How much do you pay a college-aged babysitter?

[Stitch1404]

I am asking this question for my sister. She is a college student. She is majoring in early child education and has a ton of experience babysitting. Being an education major she is great with kids, very interactive and outgoing. Anyway, yesterday she mentioned to me that she was thinking of taking a summer babysitting job that pays $6.50/hour. She could make that much working retail or at a grocery store, etc. I told her that is ridiculous. I pay my sitter $10/hour for DD6 and DS1. She said she didn't think it was that bad, but I think it's absurd, $6.50 for a college aged professional sitter??? Is this normal??

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

We had a college aged sitter (she just turned 21) that would sit for us overnite when I was out of town and DH had to work. She would pick up the kids from school at 3pm and stay until DH got home at 8am. We paid her $80 for that and she never complained. If she had to watch the kids all day on a weekend 8am to 8am then we paid her $100 plus left money for any extras (meals or movies out) that she would do with the kids.

She just left town to go work for a cruise line (not Disney) so we REALLY miss her!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

That is crazy and not even worth the gas to do it! If it is a summer gig she should charge by the week, not hour. Summers tend to be dicey, with people going here and there.

That way if the person takes off days, goes on vacation, you are not out money.

 

[RadioNate]

I pay ours $8 an hour.

I don't know about in your area but when I worked retail we wouldn't start people much above 6 an hour. Yes she COULD get $6.50 an hour but she'd lose a bunch of that to withholding.

how many hours are involved. Is it all day, day care, regular hours?

I don't think the offer is insane. It is a little low, could she counter offer for $7 an hour. If the person is in a pinch they will likely pay it.

 

[poohandwendy]

college aged professional sitter?

Honestly, I guess it depends on what her responsibilties will be and how many kids are involved.

When I used a sitter, I paid $10 per hour, but that was only the occasional night...

I mean, is she going to be educating them, feeding them, taking them places/ to doctors appts? I guess it really depends on the job duties. Is her expertise a factor in the expectations? If not, then she should be paid what any other babysitter would be paid (highly educated or not). That really depends on the local market.

 

[tkd lisa]

We had colleged aged sitters watch our kids for several summers. We paid $250 a week, and they were there from 6:15 - 4:45 (around $5-$6 per hour). Every 2 weeks, they took the kids on a field trip which we paid for. It ranged from mini-golf locally, visiting the local museums, trips to the Baltimore aquarium, trips to a theme park, etc. We paid for their tickets, and gas to get there. They also had access to a pool the whole summer.

And if the kids were doing something else (i.e. at sleep over camp), we still paid the sitter. So while the money wasn't spectacular, it was steady, plus we didn't take taxes out (sue me, I'm not planning on running for public office!).

All the kids who did it really enjoyed it, and offered to work for us again. Given the pace most college students live life at, I think they look at a babysitting job as a bit of a break as well as a chance to earn some money.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I agree that the amount should be paid weekly unless the hours will vary a lot each week. She should also be clear if she's going to be paid if and when they go on vacation, if the family pays admissions to any field trips and gas. As to the amount being enough or not, that really depends on the local market. It's probably minimum wage and if they guarantee full-time hours, it's not bad ($260/week). How many kids will there be and how old are they?

 

[Blueeyes101817]

im a college aged babysitter--im early childhood major, have worked in day care for 4 years...
i get about 10-15 dollars an hour.... I got this same amount when i did a constant job too (every day)

 

[momx2]

Well, me and others in my neighborhood pay them $50 per day. This is usually from 7:45 a.m. until 5p.m. They get paid if I don't need them. This is for 2 kids all summer. Now, during school she gets $75 per wk. (4 days) to pick kids up and watch them for anywhere from just dropping them off (if I'm home) to 2 hrs. Same, she gets paid even if I don't need her. Now, if I hire her for a weekend night I pay anywhere from $8 to $10 per hr., just depends. She loves it. No taxes either, shhhh. I think it depends on what part of the country you live in.

 

[NikiM20]

I actually teach K-4 and this summer I am keeping a good friend of mines son for a whole $10 a day plus any extras we do. Why am I charging her so little? Because it will keep my daughter busy as well LOL they are good friends and im helping my friend out at the same time

 

[KarenAylwood]

I am asking this question for my sister. She is a college student. She is majoring in early child education and has a ton of experience babysitting. Being an education major she is great with kids, very interactive and outgoing. Anyway, yesterday she mentioned to me that she was thinking of taking a summer babysitting job that pays $6.50/hour. She could make that much working retail or at a grocery store, etc. I told her that is ridiculous. I pay my sitter $10/hour for DD6 and DS1. She said she didn't think it was that bad, but I think it's absurd, $6.50 for a college aged professional sitter??? Is this normal??

