Last verified: May 2026
The most regulated au pair programme in the world. Filipino candidates can apply on the J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa through a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor agency. Twelve-month placements with structured cultural exchange and education requirements.
The U.S. au pair programme is structured tightly. Unlike Germany or Australia, you cannot simply find a host family and apply. You must go through one of about a dozen U.S. State Department-designated sponsor agencies — Cultural Care, AuPairCare, Au Pair in America, EurAupair and others. The sponsor handles visa paperwork, training, monthly check-ins and rematch support.
Pay is set by federal formula: $195.75/week for 45 hours of childcare. That's about $4.35/hour — but you also receive a private bedroom, three meals daily, $500 toward education, two weeks of paid vacation, and a paid round-trip flight. Adding it all up, the realised annual value is significantly higher than the headline number.
You must complete six semester hours of academic credit at an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution during your year. Most au pairs take this at a local community college; the host family pays up to $500 toward course fees.
The programme runs for exactly 12 months on initial placement, with optional extensions of 6, 9 or 12 months (up to 24 total). Filipino candidates must be 18–26, proficient in English (which gives Filipino candidates a strong advantage), and have at least 200 hours of documented childcare experience.
Visa appointments at the U.S. Embassy in Manila currently have wait times of 60–180 days. Apply early.
Hosting a Filipino au pair through the J-1 programme costs U.S. families roughly $20,000–$24,000 per year all-in: agency fees of $9,000–$12,500, plus a minimum stipend of $195.75/week ($10,179/year), plus the $500 education allowance, plus food and household costs.
The host family is required to be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, fluent in spoken English, with a private bedroom available for the au pair. You must commit to the educational allowance, the $195.75/week stipend, and at least one full weekend off per month.
Massachusetts has a state-specific minimum wage rule: au pairs in Massachusetts must be paid at least $15.00/hour, which raises the practical weekly stipend significantly above the federal floor. Other states follow the federal formula.
Filipino candidates are particularly attractive to U.S. host families because of strong English fluency, cultural compatibility (high comfort with hierarchical family structures, strong work ethic), and a reputation for being warm with children. The visa interview wait time at the U.S. Embassy in Manila is the main scheduling constraint.