Cost of a Babysitter

[katiedid36]

For the first time we are going to have to hire a babysitter for my 2 kids. We have tickets to a concert & both sets of parents will be out of town. The girl we have asked is on my daughter's swim team & we kinda know her parents. I am definitely comfortable with her watching my kids ages 4 & 8. What is a going rate for a babysitter these days? She is 15 years old and we live in Michigan if that matters?

Thanks!

 

[mjkacmom]

I've had sitters for years and years - $10 an hour.

 

[muscarello4]

I pay $5/hr, but never less than $20. If the kid is 15, this is more money than she could make at a PT job (once you figure in the taxes that are witheld.) Not to mention, babysitting is an easy gig. Once the kids go to sleep she can do homework or watch TV.

Talk it over with the kid, but my 12 yo is thrilled with $5 a hour.

 

[Ashlander]

We did $5 per hour for 1 child, $6 for two and $7 for 3. The kids are normally in bed most of the time and our babysitter thought the rates were fair. We never paid less than $20.

 

[StefnMike]

In my area it would be either $8 or $10 an hour.

I pay my 16 year old babysitter $8 and hour to watch my DD who is 14 months.

My stepdaughters babysit and they would get $10 an hour to watch 2 school age kids in the evening including putting them to bed.

BTW, I checked Sittercity.com to see what the going rate was in my area. For nanny's with years of experience, the rate was $10-$15 an hour. We decided on $8 since DH was going to be home and that she was only 16.

Good luck!

 

[fall08CP]

When I babysit from age 17-19 (2005-2007) I was paid $9/hr when the kids were asleep, $10/hr when they were awake. I babysit two kids aged 2 + 4. Also in the midwest.

 

[mjhd]

I'd say $5-6 is fair. Have you asked her what she charges???

 

[katiedid36]

I'd say $5-6 is fair. Have you asked her what she charges???

no, my husband just talked to her Dad yesterday. We will see her tomorrow at our banquet. I kinda figured somewhere between $5 & $10 per hour.

 

[mickeyplanner08]

Don't know where you are in Michigan, but we are suburban west side of the state. We pay $6 an hour for our high school sitters and $5 for an 8th grader. My sister lives about 20 minutes away, but more rural/country feel and she pays hers $3-$4 an hour. I made $5-$6 in college here. I asked at church, and for the most part, we are right on target here.

 

[Justsyd2]

$10.00 an hour for two kids is a good deal. I don't know anyone around here who would sit for $5.00 an hour!

 

[tinkermom23]

Wow, we are cheap!
We seldom get a sitter, but when we do, we pay her $4-5 an hour depending if she has all 3 kids or just the twins. DS9 is really self-sufficient but not old enough to be left alone much less in charge of his siblings.

I always ask our sitter if I am paying enough and she ALWAYs says "This is Great!" so I assumed we were good. I asked around and it is pretty close to average.

If it matters, she is 14 yrs old and she lives a couple blocks away. I do not ask her to cook, clean, or anything like that. I expect her to play and interact with my kids and she knows that. She has never been here for bedtime but has done afternoon naps once. I make any meals/snacks ahead of time and she just serves it.

 

[TaraPA]

$10 an hour for 2 kids is the going rate here in my area of PA as well.

 

[KennedyMcKenna]

Hi! Well I babysit in Michigan, and have been since I was about 13. When I was younger, like in middle and high school I think I probably made $7 an hour. Now, I'm 23, have CPR certification, etc. I make between $8-15 depending on the amount of money. Now, the people that I've babysat for pay based on experience, qualifications and references, so that's a big part too. I think for a person who you trust with your kids who is 18 or under $7 an hour is fair. HTH!

 

[mjkacmom]

I pay $5/hr, but never less than $20. If the kid is 15, this is more money than she could make at a PT job (once you figure in the taxes that are witheld.) Not to mention, babysitting is an easy gig. Once the kids go to sleep she can do homework or watch TV.

Talk it over with the kid, but my 12 yo is thrilled with $5 a hour.

Of course it's regional, but I got paid $6 an hour to babysit one child 20 years ago, and I had a college degree, and was working on my MA. I don't know of anyone who pays less than $10 an hour here. However, my dd13 sits for friends of mine, and I tell them $6 is fine, because she's so young.

 

[taitai]

We live in Minnesota and we pay $12/hour for our three. That is absolutely in line with what all of our friends pay. We all use local high school kids as our sitters.

Kathleen

 

[inkedupmomma]

$8-10 at the very least. Also offer pizza for dinner maybe, and whatever snacks she wants. Make sure you are specific about what you want as well, ie: clean up after dinner, bed time stories, brush teeth, etc.

 

[inkedupmomma]

Wow, we are cheap!
We seldom get a sitter, but when we do, we pay her $4-5 an hour depending if she has all 3 kids or just the twins. DS9 is really self-sufficient but not old enough to be left alone much less in charge of his siblings.

I always ask our sitter if I am paying enough and she ALWAYs says "This is Great!" so I assumed we were good. I asked around and it is pretty close to average.

If it matters, she is 14 yrs old and she lives a couple blocks away. I do not ask her to cook, clean, or anything like that. I expect her to play and interact with my kids and she knows that. She has never been here for bedtime but has done afternoon naps once. I make any meals/snacks ahead of time and she just serves it.

In all honesty, a 14 year old would NOT say no t his isn't enough. So asking her if that is enough is pointless, and puts her in an awkward position.

 

[BeenHereB4]

Nothing less than $10 here for 2 kids. The last sitter we hired (but had to cancel plans so never used) was $15/hr.

When I worked f/t and had a sitter, she charged $12 - this is why I no longer work outside the home.

 

[inkedupmomma]

As a nanny, I always find it appalling how cheap people can be when it comes to sitters. Most rather hire an inexperienced middle/highschooler for $5.00/hr than someone who has many certifications and years of experience. Yet they don't bat an eye at the cost of Valet parking, the ridiculously priced dinner they are eating, etc...

Maybe it is just me, but it's weird. I never pay less than $10/hr for first child, and then $2.50-$5.00 per each additional child. I also expect that at the very minimum for when I sit. My children are the most important things in the world to me, and I want my sitter to feel appreciated and compensated for all the hard work and love they give to my children.

 

[Kellydelly]

As a nanny, I always find it appalling how cheap people can be when it comes to sitters. Most rather hire an inexperienced middle/highschooler for $5.00/hr than someone who has many certifications and years of experience. Yet they don't bat an eye at the cost of Valet parking, the ridiculously priced dinner they are eating, etc...

Maybe it is just me, but it's weird. I never pay less than $10/hr for first child, and then $2.50-$5.00 per each additional child. I also expect that at the very minimum for when I sit. My children are the most important things in the world to me, and I want my sitter to feel appreciated and compensated for all the hard work and love they give to my children.

If parents only hired people like you, the teens in the neighborhoods would have no work . I live in MI and pay $6-7 an hour for a teen to watch my 4 children. $10 is ridiculous unless you are paying an adult.