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Babysitter Cost

How Much Does a Babysitter Cost?

low cost Typically: $5-$15 an hour

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Typical costs:
  • According to BabySitters.com, rates paid by the hour depend on where you live and the ages and temperaments of your children. Hourly rates generally run $5-$15.
Additional costs:
  • Multiple children, long hours and baby-sitters hired to work on holidays will increase the cost. It's not recommended to ask baby-sitters to perform additional duties, such as cleaning the house.
  • BabySitters.com recommend adding a tip to the regular hourly pay to encourage the sitter to make your family a priority.
Discounts:
  • According to BabyCenter.com, some parents organize a baby-sitting co-op -- a trade instead of paid service -- in which they take turns watching each other's children.
  • Sometimes families will pool together to hire a baby-sitter for the night.
Shopping for a babysitter:
  • Because costs vary by region, parents should ask other parents in their area what they normally pay their sitters, and what they pay for extras such as multiple children, long hours, late nights, and holidays.
  • The nonprofit organization Safe Sitter says parents should pay according to experience. They recommend finding a sitter who likes children, is trustworthy and competent. Sitters should know basic first aid, how to care for a choking infant or child, and how to call for help in an emergency. Parents should always check references.
  • According to BabyCenter.com, word of mouth is a good way to gather names of teens and adults in your area who like to baby-sit. They also recommend checking your local Yellow Pages for a local baby-sitting agency. You may also search 411.com for child care services in your area.
  • Sites that charge a fee, such as BabySitters.com (which offers a three-month subscription for $30), SitterCity.com (with an annual plan of $8 per month and free registration or a monthly plan of $10 per month and $40 registration) and 4Sitters.com (with a one-time setup fee of $35 plus $7 per month) offer a search by zip code feature to help connect parents with desirable baby-sitters.
  • Church, senior center and school bulletin boards, and online resources like Craigslist are additional ways to search for baby-sitters in your area, but be sure to do a thorough reference check.
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. For medical decisions, always consult your physician for the right course for your infant or child.
 
Article updated November 2006
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
Babysitters...
Amount: $10.00 per hour
Posted by: first time parent in San Jose, CA.Posted: February 19th, 2009 05:02AM
Agency or Individual: individual
One tip we got from friends is, if you use daycare, to see if any of the caregivers there work nights/weekends babysitting. We tried that, and were thrilled to find out the same person who takes care of our baby by day was available sometimes on weekends. At $10 an hour (about $50 for an evening), it's a pricey addition to a night out, but nice for special occasions. Another person at the daycare was letting it be known she babysits at $15 an hour, but that seemed kind of expensive...
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Babysitter Cost
Amount: $5.00 per hour
Posted by: Alison in Houston, TX.Posted: April 11th, 2009 08:04AM
Agency or Individual: Parent
We have a teenage girl (16) that has taken a babysitter course and has infant/child first aid certification. WE give her $5 an hour, and coonsidering that the kids are fast asleep, and she is more than welcome to use the phone, tv, raid the fridge, it's not a bad paying gig :P
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Babysitter cost in california
Amount: $17.00 per hour
Posted by: Irais in Hayward, CA.Posted: May 13th, 2009 07:05PM
Agency or Individual: individual
I babysit 2 kids and get paid $17 per hour. I have 10 years experience and kids of my own.
My prices range from $15-$17 per hour. I prepare the meals or dinner for them as well as give them baths and play hide and seek!
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Babysitter in Atlanta, GA
Amount: $10.00 per hour
Posted by: Ms. Peaches in Atlanta, GA.Posted: June 29th, 2009 10:06AM
Agency or Individual: Nanny When U Need It
I babysit kids and I charge $10.00 per hour, or $50.00 for up to five hours. If you need a Nanny or Babysitter in the Metro Atlanta Area area send me an email nannywhenuneedit@yahoo.com
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Teenage Baby Sitter
Amount: $5.00 per hour
Posted by: Anna Marie Wilcher in Savannah, GA.Posted: July 23rd, 2009 06:07PM
Agency or Individual: Individual
If you live in Savannah Georgia. I know the most responsible teenager to watch your precious children. She did an excellent job for my family while we were there visiting relatives. The fee is $5dollars an hour, and worth every penny.
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babysitting
Amount: $5.00 per hour
Posted by: brittany in fort bragg, NC.Posted: August 26th, 2009 07:08AM
Agency or Individual: stay at home mom
i have 3 kids 5 year old ,3 year old and 2 year old so i know how to take care of kids .we play games have snack time read books and my kids love playing with other kids. im im trying to earn extra money for christmas and for my husband and i to going on a trip when he returns from overseas
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Babysitter
Amount: $13.00 per hour
Posted by: Redpanda in Boston, MA.Posted: November 9th, 2009 05:11AM
We\'re very fortunate to pay only $13 an hour for the sitter who watches our son; the going rate around here is $15-$20 an hour. Our sitter is an elementary school teacher who is fantastic with kids...love him!

