babysitter rates? help!

A_seattle · April 2011

can someone tell me what the going rate for babysitters is these days? (college age - so I know that would be more than high school age I would think) I want to be fair... I don't want to be cheap cause I want her to want to come back, but I also don't want to overpay and not be able to afford to ever use her

Thanks!!

ohyeahdollface · April 2011

From what I have experienced while babysitting:

Before nanny experience: $6-8/hr. (I was 14-18)

After nanny experience: $10-12/hr.(From 19-now. This also included me having had background checks, drivers checks, CPR/first aid certification, and full-time experience.)

Seattle_JiLLn · April 2011

When we have used sitters (over a year ago) they were $11-14/hr. Both were nannies for friends.

Kglan · April 2011

I was just talking to a friend about this yesterday...she refused to pay her cleaning lady more than her babysitter. And most house cleaners make $20/hr. I thought she was a little crazy to pay that much, but she does have a point...why pay a lady to clean your house more than someone you entrust your kids too?

Zista · April 2011

Kglan:
I was just talking to a friend about this yesterday...she refused to pay her cleaning lady more than her babysitter. And most house cleaners make $20/hr. I thought she was a little crazy to pay that much, but she does have a point...why pay a lady to clean your house more than someone you entrust your kids too?

I think it's crazy too, but I don't up my nanny's rate because of it... I pay the fair market rate for her experience in child care.

It's also simple supply and demand. Housekeeping is a dirty nasty job, and the people who choose to do it demand more money to do so. A lot of people actually like kids and will work for less to take care of them.

I pay my nanny $15/hour... but that is to keep her as my nanny, so I know it's more than the going rate for babysitters. She's in her junior year of college with an Associates in Elementary Ed and a lot of childcare experience.

LauraLynneC · April 2011

My 17 year old teen makes $10 for one, $12 for 2. She's got 5+ years experience and doesn't make phone calls/text or watch TV - she actively plays with the kids for the entire time (her choice...). She's doing this for her main job rather than slinging fries. I think it's a fair wage for her - but I also know (before bias) that's she's better than most average high schoolers.

Seattle_JiLLn · April 2011

LauraLynneC:
My 17 year old teen makes $10 for one, $12 for 2. She's got 5+ years experience and doesn't make phone calls/text or watch TV - she actively plays with the kids for the entire time (her choice...). She's doing this for her main job rather than slinging fries. I think it's a fair wage for her - but I also know (before bias) that's she's better than most average high schoolers.

Too bad you don't live near me! She'd be hired.

*Bloom2be* · April 2011

Seattle_JiLLn:

LauraLynneC:
My 17 year old teen makes $10 for one, $12 for 2. She's got 5+ years experience and doesn't make phone calls/text or watch TV - she actively plays with the kids for the entire time (her choice...). She's doing this for her main job rather than slinging fries. I think it's a fair wage for her - but I also know (before bias) that's she's better than most average high schoolers.

Too bad you don't live near me! She'd be hired.

This!! I would love to have another sitter besides my mom that I could rely on!

seattlestef · April 2011

We pay our part time nanny $14/hr over the table. She's 26 with a college degree and working towards her masters in education right now. I think we're getting a very good deal and plan to pay more when we have to hire a new nanny in the fall.

BethS2006 · April 2011

we pay our HS sitter 8-10 an hour, the higherside if its daytime sitting... since our kids go to bed at 730, and she comes at 530, there is a whole lot of tv and do your homework time... I tend to be more generous, and use that number as a base and round up... I always hated when someone would hand me dollar bills an exact change when I baby sat...

shes sat for the kids since they were 9 mo, and they adore her. best CL find ever! haha.... she shows up, and they kcik us out...

ATT&BTT · April 2011

ohyeahdollface:
From what I have experienced while babysitting:
Before nanny experience: $6-8/hr. (I was 14-18)
After nanny experience: $10-12/hr.(From 19-now. This also included me having had background checks, drivers checks, CPR/first aid certification, and full-time experience.)

Ditto that is what I am doing. :-)

moohaha · April 2011

I'm in a nanny share and we pay her $15/hr---but she spends all day with the kids.

For date night/evening babysitters, we pay $10/hr since the majority of the time the sitter will just have alone time. This is the rate we are paying a woman who has 20 years of experience and is currently a Montessori toddler teacher...so we think it's worth it and she thinks the rate is reasonable considering how little she needs to do.

The least we've paid is $6/hr and that was also for evening babysitting but for a 17 year old high school senior who just has a couple years of experience. That was an expected and reasonable rate for her age and experience.

mrssmith717 · April 2011

When I was nannying the summer before Laurel was born, the family I nannied for paid 12-15/hour, and paid my 15 b/c of my background (1st grade teacher). This was PT and for a 3 1/2 and 6 y.o.

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