How Much Should You Pay a Babysitter?

271 Responses to “How Much Should You Pay a Babysitter?”

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1. 51
   karen Says:
   December 18th, 2008 at 11:03 pm

   Gee when I was in junior high and high school..I charged $1.00 per hour but always made more. That was my base rate..I allowed them to tip me. But that was like in the late 70s early 80’s. Times have changed these days. I guess I need to quit my day job and start babysitting full time with these prices.

2. 52
   Mike Says:
   December 23rd, 2008 at 1:40 am

   $8/hr typically for an outstanding baby sitter that watches 2 kids in the Portland area. No tips, but I do round up to the next half hour or hour. Sometimes throwing an extra $5 in there. Those who pay $15+ an hour are foolish, particularly in Seattle. I used to live there and that is a very good wage even for those who don’t work under the table! It may not be a living wage for a 40 hr week up there, but it is awesome side money or for anyone who doesn’t have to pay for outrageous mortgage or rent payments.

3. 53
   Jen Says:
   December 30th, 2008 at 3:22 pm

   wow . . . i’m 14 and live in rural MN. i babysit the neighbors 2 kids [i think 7 and 9] all summer and into the school year. i get picked up at 6, watch tv with the kids for half an hour, five them a bedtime snack, and put them to bed at 7. the parents get home around 10.

   i get paid about 4 bucks an hour. i find this completely fair. if you really think about it, for the 3 hours till the parents come home, i am getting paid to sit there and do homework, watch tv, and text. i do pay attention to the kids. they are good kids, and i have fun watching them. in the summer, i get paid the same but i am saved from a day of boredom sitting at home.

   these people are very sweet and the kids are adorable. during the school year, it helps me stay concentrated on my studies instead of doing things i shouldnt. i believe i am getting paid fairly.

4. 54
   autumn Says:
   December 31st, 2008 at 10:25 pm

   I’m 11 years old i babysit my cousins my brother and thats about it but my brothers 8 yrs my cuz emma just turned 7 my cuz ashlyn is about 3 1/2. i usially dont ask for money unless they offer it to me. but when i did babysit ashlyn i charge 1.50 per hour but after 3hrs its only 1.25. My cuz emma i ONLY charge when they offer cuz there going through tough times. but mu brother i dont charge any but im gonna start VERY soon.

5. 55
   Gwen Says:
   January 1st, 2009 at 11:06 pm

   SHEW!! I don’t know how any one could afford to go out at those rates!! Some people don’t even make $10 an hour at their job, much less pay a babysitter.

   When I started babysitting I got paid 50cents an hour. {{GRINS}} guess that is telling my age!

   Maybe I should go back into babysitting. I know that daycare cost is really high too, glad my baby is 25.

6. 56
   Sarah Says:
   January 2nd, 2009 at 2:02 am

   Hi my name is Sarah, I’m actually a babysitter not a mom. I live in Fountain Valley California 92708 in Orange County. I’m 12 almost 13 and not to brag but I very reasponsible all the people that don’t know me but heard of me think I’m 16. I’m very mature and in school I have an average of 4.0. I am very different and are not like any other babysitter, I’ll clean your whole house and take care of as many as 12 children at a time, but in order to do that I have to ask you questions on how you like your house to be cleaned. Depends on the day I could usually work from 7:00 or 7:30am to 9:00pm. I love children!!!! Most of the children I took care of all love me! My family has 13 baby boy cousins and 10 baby girls cousins from the range of 1 and a half-11 years old. I have to babysit them all and my family was so proud the paid me alot. Most of the time you pay me on how much you are satisfied but the lowest is $4.50 but I never got there or even close to there. I’m CPR and everything trained incase of an emergengy and know the basics and more of babysitting. I have received a certifacate and notification that I was trained. I will do anything to make you and your childeren satisfied. I think that you shouldn’t just hire adults they don’t have as much of a connection then with kids and kids they understand each other and have had the same problems which help find solutions. But it depends on the adult or if you know them well. I’m not lieing and I promise I will never go on the computer or phone much unless I really have to. If you would like to contact me please call my cell ecept during school hours on my cell (714)-658-1743. Please contact me at least one day before. But I can’t start working with you until after Feb. 5 sorry I can’t do it any sooner. Thank you for your patience. Bye!!!

