The results for the latest jingkids Ayi Survey are in!

If you haven’t heard of hiring an ayi, you probably haven’t lived in Beijing long enough. Just about every Beijinger who has the means to hire an ayi would consider one because they can relieve you of grueling everyday responsibilities like pesky housework or even entertaining young children.

Yet for many foreigners (and locals, for that matter) the ayi industry is shrouded in mystery. What exactly does an ayi do? How much should you pay her? What are reasonable working hours?

In an effort to gain some clarity for Beijing families, every year jingkids runs the ayi survey where we ask respondents about their ayi‘s work hours, pay rates, experience, responsibilities, and benefits. The first Ayi Survey was conducted in 2014, and in the years since, the industry has undergone subtle but evident changes such as higher pay rates and the growing popularity of part-time ayis.

Below are the results from the latest survey.

Images: jingkids

We hear these questions all the time, “How much do you pay your ayi?” “Does your ayi do laundry?” and the most hotly debated, “Do you give your ayi an annual bonus?”

Part of life in Beijing involves finding yourself an ayi, someone to carry out those tedious household chores and help to look after your kids. For some, the concept can be difficult to adjust to; the idea of having a stranger doing all the tasks you are perfectly capable of performing yourself doesn’t always rest easy.  For others, the transition to paying a reasonable wage for a clean home is a straightforward financial transaction.

Now in its 11th year, the Beijing Ayi Survey was started by our colleague Tobal Loyola. After asking around about ayi salaries and getting a variety of responses, he realized there was a need for a community resource to provide a basis for comparison.

Once again, we’re conducting the Ayi Survey to collect some much-needed information on an essential part of your life in Beijing.

To take the survey, scan the QR code in the poster below. Help us help you get the most accurate and up-to-date information about ayis in Beijing.

Images: Pexels

Undoubtedly, the essential tasks for any expat moving to the capital include downloading WeChat, securing accommodation, and hiring a domestic helper – your ayi. In Beijing, it’s almost the norm for residents with the means to enlist the services of an ayi, whether on a part-time or full-time basis, live-in or not. The rationale behind this practice is the acknowledgment that living and working in a bustling city like Beijing can be physically draining and, if finances allow, outsourcing domestic help becomes a practical choice.

To keep the community well-informed about the evolving landscape of domestic help, we annually conduct our Ayi Survey. While friends’ experiences can provide insights, our survey eliminates guesswork and ensures anonymity, presenting a comprehensive view of the current ayi scene in Beijing.

A variety of ayis exist, each with distinct job descriptions ranging from cleaning only or cooking plus cleaning to childcare for older kids or full-time baby care. Their training and expected salaries also differ.

However, before delving into these details, the first crucial step is the ayi interview. To assist in this process, we’ve compiled some of the most commonly asked questions to guide you.

1. Find out why she’s leaving her current family. Is it because they’re moving or is it because of an altercation? It’s great to have a previous employer’s recommendation, but since that’s not always possible, ask as many questions as you can to get a full picture.

2. Does the ayi speak English? If so, how well? Always confirm their language level rather than accepting a simple “yes” or “no.”

3. Has she worked with foreign families before? If so, where were they from? Sometimes agencies will classify all foreigners together, regardless of cultural differences.

4. Is she certified in CPR or first-aid? If so, for what age? Infant CPR is very different from adult CPR.

5. Be specific about what her duties are. Never assume that just because you’ve had an ayi who voluntarily did laundry for the family, all ayis will.

6. How old were the kids she previously cared for? How many families has she worked with?

7. Will she work on weekends? If she’s not living with you, will it be a problem if you need her to stay late from time to time?

8. If you have pets, does she have experience working for a family with pets or does she have any allergies?

9. Is she trustworthy? Was she recommended by someone you know? If not, can she provide you with a copy of her ID card and health check certificate? If she can’t or won’t then, it’s a definite red flag!

10. If you’re planning on hiring a live-in ayi, ask her specifically about what she’s expecting her living situation to be. If you can, do the interview at home so she can also ask questions about your family’s lifestyle.

The Survey Results Are In!

Let’s jump right in with the biggest questions that everyone asks. Where do you find the most reliable ayis? Sure, there are agencies, but the most trusted source will always be recommendations from friends. There are groups on WeChat specifically for ayi recommendations. People tend to add and leave those as their needs change, so the best way to join one is to ask in the Jingkids Parenting group. To join that, add TBJHelper on WeChat.

Now, on to the next big question. How much do you pay your ayi?