I can\'t believe some people here are paying $5 an hour--is that even minimum wage?
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I'm a babysitter
Amount: $5.00 per hour
Posted by: Shelby Twiss in Garden, KS.Posted: January 17th, 2010 11:01PM
Agency or Individual: Shelby Twiss
I usually charge 5 dollars an hour, but last week I told a coworker I'd babysit for 7 dollars an hour. I love in Kansas and she seemed a little put off by that amount. I'm only 18 so I thought it was appropriate, even considering she has four children.
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Babysitter
Amount: $5.00 per hour
Posted by: allybally in Phoenix, AZ.Posted: January 20th, 2010 07:01PM
Agency or Individual: Individual
I pay $5 to teenagers. It is not minimum wage but it is called a first job that you aren\\\'t paying taxes or social security on. I have two easy kids that go to bed with out a problem so I think it is very reasonable.
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ammount
Amount: $5.00 per hour
Posted by: happy facses in lutz tampa, FL.Posted: February 24th, 2010 06:02AM
Agency or Individual: individual
Well I'm 13 and its going to be my first time babysitting and I'm charging 5 dollers an hour plaus 2 dollers for each aditional child.......dose that seem right????
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me
Amount: $5.00 per hour
Posted by: a user in orlando, FL.Posted: May 7th, 2010 06:05PM
Agency or Individual: individual
I'm 15 I am certified, years of experience ranging from 3 months to 11 years, and I only charge 5 dollars and hour flat no matter how many kids. I mean if I can tell they are abusing it I will just not babysit for them agian . If they wanna pay ne extra that's fine but 15-20 is crazy!!!
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Mom with experience
Amount: $10.00 per hour
Posted by: a user in Vienna, WV.Posted: May 10th, 2010 07:05AM
Agency or Individual: Individual Stay At Home Mom
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babysitter
Amount: $15.00 per hour
Posted by: Jase in Eureka, CA.Posted: June 25th, 2010 04:06PM
Agency or Individual: individual
I can't believe people are paying their babysitters $5 an hour! You are trusting these people with your childs life! Isn't that worth a little more than $5 an hour for good care?