7. 57
   Shinea Says:
   February 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am

   I’m a teenage babysitter (18) and I have a Red Cross babysitters first aid license that I got ever since I was 13. I live in a small town and charge $5 an hour when the child is awake and $3 an hour when the child is asleep. Overnight is $30. That usually includes meals for the child and the house cleaned. The price stays the same even if more children are added.

8. 58
   Jessica Says:
   February 11th, 2009 at 9:31 pm

   Hi i have a friend of mines daughter who is 15 and the kids(one 4 and the other is 9) love her. She sleeps at our house. we pay her at least $125.00-$150.00 each time.

9. 59
   Paige Says:
   February 15th, 2009 at 10:01 am

   I feel like ive been cheated I am 13 and a very good babysitter. I baby sitted 3 kids. 11 months, 6 years, 8 years. After they went to bed I cleaned the house very nice. I babysat from 7:00-11:00. All I got was $12 flat. It really sucked.

10. 60
    Paige Says:
    February 15th, 2009 at 10:12 am

    Expecially since The Last time I babysitted It was 3 children. One was my aunts friend and the others were my cousins. I babysitted from 7-1 and I got paid $25 from one and $25 also from the other. and once I just babysitted 2 of them and still got $25. So I was pretty mad that I only got $12. by the way this was all flat rates.

11. 61
    Kim Says:
    February 19th, 2009 at 2:21 am

    I am a babysitter and I currently get paid $10-12 for one kid, sometimes two, and $18-20 for three kids, and about $4 per kid after that. In Chicago, I’d also get a tip at the end of the night on top of my salary, but in Vegas, people are tighter with their money.

12. 62
    stephanie Says:
    March 2nd, 2009 at 12:39 am

    I used to get $80 for an evening out (from about 6 or 7pm til about 2-3am) when I was 17 around 2004ish. You couldn’t pay me less than 10 bucks an hour unless the kids are over the age of 8 and there’s only one of them. Is it so bad to pay for a reliable sitter who you actually trust to be alone in your home? and not only a safe one (who keeps the kids safe and doesn’t steal your identity or your dvds etc.) but one who your kids really enjoy? I know some people who paid they’re babysitters extra not to sit for other people. Where I’m from (from North Jersey but currently in Philly) people love to steal sitters away from families. Why not? if the kids are just as fun (or at least not evil monsters) and they are going to pay you more, there’s no reason why I wouldn’t take that job over yours.

    The one thing I hate is I also used to tutor ($20 for 40 minutes) and parents would try to sneak in some homework help while I was sitting. I don’t mind helping out with a question or two, but I’m not going to sit down and give a total lesson for a cheaper price.

    Also, currently most of the sitters here in Philly and on the Mainline make about $15 an hour.

13. 63
    Hallie Says:
    March 18th, 2009 at 3:09 am

    Hi, I currently babysit/nanny for multiple families in Seattle and I have found the variety of responses to the question of how much to pay a babysitter very interesting.

    I am 25, in college, and have an extensive childcare background which includes working with infants and children with special needs. I am CPR and First Aid certified and have gone through STARS training.

    I currently charge $13 an hour for 1 child and $2 an hour extra for each additional child. At this time, I am working mostly with families which have infants or special needs children.

    I do agree that $13 an hour is a lot of money, but for me babysitting and nannying is my only source of income. I am not provided with any health benefits and thus my insurance is paid out of pocket. Because childcare is my line of work, I take a very professional approach to my job.

    If you are hiring a kid for a one night gig while you go out on the town, I would say $13 an hour is too much. But if the person you are hiring is going to be spending a significant amount of time with your child, it is worth it to pay them the extra money. Finding someone who loves helping to raise other people’s children is rare and when you find that sitter/nanny you’ll want to hold on to them. Save the big bucks for those young men and women you would rather teach and play with your child instead of just “watch” them.

