Whether you’re new to babysitting or just re-evaluating the hourly rate that you’ve been charging, it’s important to get familiar with the average babysitter rates and the variety of factors that sitters and families take into account. Here’s what you need to know to determine a babysitting rate per hour that works for everyone.
Know the going rate for babysitting
Before you nail down your own babysitter rate, you’ll first need to figure out what other babysitters typically charge families to watch their kids. The basic rate of babysitter pay is fairly consistent across the UK, with the going rate starting at £10 an hour everywhere from Edinburgh to London. While this is a good starting point, however, there are numerous factors that can affect what you charge. Your city, your experience, and the duties involved in a job are all things you should take into consideration when setting your rate.
Know the factors that can influence babysitting rates
There are several factors that determine a babysitter’s hourly wage:
- Your level of experience
- The number of kids you will be watching
- The location where you live or where you will be babysitting
- The costs you incur, including travel costs and equipment
- Your duties, i.e. what you are expected to do alongside caring for the kids
- The hours you work
1. Experience
The more babysitting jobs or hours you’ve worked, the more pay you can earn. While a sitter with little or no experience can usually expect to earn the base rate of £10/hour, those with many years of professional experience can generally boost their rate by 10–30%. Any additional skills, certifications, and training you have acquired along the way should also be reflected in your fees.
2. Number of children
Looking after more children can be more work, so you can expect to charge a little more. While rates don’t vary hugely between looking after one child and two, by the time a family has four or five, you can normally add an additional £1–2 onto your hourly fee. The age and needs of the children should also be taken into account. Children with special needs and infants often require more care and additional certifications – so you can increase your pay if you babysit either of these groups.
3. Location
The base rate of £10 an hour doesn’t vary much across the UK, despite the very different costs of living. However, the amount you can add on for other factors such as the ones above will differ depending on where you live. Predictably, prices in London tend to be higher, and sitters with more experience or looking after more kids can add more to their rates if they work in the capital. So it’s worth doing your homework: use a babysitting rate calculator to see what the pay rate is in your area for sitters with a similar profile to you. If your skillset is worth more in one town than a neighbouring one, you would be well advised to look for babysitting jobs in the town that pays more.
Here are some examples of the going babysitter rates based on location, according to recent Care.com data.
Current babysitter rates for top cities
| CITY | HOURLY BABYSITTER RATE |
|---|---|
| London | £12.43 |
| Birmingham | £11.50 |
| Glasgow | £11.25 |
| Liverpool | £11.24 |
| Bristol | £11.25 |
| Manchester | £11.45 |
| Sheffield | £11.15 |
| Leeds | £11.26 |
| Edinburgh | £11.03 |
| Leicester | £11.52 |
4. Your costs
It’s worth taking other cost factors into consideration when calculating your rate. How far are you travelling to work, for example, and what is it costing you? Are you bringing any special items or equipment with you, e.g. toys, snacks or crafts? Don’t be afraid to factor these into your rate.
5. Your duties
Different employers will expect different things from their babysitters. Some families just want their kids to be supervised and entertained, while other jobs might involve cooking, doing the laundry, and shuttling the kids to and from various activities. Make sure you understand the family’s needs and expectations in advance – and ensure your fee reflects the number of responsibilities you have.
6. The hours you work
In terms of your pay, when you are working can be just as important as what you are doing. Many sitters charge a premium for in-demand times such as Friday or Saturday night. If you are babysitting the whole night, however, your hourly rate may be lower than normal. Although a babysitter’s duties don’t stop while the children are in bed, you don’t have to plan activities, cook dinner or supervise homework during this time.
Know the bare minimum you’re required to be paid
Families often expect experienced, high-quality care at the minimum possible price. But make sure the fee you’re paid reflects your needs – and the legal requirements. The minimum wage – sometimes referred to as the “national living wage” – is the legally mandated hourly minimum an employer is required to pay you. This is rising from £8.91 to £9.50 (for employees aged 23 and older) in April 2022. Lower rates apply for employees aged between 16 and 22, so if that’s you, make sure to check exactly what you are owed by your employer.
Know how much you need to make a living
While the minimum wage is a requirement, experts agree it’s not enough to live on. The wage workers actually need to make ends meet and support their families is referred to as the real living wage.
The real living wage varies greatly depending on location since the cost of living is different everywhere. The real living wage for London, for example, is generally calculated at around 10% higher than for other areas of the UK. These tools show you the estimated pay rates and the living wage in your area, and help you calculate your own salary requirements:
- Look up the average babysitting and childcare rates for your area.
- Take a look at the real living wage table for the UK.
- Check out this budget planner from Money Helper to find out how much you should realistically be charging to meet your needs.
Don’t forget about tax
Remember that your babysitting rate is how much you’ll be paid before tax is deducted. You can use this take-home salary calculator to work out how much money you will actually make after tax – which is useful to know when calculating your rates.