I charge about $15 for two boys under the age of 5. One isn't potty trained, so that factors in. I also do house cleaning.
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18 year old babysitter
Amount: $3.50 per hour
Posted by: Torrie in Mount Holly, NJ.Posted: July 18th, 2010 03:07PM
Agency or Individual: Individual
I am the oldest of five kids. Have gone through all the CPR training, and infant watch programs. I usually charge 3.50 an hour per child. I also never watch more then five children at one time.
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19 year old babysitter
Amount: $8.00 per hour
Posted by: yalonda crocker in washington, DC.Posted: July 28th, 2010 08:07AM
Agency or Individual: individual
i have interned at several daycares throughout my high school years and all which recommened i return. But i recommened that i try working from home
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babysitting
Amount: $5.00 per hour
Posted by: Mom of 5 in Bremen, IN.Posted: August 5th, 2010 04:08PM
This is for 4-5 kids and usually the teenagers tell me that I am paying well. I even had one say that I always pay too much. I think it depends on the area you are in. I am in Indiana. I think it makes a difference if you are hiring for an evening or for a week... perhaps or adults vs teenagers.
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Mom with 2 kids
Amount: $1.25 per hour
Posted by: Mommy2R&M in Sylvania, GA.Posted: November 22nd, 2010 08:11AM
Agency or Individual: Individ.
I pay $80 per week for 2 children; it's 4 days a week and 8 hours per day. I've been told this is a great deal for our area. (thank goodness because I'm in college full time!)
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Ex-Babysitter
Amount: $0.00 per hour
Posted by: a user in Wadsworth, OH.Posted: January 19th, 2011 12:01PM
Agency or Individual: RiseAgainst
I'm in my early 20's and since my job didn't have enough business for me to survive soley on that paycheck, I started babysitting for someone. I like kids, but never babysat before so I didn't know what I should charge. This persont told me that he would pay me $20 a day to watch a 2 yr old, then 2 other kids for a couple hours after school. I had a bad feeling about this, but I started working for him anyway because I needed money. Well that only lasted a month. He was giving me $20 a day to baby sit for 10-12+ hours a day!!! And half the time he didn't pay me!
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Want to start,
Amount: $7.00 per hour
Posted by: a user in Tampa, FL.Posted: February 5th, 2011 05:02AM
Agency or Individual: Taylor from Tampa FL
I am 13 and my friend is 14 we want to start babysitting in our community. There are over 400 houses in it and most have children under 13. Do you think that 7.00s per hour is good. I think we should start out at 5.00s then when we get more experience we can do 8 dollars when we clean, make meals, read bedtime stories and fold laudry. We don't do kids under 4 though.
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No time to sleep!!!
Amount: $3.00 per hour
Posted by: Sleep Deprived , Under Paid in Sandy Valley, NV.Posted: April 13th, 2011 09:04PM
Agency or Individual: Individual
I a 19 and getting the training in CPR and other child care lince's. I babysit a 3 year old 13 hours a day/ 4 days a week. I receive $3.00 an hour and have to teach the child, potty train, feed three meals, clean up after, give baths,.... I am a full time collage student on top of babysitting, walk a dog 4 miles on days I babysit and volunteer teaching line dancing to seniors 3 days a week and sports to grade school children 2 days a week. When I can i also house/dog sit to make money to pay for collage.