14. 64
    Brittany Says:
    March 23rd, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    I get paid about $10 dollars and hour for a 15 month old, 5 yr old, and 7 yr old. But family is usually cheaper about $20 per time babysitting so it dosen’t work out to very much per hour. About $3 per hour for 3-5 kids ranging baby to 8 yr old, but there family.

15. 65
    Chelsea Says:
    April 7th, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    I get paid $5 an hour when I babysit four kids…

16. 66
    Ray Says:
    May 4th, 2009 at 3:32 pm

    I am 14 and am certified by the Red Cross to babysit. I don’t go on the phone or computer while I babysit, I actually play with the kids, and I bring along some fun things for them to do. I love kids, and would do anything to make them happy. I am asking $8 an hour for 1 child, $10 for two, $12 for three, etc. I was wondering how that price is for Maryland, where i’m going to be soon. Should I raise it? Or lower it?

17. 67
    nanny Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 10:33 pm

    9 get paid 140 dollar for elen days working fro 10am-6pm =[ to scared to ask for more

18. 68
    natasha Says:
    June 9th, 2009 at 10:05 pm

    hi, i’m 12 1/2 and can now legaly babysit. I know u may think i’m a little young, but I love, love, love kids, and people say I’m very responsible, so how much should i pay ……i was thinking around 4 dollars for 1 kid, and one dollar for each extra, per hour. Please tell me if you think that is fair, or what else should i charge !!!!!!

19. 69
    Dani Says:
    June 14th, 2009 at 1:57 am

    im 14 and i have also been cpr trained by the red cross (a babysitters training course–took 8 hours of pure TORTURe!! but i did it for safety)and i semi-regularly babysit a 2 year old boy and a 5 year old girl and i get paid an average of $8/hour

    ps i NEVER use the phone or computer (besides once to find out what to make for dinner because all i had was plain pasta and i had o figure out what to do with it) even after i put them to bed, i rarely watch tv, i bring a book to read and/ or clean up the kitchen and the childrens toys the might have left behind

    i also give baths and as stated above, cook for them

    do you think im being paid enough?

20. 70
    Dani Says:
    June 14th, 2009 at 2:03 am

    i also play with the kids constantly and am actually exhausted when i get home

21. 71
    Cat Says:
    June 30th, 2009 at 2:20 pm

    I am a babysitter in NJ. I charge $15/hr regardless of how many kids. I’ve never sat for anyone with only one child, but I would probably lower it to $10 for them. I am usually available last minute, spend the whole time with the kids, and am very flexible if the parents arrive back early or want to stay out later.

22. 72
    Cat Says:
    June 30th, 2009 at 2:22 pm

    Dani- I’m also CPR certified, give baths, light cleaning, etc. You should definitely be getting paid AT LEAST $10/hr. Considering your age, $10 would be fair, $12/hr wouldn’t be unreasonable.

23. 73
    Ray Says:
    July 1st, 2009 at 10:01 am

    Dani- the whole “reasonable price range” changes for different areas too, though… a 14 year old might get $5/hr in one area but $15 in another… it really depends on where you are. For two kids you most likely should be getting AT LEAST $8/hr- im babysitting certified, and do anything the parent asks me to, and don’t use the phone or computer, and for two kids i ask for $10/hr. If people seem annoyed or hesitate when you tell them your price, either lower it or leave! But don’t lower it too much. Over all, i’m not saying i’m an expert, and i know i’m certainly not one, but me and my friends have been babysitting for a while. I have a regular “charge,” my 5 yr old neighbor. He’s adorable! I don’t babysit him, i am a mothers- helper for him. i get $5/hr for being a mothers- helper. Anyway, sorry to go on and on, and have fun!

24. 74
    Me Says:
    July 15th, 2009 at 11:54 am

    Im being paid $200 a week and babysit 2 boys under 8 im 13

25. 75
    Brittany Says:
    August 2nd, 2009 at 6:56 pm

    I’ve just found out that the mother will pay me $15 for everything I do around the house. Fair?

