Mother's love worth $117,000 per year, study says

[Slydragon]

BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- If a stay-at-home mom could be compensated in dollars rather than personal satisfaction and unconditional love, she'd rake in a nifty sum of nearly $117,000 a year.
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At-home moms reported working an average of 94.4 hours per week, said the survey.

That's according to a pre-Mother's Day study released in May by Salary.com, a Waltham, Massachusetts-based firm that studies workplace compensation.

The eighth annual survey calculated a mom's market value by studying pay levels for 10 job les with duties that a typical mom performs, ranging from housekeeper and day care center teacher to van driver, psychologist and chief executive officer.

This year, the annual salary for a stay-at-home mom would be $116,805, while a working mom who also juggles an outside job would get $68,405 for her motherly duties.

One stay-at-home mom said the six-figure salary sounds a little low.

"I think a lot of people think we sit and home and have a lot of fun and don't do a lot of work," said Samantha Russell, a Fremont, New Hampshire, mother who left her job as pastry chef to raise two boys, ages 2 and 4. "But they should try cleaning their house with little kids running around and messing it up right after them."

The biggest driver of a mom's theoretical salary is the amount of overtime pay she'd receive for working more than 40 hours a week. The 18,000 moms surveyed about their typical week reported working 94.4 hours -- meaning they'd be spending more than half their working hours on overtime.

Working moms reported an average 54.6 hour "mom work week" besides the hours they spent at paying jobs.

Russell agreed her job as a stay-at-home mom is more than full-time. But she said her "job" brings intangible benefits she wouldn't enjoy in the workplace.

"The rewards aren't monetary, but it's a reward knowing that they're safe and happy," Russell said of her sons. "It's worth it all."

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/w...f=mpstoryemail

[jaffies]

I know several girls who should have a salary "compensation"

[mrsmaalox]

That figure does sound low if you are a stay at home with say, 3 kids under 5 years old (memories...). But my own kids are now 14,12,10 and life is much easier. I make $117 grand to take walks with my dog, shop, pedicure, lunch with my friends, and can run around doing my housework in between posting at ST! Pretty sweet.

[desflood]

Something mothers around the world have known since the beginning of time.

[angel_luv]

Something mothers around the world have known since the beginning of time.

Very true!

[Destro]

My maid does all that stuff and I only pay her about $18K a year. She doesn't complain or spend any money either....

[tlongII]

No tax stimulus rebate check for mom!