The range varies between less than RMB 4,000 to over RMB 8,000 a month for one good reason: whether the ayi is live-in or part-time.

So, for those who only occasionally use an ayi’s help, most households pay their ayi between RMB 40 and RMB 50 per hour.

So, what does an ayi do at home? Are you asking too much of yours or is she doing the bare minimum? Here’s how the Beijing community voted.

Click here to see the full list of ayi poll results.

Images: Bing

We hear these questions all the time, “How much do you pay your ayi?” “Does your ayi do laundry?” and the most hotly debated, “Do you give your ayi an annual bonus?”

Part of life in Beijing involves finding yourself an ayi, someone to carry out those tedious household chores and help to look after your kids. For some, the concept can be difficult to adjust to; the idea of having a stranger doing all the tasks you are perfectly capable of performing yourself doesn’t always rest easy.  For others, the transition to paying a reasonable wage for a clean home is a straightforward financial transaction.

Introducing the Beijing Ayi Survey
Now in its 10th year, the Beijing Ayi Survey was started by our colleague Tobal Loyola. After asking around about ayi salaries and getting a variety of responses, he realized there was a need for a community resource to provide a basis for comparison.

We’re once again conducting the ayi survey to collect some much-needed information on an essential part of your life in Beijing.

To take the survey, scan the QR code in the poster below. Help us help you get the most accurate and up-to-date information about ayis in Beijing.

Images: Pexels

Almost every adult has heard of the Montessori method. It’s a child-centered approach to education and teaching that fosters independence and curiosity, allowing children to do things on their own, make mistakes and learn from them. Even though the Montessori ideas have been around for more than a century, they got really popular in the last decade, with more and more people acknowledging the importance of self-paced and self-directed learning. Montessori is not confined to the classroom – many parents have embraced this holistic approach and incorporated its principles into their child’s everyday life and learning.

But if you decide to go down the Montessori road, how do you get your ayi on board? Because, let’s face it, there are some big differences between Western and Chinese ways of raising children, especially when it comes to children’s independence and fostering their natural curiosity. When we add Montessori ideas on top of all this, it can get overwhelming for an ayi.

Ashey Hatcher’s first ayi didn’t quite understand Montessori as it was her fist time working for a foreign family, but she had better luck with the second one: “She worked for us for about a week so she could observe our style of parenting before we left the two of them alone. We didn’t specifically call it ‘Montessori,’ but I emphasized the importance of giving our daughter the time to try things for herself. I also gave her a list of chores for our daughter (like clean up her own toys, choose outfit, feed the dogs).”

“It is important to explain why you do that – the main reason behind everything,” says Natalia Tobon, mom of a 3-year-old girl. “I have emphasized that I want her to be independent and they immediately get it.” Natalia continues: “Also, it is important to tell them that you leave kids to do things on their own. For example, putting their shoes or jacket on. I have to stop them from helping her, but once they see that kids can do it, they find it fun and start promoting it.” In Natalia’s experience, the most challenging thing has definitely been the toy organization: “They just consider them toys and mix them. It has worked getting trays and explaining to them it is a set, so they understand.”

For another Montessori mom, Svetlana Ore, the most challenging part is making sure that the ayi sees the fine line between encouraging a child’s independence by letting them freely explore their environment and giving the kid too much freedom where they could get hurt. “It’s easier with a live-in ayi as she is there with you all the time and she sees and learns the ways you do it.”

According to Miki Cutuli, a Montessori guide of 12 years and a mom of three, ayis often have difficulties adjusting to the Montessori ways. “Independence is probably the biggest issue for them,” says Miki. “They are used to rescuing the kids and doing everything for them rather than teaching them.” In her opinion, ayis also struggle with positive communication and respect, both not very common in traditional Chinese parenting.

Being a Montessori educator, Miki realized that both families and ayis often need help understanding Montessori principles, and she used her knowledge and experience to create a special online course. It’s designed specifically for grandparents and ayis who are not familiar with the Montessori concepts. It’s bilingual in both English and Chinese so ayis can understand the content and work together with parents to set the perfect environment for the child.

So, can our ayis follow Montessori?

In Ashley’s opinion, yes and no: “I guess ultimately don’t expect an ayi to adhere strictly to Montessori principles. Be flexible with your expectations, but explain that independence is key. When she first started working for our family, [our ayi]was surprised how capable our daughter was. I think when I gave her a list of chores, it helped our ayi understand that our daughter also gets to do small jobs to help our family. I didn’t even have to do this, but once I came home early and our ayi and daughter were doing laundry together.”

