How many hours can an au pair work in the US?
45 hrs a week · 10 a day at most
An au pair in the US can work up to 10 hours a day and 45 hours a week. In the EduCare program the limits are 10 hours a day and 30 hours a week.
Source: 22 CFR § 62.31, 4-1-24 edition · checked 17 Sep 2026
Check your week
And in other host countries?
| Host country | per week | per day | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (J-1) | 45 hours | 10 hours | 22 CFR § 62.31, 4-1-24 edition |
| Germany | 30 hours | 6 hours | BA sheet, April 2023 |
| France | 25 hours | not stated | Service-Public, verified 1 June 2026 |
| Netherlands | 30 hours | 8 hours | IND, read 17 Sep 2026 |
| Austria | 16.5 hours | not stated | USP, updated 10 Aug 2026 |
| United Kingdom | not stated | not stated |
Where there is no figure, the official source does not state one. Details are on each country’s rules page.
Good to know
- A minimum of one and a half days off per week, in addition to one complete weekend off each month.
- A weekly rate based upon 45 hours of child care per week, paid in conformance with the Fair Labor Standards Act as interpreted and implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor. EduCare participants are paid 75% of that weekly rate.
The long read: Counting Au Pair Hours: The 45-Hour Week & 10-Hour Day Rules