host family with childcare and the tasks linked to the children: waking and dressing them, making their meals, taking them to school and activities, helping with homework, playing with them, and their bath and bedtime. An au pair works up to 45 hours a week (30 for EduCare) and is not a housekeeper. Here is what the job really looks like, day by day, with honest words from someone who did it.
What does an au pair do every day?
The exact tasks change from one family to another, but they are always about the children. A typical au pair helps with:
- Waking the children and getting them dressed.
- Making their breakfast, snacks and school lunches.
- Taking them to school and picking them up.
- Driving them to their activities (sport, music, playdates).
- Helping with homework.
- Playing and doing fun, learning activities.
- Doing the children's laundry and tidying their rooms and toys.
- Bath time and the bedtime routine.
- Preparing the children's meals and cleaning up after them.
All of these tasks are about the children. That is the key rule of the whole program, and we will come back to it below.
A real day in the life of an au pair
Here is what a real day looked like for me in Chicago. I was an EduCare au pair, so my days were built around school hours:
- Morning: I did not work much in the morning. I woke the children, gave them breakfast, and took them to school.
- Daytime: free time for me, and time for my classes.
- Around 3 pm: I picked the children up from school and gave them a snack.
- Afternoon: I drove them to their activities, then picked them up again.
- Late afternoon: homework time.
- Evening: I prepared the children's dinner and tidied up.
A standard au pair (not EduCare) often does more hours across the day, but the shape is the same: mornings, school, activities, homework, meals and bedtime.
What an au pair does NOT do
This is the most important part, and the one families get wrong the most. By law, an au pair is there to provide childcare only. Tidying up after the children is part of the job, but cleaning the whole house is not. Agencies are all clear on this: an au pair is not responsible for heavy housework, cleaning the whole home, the family's laundry, cooking for the whole family, gardening, pet care or errands. An au pair is not a housekeeper.
This is not a rare problem. In a 2024 US State Department survey of more than 28,000 au pairs, 23% of those who were otherwise happy with their host family still said they were asked to do tasks that had nothing to do with the children. So if this happens to you, know that you are not alone, and that it is okay to speak up.
In my second family there were four children and three huge playrooms, so there was a lot, a lot of tidying. The mom wanted the house to be spotless all the time, and cleaning up behind four kids in a three-level house was a real job on its own. Honestly, I think you should be paid more when you look after four children. Tidying the kids' things is normal, but keeping a whole big house perfect is not an au pair's job.
Céline, founder of Aupairtrip and former au pair in Chicago
If a family treats you like a housekeeper and it does not change after you talk about it, read our guide on the au pair rematch process and your rights.
The best part of the job
The job is real work, but it also gives you moments you never forget. For me, the most rewarding part was simple.
My favorite part was helping the youngest child become more independent. Seeing a little one learn to do things on their own, and knowing you helped, is the best feeling in the world.
Céline, founder of Aupairtrip and former au pair in Chicago
Hours, days off and study
The program has clear rules so the job stays fair:
- You work up to 10 hours a day and 45 hours a week (30 hours for EduCare).
- You get at least 1.5 days off every week.
- You get one full weekend off every month.
- You get two weeks of paid vacation during your year.
- You also take classes (at least 6 credits, 12 for EduCare), and the family helps pay for them.
Your family should give you your schedule in advance, so you can plan your own time too.
My number one piece of advice
Communication is everything. Say what you feel. If something is too much, or a task is not part of your job, talk about it early and kindly. Most problems grow because no one said anything. A good family wants to know how you feel.
Céline, founder of Aupairtrip and former au pair in Chicago
The best way to avoid surprises is to agree on your tasks before you match. Read our guide on questions to ask your host family before you match.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours does an au pair work?
An au pair works up to 10 hours a day and up to 45 hours a week (30 hours a week for EduCare). You also get at least 1.5 days off each week, one full weekend off each month, and two weeks of paid vacation.
Does an au pair do housework?
Only the light tasks linked to the children, like their laundry, tidying their toys and cleaning up after their meals. An au pair is not a housekeeper and should not clean the whole house or do the family's laundry.
Does an au pair cook for the whole family?
No. An au pair can prepare the children's meals, but cooking for the whole family is not part of the job (You can if you want, but it is up to you!).
What does an EduCare au pair do?
An EduCare au pair cares for school-age children, mostly before and after school (morning routine, school run, pick-up, snacks, homework and activities). They work up to 30 hours a week and take more classes than a standard au pair.
Can an au pair take care of a baby?
Yes, but with rules. An au pair cannot be the only caregiver for a baby under 3 months, and to care for a child under 2 they must have at least 200 hours of experience with babies.
Curious about the au pair life? Learn how to become an au pair in the USA, see the difference in our au pair vs nanny guide, and meet au pairs near you on the Aupairtrip app.