I completely agree that that price is ridiculous. For a college-aged sitter studying early child education- not worth it. Heck, the retail store I worked at starts at $8 without experience. $6.50 is ridiculous.

I'd say $10/ hour is fair.

Of course, I think even teen babysitters should be paid more than what some consider "normal." I don't remember if it was the Community Board or the Budget board but someone asked how much to pay a babysitter for 2 kids. A few posters said $3/hr... so expect to get some low-ball numbers on here!

 

[Stitch1404]

Okay, I am really thinking $10/hour is the norm. I should have given more information though. It will be 2 children (8 mos. and 3 years). Blueeyes101817, I better not tell my sister she might find someone to pay $15/hour...lol! Also, the retail postion she applied for is at a store that sells greeting cards and it pays $8/hour, no experience required. I don't see how a well-qualified childcare provider should be paid any less. I am really encouraging her to turn the job down.

 

[va32h]

I pay $8 an hour for one child, with an extra $1 per hour per child for additional children (because sometimes I need a sitter for just one, or two, or all three!)

And that is for older kids; 10, 6, and 2.5. Infant care requires much more work, and should be paid accordingly.

In my area, good summer childcare is extremely hard to get. If your sister wants to sit for the summer, I'll bet she could find a better-paying sitting job than this one.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

I'm 20 and the lady I sit for pays me $12/per hour for two kids, ages 16 months and 4 (almost 5). I think it's very reasonable, and the extra money really helps me out with gas being so expensive.

 

[clh2]

FWIW, my 12 YO DD, who has just started babysitting gets betweem $6 and $7 per hour. I do know, however, that costs for babysitting is very regional, and vary widely throughout the country.

One thought - as others have mentioned, is will this be "cash money" or will it be "wages" where taxes, social security etc have been taken out?

The other thought on this is - does the job offer any other "perks"? If this is a jet-setty type of family, and will take the sitter on a cruise, WDW, or some exotic vacation, maybe the opportunities offered would balance out the low wages.

 

[aprilgail2]

10 an hour

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Okay, I am really thinking $10/hour is the norm. I should have given more information though. It will be 2 children (8 mos. and 3 years).

Yikes, you're talking a baby and a preschooler, so I do think the pay is too low. If it was grade school kids maybe it wouldn't be so low, but not for such young kids.

Would she be paid by the week? Are there set hours or would the hours vary a lot each week?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Okay, I am really thinking $10/hour is the norm. I should have given more information though. It will be 2 children (8 mos. and 3 years). Blueeyes101817, I better not tell my sister she might find someone to pay $15/hour...lol! Also, the retail postion she applied for is at a store that sells greeting cards and it pays $8/hour, no experience required. I don't see how a well-qualified childcare provider should be paid any less. I am really encouraging her to turn the job down.

An 8 month old baby and a 3yo???
You are talking big money now. 6.50 an hour is not worth it. Actually it is being taken advantage of.
Tell her to take the greeting card job! Less stress for one.
With those ages, I would not take anything less than 10/hour.

 

[clutter]

I pay my college sitter $15/hour. However, it's for 1 1/2 hours in the morning, starting at 6:50. She makes my 9yo dd's breakfast, lunch unless she's buying and gets her on the bus. I also use an afternoon sitter that I pay $15/hour. The intention was that she'd drive my dd to activities, so I decided to pay really well for someone dependable and reliable. I know I over pay, but because they're short jobs at killer hours for a student, it's worth it. I have to say the three sitters I've hired have been wonderful and dependable.

Anyway, for a full day/full week, I'd probably pay a weekly wage that would be equivalent to $10 to $12/hour.

Side note to anyone in certain areas looking for college sitters. I've been using student-sitters online. Great resource if they're in your area.

 

[grlpwrd]

Thanks for the recommendation for student-sitters.

I pay my older teen sitters $8 to $10 per hour for caring for 2 of my kids and if I were to get a college aged sitter I would pay around $15 an hour. That is the going rate and I think people pay this to keep their sitters.