The Babysitting Guide: Babysitting Cost

Find out about pay rates for babysitters

babysitter reading to two girls
Inside The Babysitting Guide...

Babysitting fees can quickly run up the cost of an evening out, but the expense is well worth the rejuvenation. If you haven't thought about babysitting fees since you were a babysitting teen, here are some factors that impact rates.

According to a recent USA Today article, babysitters make an average of $10 per hour. But this number varies depending on:

  • Where you live -- Cost of living is an issue no matter the job title. Babysitters in big cities will get paid more than babysitters in small towns. If you live near Boston, visit our Boston Babysitters page to see what the average pay is for sitters in the area. Similarly, if you live in California, visit the San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego Babysitters pages to see what the rates are so you can compare.
  • Amount of experience -- The more experience, the higher the wage. A teenager with no experience is on the low end, while a mature sitter with extensive experience and certifications is at the top of the spectrum.
  • Number and age(s) of children -- If you have more than one child, expect to pay $2 to $5 more an hour for each additional child. This range reflects variability in the care giving required for each child (see below).
  • Activities -- Does your sitter need to take your child (or children) to appointments (e.g., doctor, music lesson, soccer practice)? Does the sitter have any special tutoring skills that they will use to help your child (say, piano lessons)? If so, bump up the wage.
  • Time of day -- Will your child (or children) be awake or asleep during the sitter's hours? Does the sitter have to feed the kids dinner? If the sitter is basically just house watching (and you feed, bathe, and put the child to bed before the sitter arrives), then pay less.
  • Special needs -- If your child has special needs that require skilled interaction or involvement, increase the wage. Care.com has its own list of Special Needs Babysitters and Special Needs Nannies that may have the specific certifications and experiences your family needs.
  • Special training (e.g. CPR or First Aid) -- Pay accordingly for the peace of mind associated with securing a sitter who is CPR-certified.
  • Housekeeping -- The first priority should be child care, but if your kids are at an age where they play independently, or your sitter is there largely while the kids are asleep, pay extra if the sitter is willing to do light housekeeping.
  • Transportation -- Help your sitter with transportation (gas money, cab or local transport, ride home).

If you're still uncertain as to the fairness of your final estimate, ask your friends what they are paying their sitters and also ask your sitter directly about their compensation expectations. You can also use the Care.com Babysitter Pay Calculator to see what the average rate is in your town. If you want to use this rate, we suggest adding the Babysitting Pay Calculator Widget to your blog or in any messages you send to a potential sitter so the pay rate in your area is known.

Good babysitters can be tough to come by; if you find one, hang onto her/him by compensating accordingly.

More Babysitting Resources

Find a Babysitter Near You Today!

Christine Koh is a music and brain scientist turned parent and writer about parenting issues for Care.com. She is also the editor of BostonMamas.com.

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Comments (10)
Dawn G.
Do/Does any of the sitters care to get/be paid from/through the Proaction county assistance program monthly + my weekly rate they give/say for me to pay? that would be the main ? comment to start with before looking for someone + be open availability being hrs/days/nights/wknds vary?! and be able to come into my apt or for him to go there?
Posted: January 26, 2012 at 2:14 PM
Sue S
i watch 4 kids plus my 2 kids for 15 hours and get paid 20 a day and i do everything is it not worth it just going nuts twins that r 2 and a 3 year old and a 5 year old and mine r 3 and 4 someone help me wht i shsould do he just wants to pay 20 dollars and sleepovers to watch any help or any thing from any one
Posted: June 13, 2012 at 11:01 PM
Poopypants
You are crazy! I would want 20 an hour for that much work!
Posted: June 21, 2012 at 11:56 PM
debbie
the going rate here is about $35 a day for two kids, approximately 175.00 a week. Most baby sitters or day care centers expect to get paid for these services even if your child doesn't go to them for a day or two because they are sick etc. this holds their spot at the babysitters. down here most day cares do not offer part time babysitting and your child MUST be picked up by a certain time or additional fees will apply.
Posted: June 28, 2012 at 3:59 PM
Photo of Svitlana M.
Svitlana M.
I am in a shock. In my area parent are willing to pay $5/hr for sitting from newborn to up to 3 children and some house work!
It is insulting, because Job is job. And even minimum wage here is around $8/hr.
The parents expect you to have college degree,CPR certification, First Aid training, experiences,to provide transportation for their kids, help with homework and etc., and etc. in exchange for only $5 in compensation... for ALL those responsibilities and chores?
NO healthcare, No paid vacations, NO unemployment benefits for the babysitter/nanny... To me this is an example of the SLAVERY ! Where do we live?
I couldn't do this job under such circumstances. I just couldn't let others use myself like that and I can't believe that anyone serious and self respecting person could agree to this responsible and difficult job for that pay. It is wrong and unfair.
Posted: September 17, 2012 at 12:41 AM
Photo of Olivia Adina D.
Olivia Adina D.
Babysitting a child is a sensitive job. you as a babysitter are responsible for that child. the average rate starts at 10$/hour for one child. if the parents want to pay 20-40$/day they should take the children to daycare. There one sitter watches more than 6 children at a time so its convenient receiving 20-40 from each child. Of course the attention given to each child is much lower than as a particular babysitter.
Posted: January 29, 2013 at 2:11 PM
Alison
I am in shock. I am a child care provider and I charge 10$ per child a day and I thought I was making a decent living. I watch four children (2 months, 10 months, 3 yrs and 5 yrs) 5 days a week. After reading this I now question my salary.
Posted: April 05, 2013 at 10:06 PM
Ariel
I was recently asked to babysit a premature infant. The mother suggest $30/day. I have always babysat the children in my family and never charged, but $30/day does not seem reasonable for the care of an infant for 8 plus hours a day. After reading this I might have a little talk with the mother.
Posted: April 08, 2013 at 10:45 PM
Photo of Sarah R.
Sarah R.
My only issue with this is that cost of babysitting/ day care is extremely difficult for a single parent (which I am). I can understand paying someone an hourly rate as has been stated above for a night out or one day here or there. However, when it becomes a mon-fri baby sitting during the work day. If a babysitter under those conditions were to ask me for ten plus dollars an hour I would laugh and walk away. Simply because in most jobs in my area that is what I could be getting paid. Therefore, is the parent's income an important bit of information to consider?
Posted: April 15, 2013 at 2:28 PM
Photo of Chelsea A.
Chelsea A.
Sarah, you get what you pay for in this kind of situation. Those who watch children as their professional career as I do need to make a living as well. 10 dollars a day is reasonable, in my opinion. You can get an inexperienced teenager to watch your kids for cheap, but what kind of sense of security does that bring while you are at work? You have to pay for experience and high quality child care. I know it's tough and sad, but it's true.
Posted: April 18, 2013 at 9:32 AM
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