Going rate for babysitters?

[jimj]

That's more than my wife makes babysitting customers and watching drugs all day at wally world!!!!
Now there's an idea, time to start a babysitting service! Get a big stable of teens... Maybe my wife could be the next babysitting mogul!

[R.M.B.]

For someone to come to your home and watch one child you should expect to pay between $5 and $10 per hour, depending on age, experience & if they have any special training or certifications. For you to leave your child at a sitters home, who also keeps other children, you should expect to pay around $5 per hour, not to exceed $25 to $35 and 10 hours per day. R.M.B. in Knoxville, TN

[tsimmu]

Hmmm...to me (and mind you I have no recent experience in this area),
~ $18/hour doesn't sound that bad...

I babysat a few times when I was a teenager (mid 1980's) and was paid $10/hour then.

I guess bottom line is -- what are their qualifications/experiences (as you said, CPR, etc.); how long have they been sitting and what do their references have to say about them?

It's worth a shot -- after all, they ARE dealing with precious cargo!

[airwair]

I would also have add that the demeanor of the children would be a determining factor in pay rate as well.

For example, one of my sister-in-law's children are absolutely amazing. They're well mannered, they listen, they follow the rules, and they're an absolute joy to sit for. I'd watch them for the minimum, if not for free.

Another SIL has kids that I would probably charge upwards of $20 an hour to sit. Last time I babysat for her I got kicked, spit on, bit, hit, cursed at, and told I was hated and not welcome for two hours straight because I was trying to get the child to go to bed. If your child regularly behaves this way, throw the sitter a little more.

[inave]

I guess I'm the senior dinosaur on this thread. When I babysat, I charged 50 cents an hour and that was for FOUR kids whom I fed, cleaned up after and got to bed. When I asked for 75 cents an hour, the parents quit calling me! As for medical personnel, I'd forgotten the times I babysat for the psychiatrist down the street who had 3 kids and paid me 50 cents an hour. That was fine until his friends started bringing their 2 kids for me to keep also but no one paid extra for them!

[airen123]

Definitely too much. I've babysat and nannied many times (1995-2004) For two kids aged 4, I'd say $10 to $12 per hour.

[Mary_Moon]

This is why hubby and I never go out. After paying for dinner, movie and a sitter we're broke!

I sat a few times in the mid-80's and charged somewhere around $5/hr for 2 kids. My favorite charge was my high school chemistry teacher's daughter - she's out of college and married now. When the heck did I get this old?!?

[rosiebo]

Here's the deal. Sitters who are 14 yrs old and can't legally work yet should really not get paid more than $5 an hour. They are in your house, so there is no over head. They eat your food, don't always clean up after themselves or the kids during their on-duty time, can turn the tv on or watch a movie to make things easier on themselves. They are sitting! Minimum wage is not a better deal b/c they are being paid under the table, don't have to wear a uniform, and can walk down the street to get to their "job". Even if they are an adult with experience, it is a job that does not require a degree, very little experience and no output of production. Seriously...$18 an hour??? Look up what kinds of jobs pay $18 an hour. IT techs, beginning teachers, librarians....people w/ degrees and skills. Babysitting is not for woosies, but it is a little pretentious to assume a babysitter should be making more than accredited professions.

[hiknapster]

I love it! Back in the 70s, I made a lot of money babysitting. A lot. But I was paid about $2 a hour. New Years was a big deal because I would usually get a $20.

We just take the 10-year-old with us, whether it is a restaurant or whatever. Otherwise, we don't go. My parents did the same and I have impeccable table manners because I was seven when I ate at The Plaza.

[TN Gal now]

my age...but I made 50 cents/hr and $1/hr after midnight when I babysat years ago, plus I usually got a tip. I ate little of the food offered, cleaned up if there were dishes - mine or theirs - and was responsible caring for the children, usually no more than two. Usually the children were ready for bed, or in bed, when I arrived and there was little to do. One of my regular jobs entailed caring for a handicapped girl. But even then I would not have cared for more than two children for that rate.

Today, I think around $5/hr would probably be reasonable for one or two children. Number of children, ages, and what's expected should all be considerations. If the job requires entertaining, bathing, preparing for bed, feeding, etc. maybe a higher rate might be reasonable. Caring for three or four small children should probably pay more and the maturity/responsiblity level of the babysitter should also be considered.

I suppose it boils down to how much you're willing to pay for peace of mind for time away from the kids... and I'd be leary of someone who was willing to work too cheap...