How Many Hours Can an Au Pair Work?
The Department of State limits, and what they mean for you
The Department of State sets the limits, and they are the same for every host family. Your au pair's schedule cannot exceed 45 hours per week, and cannot exceed 10 hours on any given day. Your au pair receives 1.5 days off per week plus one full weekend off each month, from Friday evening to Monday morning, and two weeks of paid vacation during the first 12 months. That structure works in your favour: expectations are fixed before anyone moves in, so there are no awkward renegotiations later. GreatAuPair recommends giving your au pair a written weekly schedule in advance so they can plan around it.
The limits are federal, and identical for every host family
The Department of State sets the scheduling limits, and they do not vary by family, region or sponsor. Your au pair's schedule cannot exceed 45 hours per week, and cannot exceed 10 hours on any given day.
Guaranteed time off
- 1.5 days off per week
- One full weekend off each month, from Friday evening to Monday morning
- Two weeks of paid vacation during the first 12 months
These are floors, not targets to negotiate downward. They apply whether or not a particular week is busy.
Why the structure works in your favour
Host families sometimes read fixed limits as a constraint. In practice they remove the hardest conversation from the relationship. Expectations are set before anyone moves in, which means there is no awkward renegotiation in month four when the schedule has quietly crept.
You and your au pair both know what a fair week looks like, and neither of you has to guess or defend a position.
Give the schedule in writing, in advance
GreatAuPair recommends providing your au pair with a written weekly schedule ahead of time. The reason is practical: your au pair has a life outside your household — classes, friends, travel plans — and can only arrange it around a schedule they can see.
Last-minute changes are occasionally unavoidable. Chronic last-minute changes are the single most common source of friction in otherwise good placements.
Building a schedule that works for both sides
- Map your real week first, including the recurring commitments you forget
- Publish the following week's schedule on a fixed day
- Agree in advance how a genuine emergency will be handled
- Plan vacation dates early, together, rather than announcing them
A well-rested, fairly scheduled au pair provides better care. The structure exists to protect both sides of that.
Read the transcript
One thing host families often wonder about is how scheduling works with an au pair. The J-1 Au Pair Program has clear federal guidelines around weekly hours, daily limits, and guaranteed time off — including a full weekend off each month and paid vacation time. That structure is actually great news for host families, because it means expectations are set from day one. No guessing, no awkward conversations. You and your au pair both know what a fair week looks like. Building a consistent, predictable schedule helps your au pair feel respected — and a happy au pair means better care for your kids. Want to understand exactly how the schedule guidelines work? Visit greataupairusa.com to learn everything you need to know before you match.