KEEP READING: Can a MI Chart Put Your Kid Ahead of the Game?

Images: Pexels

Without a doubt, the top three things on any expat’s must-do list when relocating to the capital are downloading WeChat, finding an apartment, and hiring an ayi. Almost every Beijinger who has the means will hire an ayi – whether it be part-time or full-time, live-in or not, daily, weekly, monthly, etc. – to assist with their day-to-day lives.

Because, let’s face it, living and working in a bustling city like Beijing can be exhausting, and if we can afford to hire someone to help, why not?

That’s why each year we conduct our Ayi Survey, to find out the latest updates and most vital information about Beijing’s ayi scene. Of course, you can always ask your friends how much they pay their ayi, or the scope of their responsibilities, but we’ve gone ahead and taken the guesswork out – while adding the honesty that comes with anonymity – by surveying a sizable swath of Beijing.

The Survey Results Are In!

KEEP READING: What You Need to Know About Finding (and Keeping) an Ayi

Images: Jingkids, Pexels

Since I let go of my ayi before Spring Festival, I’ve been on the look out for a new one. The WeChat groups have tossed around a few names, but many don’t travel out to where I live, and others have said the dog is a no-go for them. Plus, truth be told, I’ve actually enjoyed taking back my home from the auto-pilot it had been running on when ayi was around. So I’m not quite ready to commit to a new full-time ayi just yet. But we can all use some help now and then, particularly if there’s a party you’re organizing at home or if you want to do some major Marie Kondo-ing around the house. This is where the nifty Home King 好康在家 Hǎo kāng zàijiā – which has a more poetic Chinese name that means “Good health at home” – app steps in.

This app allows you to hire an ayi to either just cook, or cook + clean + watch kids, on a one-time basis. The sessions are four hours each and start from RMB 229. If you pay for a package of 25, it’ll cost you RMB 4,999 upfront, but ultimately comes out to less than RMB 200 per session. You can choose from a morning session from 8am to noon, or an afternoon session from 2-6pm.

One benefit of using the app is that they have a small army of ayis on standby and are ready to assign one to you at any time, though they do have a tendency to book out a few days in advance. Plus, once you find one that you really like, you can take note of her name and ask for her to return next time. This service also enjoys a reputation with many locals as being “professional and friendly” as well as “being affordable.”

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to hire an ayi through the app after you’ve downloaded it by searching “Home King” or 好康在家 haokangzaijia.

After completing the registration – which is easiest by syncing with your WeChat account – you can choose either the blue button on the left 日式保洁 Rì shì bǎojié for “Japanese-style cleaning” which really means deep cleaning, or the orange button on the right 做饭保姆 Zuò fàn bǎomǔ for “Cooking, watching kids, and cleaning” or what I call the all-in-one. The difference is a mere RMB 30 / session, so it makes sense to choose the latter if you’ve got kids and might want the ayi to get involved with childcare, or if you’ll also like ayi to cook you a meal.

If you chose the “Japanese-style cleaning” option on the left, on the next page click the second tab from the left. This lets you book an ayi for a single visit. Then click the button with the price on it to book your time slot.

Click the Buy Now button in the bottom right of the next page and click through the options until you get to the final page, where you’ll have to add your address (if you hadn’t already) and choose the date and time. At the time of writing, the next earliest appointment was two days away, so I would recommend planning a few days in advance.

For the all-in-one option, choose the single visit option that appears in the middle of the page with the price RMB 259. You’ll have to choose your time slot before you can click through to the payment page, where you’ll get to choose your date. This option was fully booked for the remainder of the month at the time of writing, which proves just how popular this service is.

To find out how reliable the service was, I tested the app by hiring an ayi for an afternoon of cleaning and cooking. The day before, an SMS was sent for verification. If you wish to cancel, you can do so up to two hours before the appointment. The ayi was slightly late and gave me notice that she would be, so that was acceptable. She also brought a uniform to change into.

I gave her instructions to deep clean the kitchen, which she performed to a T. However, she wasn’t quite as meticulous as I wanted when it came to washing the humidifiers around the house. Later, I asked for her help with cooking dinner – roasted salmon with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. She politely offered advice on the best way to prepare the vegetables and potatoes, and also followed directions to cut and cook well. However, her cooking advice didn’t really pan out, but that’s not surprising as we tend to be rather picky with our meals.

So would I use the service again? Yes, I would, though I wouldn’t want the same person who came the first time. I’m still not ready to commit to a full-time ayi, but will use the app every week or so to help with the chores (I especially hate washing the humidifiers). And if I happen to find “The One” on the way, then hurrah for me!