26. 76
    Alex Says:
    September 3rd, 2009 at 12:32 am

    I need some input on how much you think I should ask for or be payed for in this situation. I am a recent college graduate and unemployed still. My neighbor in Atlanta, asked me to house sit for 6 days while watching their daughter that is in 8th grade and taking care of their two dogs. I would have to spend the night at the house and make sure she got to the bus stop safely each morning. While she is at school from 9:15-4:00 Monday-Friday I would have my free time. When she gets home from school I need to help her with homework and cook dinner. Meanwhile, I will be watching their 2 dogs feeding and letting out morning, afternoon, and night . We have been family friends and neighbors for years so h ow much should I ask for? I am torn because my whole weekend will consists of this and more. I would love to hear anyone’s input!!

27. 77
    momof4 Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 3:12 pm

    i am a mom of 4 kids.3 of them already in school and Im stuck at home with my 16month old baby.Now im babysitting a friend’s 4 yr old son and get paid $10 dollars for a day.AGAIN, 10 for a day.The child gets to be dropped off at 2pm and gets to be picked up at 11 at night.( the most)So he gets to spend dinner with my family.
    I live in SOUTH FLORIDA.
    An additional child doesnt bother me at all.I have four of my own but he is an only child so he is quite spoiled at times.

28. 78
    momof4 Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 3:27 pm

    we never`really sat down and discussed about the price.i just told her to pay lesser than what she is paying his daycare so she can save .I didnt know she would go down to 10 dollars a DAY.knowing that her husband works too.
    its been 4 months now and i feel bad to tell her to find another babysitter.But with 4 kids to feed PLUS her son wanting to eat every other 2 hours and just end up wasting our food, I kind’a feel stressed a bit.NOt to mention him being a spoiled brat.
    confused???

29. 79
    Renee Says:
    September 26th, 2009 at 2:34 pm

    I am 16 and i babysit 3 children ages 3, 6, & 9!!!
    I watch them sat. thru tue!
    I get paid $100!
    I work 52 hours a week!
    Wich means i get 26.96 per day!
    Wich is 1.92 per hour!
    If you ask me I’m gettin screwed over!
    But This is just a blow over thing!
    I’m just doing it to pass time til i can start college!
    But don’t you think i should still get paid right?????

30. 80
    Renee Says:
    September 26th, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    ^^^^^And this is Oklahoma^^^^^

31. 81
    single mom Says:
    September 28th, 2009 at 5:31 pm

    I’m looking for a sitter in rural NC to watch my 3 1/2 yr old 3 days/week for 10 hours/day while I work. No cooking or cleaning as I will prepare meals ahead of time (maybe heat something in the microwave). If I paid some of the rates mentioned here, I would just be working to pay someone else to do what I would rather be doing – staying at home with my child. What’s a single parent to do?

32. 82
    Dani Says:
    October 3rd, 2009 at 5:00 pm

    Last night I babysat 3 kids ages 5 and 7(sister and brother) and 7(last-minute friend of theirs whose parents also had to go out ). I made $75 total for babystting from 7:30 to 10:30 but they were asleep for the last 30 minutes and I only had 2 for th last hour. The family usually pays $10 an hour but I got more because of the last-minute third child and they knew it made it a lot harder cuz the kids got excited and stuff and ran around more compared to just sitting around watching movies. But, they have a fridge with tons of different soda iced tea water juice milk yogurt pudding everything candy HOMEMADE choco chip cookies which Im welcome to which is awesome but I don’t like eating their food. When they go to bed o can text, watch TV, they even got movies out just for me to watch once the kids are asleep and ones for the kids and me so I watched part of a movie I cleaned up a little etc. But this was in Thompson, CT, so they have more money than most would.

