How much should I be paid for babysitting?

Babysitting is a great way to earn money and build your resume while still in high school. If you’re thinking about starting a babysitting business, you’ll need to know how much to charge for your services. It also helps if you have an idea of what others in your area are charging so that you can remain competitive.

When it comes to pricing, there isn’t one standard rate. You may find that different sitters charge different amounts depending on the cost of living in that area or how much competition there is from other sitters nearby.

However, there are general guidelines for pricing based on the type of sitting service and the age of the child. Read on for information about how much you should pay per hour as well as information about rates based on age groups.

What’s the average pay for babysitting?

There isn’t one set rate for babysitting. Instead, you should aim to charge a rate that is fair based on your level of experience and the demand for your services in your area. There are some general guidelines that may help you determine a fair rate, though.

According to Care.com, the average hourly wage for babysitting is $15 per hour when you’re watching one child. If you’re watching two or more children, you should charge $18 per hour.

The average hourly wage for a nanny is $22 per hour. That may seem like a lot more than the rate for babysitting, but remember that a nanny is responsible for the care of a child as well as their daily schedule and meal preparation. A babysitter is only responsible for watching a child so the parent can get some work done or rest without the child being underfoot.

Babysitting by the hour

While the rate you charge for babysitting will vary depending on your area, experience, and the age of the child, there are some things you can keep in mind to help determine what you should charge. If you’re watching one child, you should charge around $15 per hour.

When you’re watching two children, the rate should be around $18 per hour. If you’re watching more than two children, the rate should be $20 per hour.

If you’re watching children younger than 2 years old, you should charge $15 per hour. If you’re watching children between 2 and 5 years old, you should charge $18 per hour.

Older child sitting rate

• If you’re watching a child who is over 5 years old, you should charge $20 per hour.
• If you’re watching children who are in middle school or high school, you should charge $20 per hour.
• If you’re watching a child who is 12 years old or younger, you should charge $20 per hour.
• If you’re watching a child who is 13 years or older, you should charge $25 per hour.

Tips for negotiating and keeping your rates

If you have experience sitting for children, you may be able to charge more than the rates above. Keep in mind that the rates above are lower than what some sitters charge so you’ll likely need to negotiate a higher rate than what is listed above.

If you have experience babysitting children and are looking for work, you’ll likely be asked to start out with a lower rate. Once you’ve proven yourself, you can then ask the parents to raise your rate.

Be sure to take good notes on each job so that you can reflect back on what went well and what you could do better next time. You can use these notes to improve your service and keep getting better and better.

The rates above should help you determine how much you should charge for babysitting. Keep in mind that these rates are just guidelines. You should use them as a starting point when determining your rates and then negotiate from there based on your experience and what parents are willing to pay in your area.

If you’re looking for babysitting jobs, you can try reaching out to friends and family, or you can consider signing up for a site like Sittercity where you can connect with parents who are looking for babysitters in your area.

If you’ve got experience with kids, signing up to be a sitter can be a great way to earn some extra money. And what better way to start than by figuring out how much you should be paid for babysitting!