Parents don't think I am worth $3... what would you do?

[5 Little Monkeys]

For myself, the max time a child would be with me is 4 years. If they have another child in that time than I'd consider raising it for the next child if need be to match the highest fee I am charging others. However, just like in any other profession, you eventually cap out and reach your maximum wage. For my area, I'm there already so I don't see an increase in my fee anytime soon.

However, this provider in her area, sounds like she still has some leeway for a raise!

[bright sparks]

For myself, the max time a child would be with me is 4 years. If they have another child in that time than I'd consider raising it for the next child if need be to match the highest fee I am charging others. However, just like in any other profession, you eventually cap out and reach your maximum wage. For my area, I'm there already so I don't see an increase in my fee anytime soon.

However, this provider in her area, sounds like she still has some leeway for a raise!

I don't think home daycare rates can be compared to all professions incomes. Inflation drives those rates up on an annual basis, even minimum wage jobs. Home daycares cost has to stay competative within the area and needs to be maintained within a window of affordability as it is a daily living cost. Majority but obviously not all other professions tend to be in industries where you have the choice of hiring those services or purchasing that product, or at the very least they are occasional expenses versus home daycare being an almost daily cost like a mortgage and utilities. Even those go up annually with the exception of a fixed rate mortgage. I don't think there are actually very many professions that cap out if you look into it. It's just that some will have a much slower rate of increase than others depending on the many variables. How many other professions can you actually think of who have not had a rate increase in the last 5 to 10 years? 3-5 years or even 1-3 years? I am racking my brain and I can't think of any.