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Hiring an after-school babysitter or nanny or enrolling in an after-school care program can be a huge stress reliever for parents. Not only does the care bridge the gap between the end of school and the end of the work day, it can also allow parents the opportunity to run a quick errand or take a moment to get situated after working.
“It was the best decision of my life,” says Michaelann H., a real estate director and mom of three in Tampa, Florida. “When you get home from work and school, the kids need food and homework [help] and your attention and baths — but there is still laundry and dishes to do. And how do you pay attention to the screaming baby while trying to cook healthy meals?”
For parents and kids, the benefits of after-school care are clear, but how much will it cost?
Key takeaways
- After-school care can ease parents’ stress, with costs varying by type and location.
- Care.com’s 2025 survey reports average weekly rates of $316 for babysitters (15 hours) and $827 for nannies (40 hours).
- Out-of-home programs, like daycare, may be more affordable, averaging $315 per week.
What’s the cost of in-home after-school care?
The cost of in-home after-school care, which includes babysitters and nannies, varies based on a number of factors, including the type of care, along with location, experience level of the provider and more. Here’s a quick breakdown of what to expect.
After-school babysitter
Find an after-school babysitter
According to Care.com’s 2025 Cost of Care Survey, parents posted rates for after-school sitters that average $316 per week for one child. That is based on an average of $21.07 per hour, working about three hours a day, or a total of 15 hours per week.
After-school babysitters generally are hired to pick up the kids from school, help with homework, give snacks and possibly take them to and from activities.
After-school nanny
Posted rates for nannies, according to Care.com’s 2025 Cost of Care Survey, average $827 per week for one infant, or $20.68 per hour, for a 40-hour workweek. That being said, after-school nannies, according to Care.com’s Cost of Calculator, post an average hourly rate range of $19.16 to $27.15.
Again, though, rates vary a lot by location. For instance, as of August 25, 2025, in San Francisco, the average hourly posted rate for after-school nannies is $26.59; in Phoenix, it’s $20.19.
After-school nanny duties are similar to after-school babysitters, but expectations (and pay rates) are higher for nannies, often due to their experience. After-school nannies may do some light housekeeping or dinner prep, with their primary focus on child development.
Cost considerations for in-home after-school care
Note: Since in-home care is more personalized than out-of-home after-school programs, rates can vary widely based on a number of variables. In addition to location, these factors may impact the cost of in-home care:
Number of children. More kids equal more work, so paying an extra $1-2 an hour, per kid is a good rule of thumb.
“I pay a lot higher than most parents because we have multiple kids and dogs, and I want my sitter to keep coming back!” says Jene L., a mom, author and TV host in Rotterdam, New York.
Hours. While some parents only need an hour or two of care before they get home, Rachel Charlupski, founder of The Babysitting Company, notes that a lot of sitters set a minimum number of hours — say, 15 hours a week — so they know they’re guaranteed a certain amount of work each week.
Driving or transportation. If your kids have after-school activities or regular playdates, your after-school caregiver will need to be willing and able to transport your kids — and they should be compensated for gas.
Experience and qualifications. Looking for someone with a child care diploma? A teaching degree? Years of experience?
“Education and experience can increase hourly wages for child care providers who provide additional services,” says Elizabeth Malson, founder of The U.S. Nanny Institute.
Homework help and tutoring. After-school sitters should expect to help kids with their homework as part of the job, says Charlupski. But at times, parents want more intensive tutoring, and if so, they should be prepared to pay extra for that service. In this case, Charlupski says, tutoring is generally a separate transaction from babysitting.
Additional skills or responsibilities. A few skills that can command a higher hourly wage, according to Malson, include “speaking a second language, caring for pets and household management.”
What’s the cost of after-school care that’s out-of-home?
Parents can also consider out-of-home after-school programs, which may be run through an organization and take place at the child’s school or at a nearby location. Here are a few to consider.
After-school programs
Pay rates for after-school programs are dependent upon what’s offered, as well as location. That said, Rebecca Carlin, executive director of Wisconsin Youth Company, points out that most organizations can provide financial assistance such as scholarships or state assistance.
“Administration staff find ways to supplement costs using tuition assistance, scholarships or state/city funding that may be available,” she explains.
To get an idea of what you may pay for an after-school program, check out The Wallace Foundation’s after-school program calculator, which allows families to plug in different information to see what they may pay.
“After-school programs have activities and projects designed specifically for school-age children, with a focus on social engagement with staff and peers,” Carlin continues. “The day typically starts with a snack, includes time for active play outside, a guided project and plenty of opportunities for children to decompress after a day of school.”
Programs often run, she notes, from around 2:30-6 p.m. and are for children in kindergarten through grade 5, with some programs for middle school age.
Daycare
Daycare is full-time, out-of-home care for kids 5 and under (who aren’t yet in kindergarten). Whereas pre-school is often half-day (think 9 a.m. to noon or 12:30-3:30 p.m.), daycare generally runs from around 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The cost of daycare varies, but Care.com’s 2025 Cost of Care Survey found that, on average, centers are asking for around $315 per week, per child.
Read more:
Posted average rates for after-school care in the U.S.
| Hourly Rate | Hours Per Week | Weekly Rate | |
| After-school sitter | $21.07 | 15 hours | $316 |
| Nanny | $20.68 | 40 hours | $827 |
| After-school programs | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Daycare | N/A | Varies | $315 |
– Nanny weekly rates account for 40 hours per week and are based on Care.com job post data (full-time care).
Takeaways for parents considering after-school care
When it comes to in-home vs. out-of-home after-school care, there’s no “right” choice. Ultimately, families should weigh their priorities, schedule and budget and go from there.
“In-home care provides one-on-one care, whereas out-of-home programs include groups of children of all ages,” notes Carlin, who adds that, when weighing the two, it’s “important to consider transportation [how will your child get from Point A to Point B?], environment and, most of all, the child’s needs.”
For parents who decide to go with in-home care, Charlupski emphasizes the importance of establishing expectations with your caregiver so everyone’s on the same page from the start.
“Everything should be clear,” she says.
For infrequent babysitting gigs, it’s common to simply have a verbal agreement. But for regular after-school or full-time care, it’s a good idea to sign a written contract together with your sitter. Here’s some guidance for creating a babysitting contract or nanny contract to get you started.
What everyone deems worthy of higher pay may vary, but every parent can agree that a caregiver’s kindness is invaluable.
As Jene puts it, “If they are good to my children, they deserve to be compensated well.”
