Babysitting Rates
So you've found the perfect babysitter but you have no idea how much to pay a babysitter per hour and what charges for babysitting are reasonable. What is the going rate for babysitting these days anyway? Well, not surprisingly there is no one set babysitting hourly rate for all cases.
In short, the average babysitting rate is typically around $8 - $12 per hour but babysitting wages can vary widely anywhere from as little as $4 per hour all the way up to $18 per hour or more! Why such a wide range? The reason is what rate to pay a babysitter depends on many factors, the most critical of which are location, experience, number of children, and any other additional requirements from parents. Let's touch on each of these:
Location
Have you ever heard the expression "Location, Location, Location?" Okay so it's not exactly real-estate we're talking about but where you live does have a factor in determining babysitting pay. Typically if you live in a large city like New York or Los Angeles where the cost of living is higher, babysitting rates are also higher (often $1 - $3 more per hour) when compared to smaller cities and towns. Remember, babysitting is a job like any else so a babysitter salary will be affected by the location you are in.
Experience
How much experience a babysitter has is one of the most important factors in determining a reasonable babysitting charge. A high school student with little or no experience would normally earn much less than an experienced adult. All other factors aside, teenagers are often more than happy to babysit for $5 per hour whereas an adult with a number of years experience as a nanny or sitter would expect at least $10 per hour. It really all depends on your childcare needs and what type of babysitter you are comfortable with.
Number of Children
This is a given; the more children that require care, the more work it's going to be for the babysitter and the more money you should pay them. How much extra should you pay for looking after more than one child? Again, it can vary but usually around $1 per additional child is the norm.
Age of Children
Newborns, infants, toddlers, and generally any child under the age of 3 requires a caregiver that has suitable training and experience with children of that age group. Taking care of a baby is significantly different than taking care of an older child. Babies and young toddlers have special needs such as diaper changes, feeding, dressing, putting to sleep, and most importantly keeping them away from potential dangers within the common household. Due to these additional needs, a babysitter's hourly wage should be adjusted by at least another $2.
Time of Day
Regular babysitting hours are typically considered between 8:00am and 10:00pm. If you require a babysitter to babysit outside of these usual hours, additional compensation should be considered. If paying hourly, an extra $2 per hour worked past 10:00pm or before 8:00am is reasonable.
Special Requirements
The last factor to consider when determining a babysitter rate is whether there are additional requirements above and beyond the average babysitting job. Some of these requirements could include housework, cooking, running errands, and caring for children with disabilities or special needs. Since these requirements can vary so widely, you'll need to make your best judgement as to how much extra these requirements mean in terms of babysitting fees for the babysitter. If in doubt though, adding on a couple of bucks per hour would be a safe bet.