33. 83
    chelsey Says:
    October 7th, 2009 at 10:53 am

    i get paid $10 an hour for two kids that are the age of 3 and 10 months. to me thats plenty for how many hours i babysit. on thursdays its usually 7pm till 1am and just recently ive pickked up weekends. last weekend i babysat for 26hours and this coming up weekend ill be babysitting for 50 hours. and to be honest im looking so forward to doing it because i love kids. i dont look at it really as a job mainly more as a hobby:)

34. 84
    chelsey Says:
    October 7th, 2009 at 11:02 am

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^HUDSON IOWA^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

35. 85
    shea Says:
    November 1st, 2009 at 3:26 pm

    omg! me and my friend are going to start an at home babys day care… we r so glad we looked at this website! we were goin to charge 4 per our 30 per week.i think that a normal experienced baby sitter should get any where from 5-10 dollars per kid an hour…

36. 86
    kristene Says:
    November 10th, 2009 at 10:51 am

    I am a college graduate, cpr-first aid certified for over 5 years. Used to life guard and was a nursing student at one point during college. Given my experience with children and medically, I feel it is only right to charge $12-$15\hour for the normal night out. I now nanny monday-friday from around 7:45-12:15. I drop the 3rd and 6th graders off at school between 8:15 and 8:30. I spend the rest of the morning creatively playing and helping to teach the kindergartener. I also feed him lunch, get him dressed and bring him to school. For this- because it is STEADY- I charge $40\day and $15\hour if one of the children are home sick and need to be taken care of. This is all info. I am providing for others…

    Now… The mother of the 3 children asked me to do my first overnight with the 3 children starting at around 4 through to around 1 or 2 the next afternoon. Keep in mind this means 3 meals for 3 children prepared by me. WHAT DO I CHARGE?????

37. 87
    Andrea Says:
    November 30th, 2009 at 11:28 pm

    What a bunch of cheap bastards.

38. 88
    dory Says:
    December 6th, 2009 at 12:38 am

    When I was younger, I watched kids and I just had them pay me whatever they wanted and was grateful. Now that Im older, I have a 2 year old and we pay her $50 a night no matter how long were gone. I feel thats a good pay..especially since were never gone for more than 6 hours.I dont think anyone else pays her that much so she more than likely will always be available for us. I wouldve passed out getting $50 for playing with kids for 4 hours or less.

    I agree though that if your kids are bratty/spoiled…parents will need to sweeten the deal and pay up more. I had to watch some kids that were bad once and I never went back.

39. 89
    Andrea Says:
    December 7th, 2009 at 6:38 pm

    Parents, why don’t you pay a decent salary to your babysitters? I’m a babysitter, I get paid $16/hour and I know babysitters who get paid even more than that. Taking care of a kid is a big responsibility. Keep in mind that these women are raising your kids, so do you really think 5-10$/hour is gonna cut it? People get paid the same at Target and they don’t have a quarter of the responsibility a nanny has over your children.

    And babysitters, don’t sell yourself cheaper than what you’re worth! Babysitting is a big responsibility! Taking care of more than one child also means charging more! Don’t sell your work, energy and time for less!

40. 90
    Deanna Says:
    December 7th, 2009 at 9:28 pm

    Well i’m going to be paid $100 for babysitting two kids (5 & 1 1/2) on New Years Eve, for about 3 hours or so. I think it’s a little much, especially since its my first time with those kids… But hey, as long as the babysitter is good and the kids like him/her, any price you think is reasonable should be right.

41. 91
    girlwhoneedsadvice! Says:
    December 17th, 2009 at 11:08 am

    Hi. I am going to be babysitting some kids in my neighborhood once a month for the next few months. I am 13, and I have taken the Red Cross Babysitters Training. There are 3 kids- ages 3, 5, and 6. I am wondering how much I should be charging. I babysit around 3 hours and I put them to bed. The first time I charged $4/hr. Is that too small? Should I be asking for more? I never use their computer, I rarely watch tv- only if the children are asleep, and even then I like to bring a book. I live in southeast Michigan. Thanks!

42. 92
    2dollors Says:
    February 28th, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    wow, i am 10 and i was thinking about babysitting for 2 dollors a hoour cause it is all ready so hard to find a nice place to sit down without it being too expensive!!! :[

43. 93
    knockout09 Says:
    March 24th, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    I live in a tiny town. I took a babysitting class and got CPR certified by that and by 8th grade health class. I aced both tests. I’m watching 2 boys(ages 5 and 9) for about9 hours a day. Their parents are family friends. I was just wondering how much I should get paid. I don’t want to charge a lot. This IS a TINY town. How much would you pay me.