I think $3.00 an hour is a rip off but don't know if asking for a raise would be a good thing...What do you think?????
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Minimum wage is over $7 these days!
Amount: $7.00 per hour
Posted by: EzrasMommy in Newton, AL.Posted: May 30th, 2011 01:05PM
Agency or Individual: Individual
I am a stay at home mother but also have experience babysitting since I was just 13 years old (16 years ago),I've also worked in child care, & attended child care classes.I myself do not like getting paid less than at least $7 an hour (preferably $10 an hour),& for the week depending on age and hours,the minimum of $75 & most $100,that's just for one child.That's just me.For my son,I usually don't need a babysitter,if I do,it's usually my husband's mom.I prefer someone else at times,so this coming up month we have something we are going to & are going to pay our babysitter who is a teenager $7 an hour but if it's past 5.5 hours then we offered to just pay a flat $40 if that was okay with her.She said yes,but I am thinking I'll give her $50 as a surprise if I feel she did a superb job.We plan on being out for maybe 8 hours max,not sure because it's a Christian comedian & it's out of town.I hate being paid less than I deserve for taking great care of someone else's child.
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Cost of babysitter
Amount: $14.00 per hour
Posted by: Cheryl, Sunshine Babysitting in Orlando, FL.Posted: October 12th, 2011 01:10PM
Agency or Individual: Sunshine Babysitting
Most parents do not realize that they are paying more for a babysitter from sittercity than they should. Sitters on sittercity set their own price and often times charge the same as an agency (that is bonded and insured). sittercity babysitters charge parents the same rate and in most cases more.
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Cost of Babysitting vs Daycare
Amount: $4.00 per hour
Posted by: Gracie1214 in Green River, WY.Posted: November 18th, 2011 08:11AM
Agency or Individual: Individual
I pay a Mom w/kids $4 an/hr for my 4 yr old son from 7am-4pm m-f + S&S or working late extra hrs. She feeds him lunch and snacks as well as teaches preschool lessons 3X a week. Every so often she tells me I don\'t need to pay so much. She\'s great/certified///For a Daycare, it cost me twice as much and were not flexible if I had to work late or on weekends.
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a great deal on childcare
Amount: $1.00 per hour
Posted by: Nanny911 in San Diego, CA.Posted: March 2nd, 2012 04:03PM
Agency or Individual: nanny
You should be ashamed of yourself for paying anyone less than minimum wage to do something as important as care for your child. Clip coupons, find a bargain on something else. It is illegal and a smack in the face to all childcare workers and stay at home mothers, for that matter.To say by your actions that a mothers/childcare worker's job is not even worth minimum wage is despicable to me! Even when well payed, a good mother/caregiver for a child is a priceless blessing!
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DADS WANTS ALL, BUT PAYS NOTHING
Amount: $13.00 per hour
Posted by: Coco C in SOMERS, NY.Posted: April 17th, 2012 08:04AM
Agency or Individual: INDV/GENO SOMERS,NY
DAD NEEDED BABYSTR ASAP!!NITE A MERE7HR/ 3DAYS,DRV/TOTE UM BK N FORTH,(NO EXTRA$4 GAS, MY FAULT NOT2 SEE),IF I DO LITE CLEAN, HE\'LL PAY 1-2HRS MORE! INSTEAD, HE "REALLY WANTS/EXPECTS" IS EVERYTHING, A STAYHOME WIFE!! \r\nMAID TO KEEP FIVE RM APT SPOTLESS; ALL FLOORS, KITCHEN,TAKE OUT TRASH,FRIG/COUNTERS/TABLE, TOILET,TUB, SINKS, ALL LAUNDRY-WASH,FOLD,PUT IN DRAWERS FOR 3MEN/BOYS. STRIP N MAKE BEDS WKLY, ORGANIZE/CLEAN TOYS-MEDIA ITEMS, "MAKE IT YR OWN HOME, I WANT U2B COMFORTABLE!" COOK BOYS DINNER ON FRIDAY NITE (HECK,I DONT EVEN DO THAT FOR MY KIDS! FRIDAY IS PIZZA NITE IN MY HOME). HMMM, & DID I MENTION(NO) HED ASKED IF I WOULD HELP HIM MOVE/REARRAGE THE BOYS FURN FROM 1RM 2ANOTHER. RU SERIOUS!!! I DONT HAVE A LAZY BONE IN MY BODY, HOWEVER, DONT DOWNPLAY EXACTLY HOW FREAKIN MUCH YOU EXPECT (#1)& THEN PAY WHAT A EQUITABLE 4THEIR HARD WORK. $13HR DOES NOT MEET THE DUTIES NEEDED/REQUIRED. PLEASE, ANY1, GIVE ME YR FEEDBACK ON THIS ONE.
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looking for a job
Amount: $6.00 per hour
Posted by: Shelbie S. in Des Moines, IA.Posted: April 29th, 2012 02:04AM
Agency or Individual: Individual
I work part time for my aunt and uncle but I have many years experiences with ttaking care of babies and older. I'm 20 years of age without a drivers license. I work monday 8:30-5:00, thursday 8:30 am to 5, and friday 11:45 am to 6:30.
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