KEEP READING: Need To Fire Your Ayi? We Share Tips To Answer Your Questions

Images: Vivienne Tseng-Rush

I let my ayi go before Chinese New Year recently, telling her that she needn’t return to work after the two weeks she was taking to go back to her hometown. The timing seems cruel but it made practical sense – she could potentially be gone for up to a month if travel regulations required her to quarantine upon her return to Beijing. But more importantly, we had been growing unsatisfied with some aspects of her service for a while which despite our feedback and comments, did not improve.

My ayi was not thrilled with the news. She tried to demand that I help her find a new job and also asked for more money after I had given her a pro-rated 13th on the bonus red packet for her 8 months of service. All her demands did not sit well with me and led me to wonder what was I required to give her and what was expected of me in this situation.

After doing some research and asking around on the matter, here is some important information you should know if you ever have to fire your ayi.

The first thing you should know about your relationship with your ayi is that it does not fall under labor laws but is considered a service relationship. This means that you are not lawfully her employer and are both considered equal parties in the eyes of the law. On the other hand, labor laws in China would hold the employer responsible for the welfare of the employee and make many demands on the employer.

In short, you are not lawfully required to pay your ayi a severance, nor do you need do give her advance notice if you’re firing her. This is true even if you’re simply letting her go without extenuating circumstances, which might sometimes involve local authorities. To prevent that from ever happening to you, we compiled some tips from the expat community to help keep you and your ayi’s relationship professional.

1. Hire them through an agency / Draw up a clear contract 

If you hire an ayi through an agency, you have a middleman that helps to resolve most issues from accidents to miscommunications, thus shielding you from extraneous drama and problems. Most agencies allow you to try different ayis until you find one you like, and if your ayi can’t make it, the agency will usually find you a replacement. If you’re just hiring the ayi on your own, it’s is critical that you first negotiate the terms and conditions, and it’s best that you put it down on paper. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my recent ayi debacle, it might be best to make sure that any bonuses are contingent on performance and not mandatory.

2. Retain a copy of their ID card and medical book 

Back where I’m from in Singapore, there was a common practice of keeping the passport of our domestic helpers (that’s what we call them instead of ayis) so they couldn’t flee the country without our knowledge. While that is way too extreme and controlling for my liking, you ought to have at least a copy of their ID card and medical book (especially in these epidemic times) to know if she’s up to date on her vaccinations, for her safety and your liability.  

3. Get a biometric lock for your door

This tip was shared by an expat who has seen over 10 ayis in the past year alone; boy have they got some stories! A biometric lock makes it possible for you to remove the ayi’s access after her service has been terminated, in case she decides to try to come back without your knowledge…

4. No notice 

Last but not least, when it comes to firing an ayi, the general agreement is that it’s best to do it at the end of their shift for the day, without notice. While it may seem nice to let your ayi know as far in advance as possible, there is way too much risk that your ayi may take some unwarranted actions after her notice. From some stories we’ve heard, ayis have locked themselves in rooms in the house and refused to leave; taken valuables; and even threatened to hurt themselves. To avoid all this, speak calmly and clearly when you fire them on their way out. This is another pro of using an agency as you can avoid all this commotion.

KEEP READING: Learn From This Ayi’s Mistake and Always Protect Yourself

Images: Pexels

Part of life in Beijing for many involves hiring an ayi – someone to carry out those tedious household chores and help look after your kids. For some, the concept can be difficult to adjust to – the idea of having a stranger doing all the tasks you are perfectly capable of performing yourself doesn’t always rest easy. For others, the transition to paying a reasonable wage for a clean home is a straightforward financial transaction.

No matter which camp you fall in, however, there are always some recurring questions: “How much do you pay your ayi?” “Does your ayi do laundry?” and the most hotly debated, “Do you give your ayi a Chinese New Year bonus?”

Introducing the Beijing Ayi Survey


Now in its ninth year, the Beijing Ayi Survey was started by our colleague Tobal Loyola. After asking around about ayi salaries and getting wildly diverse responses, he realized there was a need for a community resource that could provide a basis for comparison.

So we’re once again conducting the ayi survey to collect some much-needed information on an essential part of your life in Beijing. To take the survey, scan the QR code in the poster below. Help us help you get the most accurate and up-to-date information about ayis in Beijing.

*Be sure to turn on your V** to take the survey.

KEEP READING: To Spy or Not to Spy on the Ayi?

Images: Pexels, Jingkids