44. 94
    wow Says:
    March 28th, 2010 at 9:18 am

    I’m now seriously considering quitting my full time job in a lab to pursue babysitting as a career…lol

45. 95
    no name Says:
    April 5th, 2010 at 8:16 pm

    How stupid… why would I pay a babysitter more then I make???(NOT A DAYCARE, NOT A NANNY, NOT A CERTIFIED HOME HEALTH AIDE< NURSE OR OTHER EMPLOYEE OF CHILD CARE IN MY HOME)
    You know, a babysitter like most teen girls are at some time, high school or college age kids, responsible but not forced to be my maid, just insure the kids are alive when I get home, don't steal my stuff, don't do anything really dumb… just watch the kids, play with them be intelligent and mature.
    I believe nannies who are steadily employed by the same family SHOULD make more then 3 or 5 bucks an hour.
    A few years ago I was looking for a hs or college kid to watch a 9 year old child for 5-10 hours a week… just get him off the bus, ensure he is alive for the 1-2 hours until my husband got home. I meant that I wanted a kid from town to walk over and babysit him, knowing they could call my friends or neighbors if there was a problem or something.
    NOPE, no such thing, I got replies from nannies looking for full time positions, people who would do it for 250dollars a week… why should it cost 250 dollars a week for less then 10 hours of something I never considered work at 12, 13, 14, 15 even 17 yrs old?
    I never had a rate, a resume, I was certified by the red cross, had used babysitting money to take a baby sitting course. People paid what was fair (this was late 80's) I never said I get this much or that much and they would pay me about 30 dollars most nights, one family paid a lot but they had 5 kids…
    I understand if people are providing a service that's beyond babysitting… but when my son watches my friend's kid I won't let them pay him more then 5 per hour and that's fair. He's 13 and the one child is 8.
    I think anyone who is less then college age and making more then 10 per hour for less then 3 kids is making out like a bandit… unless you have some kind of special arrangement where you hire someone to be your babysitter only, it's ridiculous.
    I never used a babysitter when the kids were young…I finally found a mom who babysat my son when he was 9. Her kid was in the same grade, same school and she watched him approx 45 minutes a day and we paid her about 30 dollars a week….
    What a freaking racket! If I was paying someone to clean, wash everything, cook… that'd be different but to play and make sure they are ok for 3-6 hours… that's stupid.

46. 96
    yiyi Says:
    April 16th, 2010 at 7:55 pm

    So, how much should I pay my babysitter for my 4 kids if I make $10h?

47. 97
    Connor Says:
    May 13th, 2010 at 9:05 pm

    i got paid 8 dollars a night from 6-8 and i get cleaned up. im calling my boss.

48. 98
    Angel Says:
    May 16th, 2010 at 10:10 pm

    I baby sat for a neighbor two kids 5 and 4 both boys .. The other day the cousin ( of the mother of two kids) told me to tell her 70 dollars … I told her oringally 50 I babysit 5 hours. So that 14 an hour 7 dollar per child .. Now the aunt ( the mother of the cousin) is mad at me thatI ask for more money then planned but owed me money from previous time I babysat for 5 hours and I only got 40 dollars. So it actually 10 buck more nowi feel guilty that she give me extra money and that I listen to the girl that told me to ask for 70 dollars .. When I get some money this week and give back the extrA money that I receive…

49. 99
    Monica Says:
    June 3rd, 2010 at 10:35 am

    I was concerned about what we were paying a college age young lady from our church to take and pick up our 13 year from school and to put our 12 yo on the bus while I was student teaching. We gave her $100 a week, approx $20 a day. But after reading the comments, I believe we did ok.

50. 100
    melanieirocnow Says:
    June 8th, 2010 at 8:36 pm

    im 11 should i baby sit

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