How much to pay babysitter?

[amylevan]

I have a 7 month old baby and am considering hiring a former cheerleader of mine to babysit 1 afternoon a week after school so that I can grocery shop without a baby with me. I would offer to pick her up after school, drive her to my house, let her with my son for probably about 1.5 hours and then drive her home.

Minimum wage is what, 7.50/hr (taxable)? I was thinking $5/hr, but then I think that DS is a baby, so he can be a lot of work. (Or she could be lucky and he might nap the whole time...) Not sure if it would be worth it to a high schooler for $10/week either.

On the other hand, I work 2 days a week, and only pay $55/day for daycare. It seems a bit high to pay $20 for 2 hours then.

So long story short....how much do you pay your babysitters?

 

[Jenn4615]

We pay 10 an hour. 2 kids. But I paid her 10 when I only had one aswell.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I've never had anyone but my neice babysit....so she just takes whatever I give her because she's family...but I wouldn't pay more than $5.00 and hour. It's only a couple hours. I think maybe $20 is appropriate if she's staying a whole weekend evening while you and your dh go out.

 

[dawson5]

I get paid $10/hr to watch a little girl (5yrs old) after school for 3 hrs. I thought this was outrageous but I grew up when the norm was $1/hr. I did not realize that people paid this amount for babysitting. Also, this is what they pay, not what I asked for. I'm just happy to have a little extra money for this or that.

 

[DonnaBelle2005]

I pay my sitters anywhere from $5-7/8 an hour and I always round the hour up. I have two school age children so it isn't like they are doing a lot for them.

If we are out on a special occasion - that is when I usually pay the 7-8 an hour rate. I also provide dinner for everyone (usually give $20 for pizza).

 

[taitai]

I pay $12/hour in Minnesota. Most of my friends pay more.

 

[Hannathy]

I don't think you will get a highschooler to commit to weekly for less that the $10 for the 1.5 hours. possibly a younger girl but for a high schooler I think you will be paying at least the $10. for the time commitment.

My DD watched 2 little girls on Sat. for 1.5 hours and she got $15. She usually gets $7-10 an hour. They gave her $25 the week before for 3 hours and they were sleeping that night, asleep when she got there. ( I think he should have given her more. LOL. because she graded papers for him-she is a senior and he teaches freshman science, and is captain of the science teams so right up her alley since they were sleeping, and entered them into the computer!) I don't think she has ever got less than $5 and that was even several years ago when she started.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd pay $10 - that seems to be the going rate. I used to give a 13 year old girl $7 an hour as a mother's helper, and she would come after school and be alone with the (sleeping) kids for 20 minutes. Then she would stay another 1/2 hour.

 

[DonnaBelle2005]

I think I need to pay my sitters more $ after reading these posts....but we don't often go out without our kids and when we do we use my twin sister a lot so I don't pay sitters often.

This is helpful information for me - thanks!

 

[krcit]

My dd(14) gets about $8 an hour to babysit 2 grade school boys. The other night she was there from 6 to 12(they didn't leave until 7 though) and they paid her $50. If she has them 2 hours they usually round up and give her $20. My friend just started watching 2 boys after school and she is getting $15 an hour I need that job!

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

We have a 15-yo dd who baby-sits for our 11-yo dd, 10-yo ds and 8-yo dd when needed. We have been paying her probably around $7-8/hour. She has never baby-sat for anyone else... then a couple weeks ago she baby-sat for our neighbors and made $50 in 4 hours, about $12.50/hour. Of course, it was a 3-yo and 13-mo old, but still... we've obviously been under-paying her.

 

[onyx8]

$10-15 an hour.

 

[DebMcDonald]

My DD (16) makes anywhere from $8 to $10 an hour.

She babysit Saturday night from 6:15-1:30 for 4 boys and made $80.

 

[MrsPooh]

My dd(15) usually gets about $7/hour when she babysits for two preschoolers.

 

[pixiepower1971]

My dd (13) always gets $10/hour when she babysits 1 or 2 kids regardless of age. More kids- they usually pay closer to $15/hr. They always round up to a full hour as well.

 

[Sandi]

My DD15 receives about $10 per hour. When she was younger, we paid her sitters between $8 and $10.

 

[tzolkin]

I get paid $10/hr to watch a little girl (5yrs old) after school for 3 hrs. I thought this was outrageous but I grew up when the norm was $1/hr. I did not realize that people paid this amount for babysitting. Also, this is what they pay, not what I asked for. I'm just happy to have a little extra money for this or that.

Same thing here.

I offered to watch a friend's baby once or twice for 2 hours when her regular sitter couldn't make it. I told her it was a favor and wouldn't be paid.

Recently, she asked me if I could replace the regular sitter, just for this one meeting (a bit under 2 hours on Thursdays). I was leaving her house and she grabbed out two $10 bills. I told her that was excessive. She looked at me like I was crazy and said $10/hr for childcare is very reasonable.

The child is a well behaved 18mo old and I also have my DS3. I will alternate between going to her house and her dropping her off at mine. She pays me the same amount either location.

I remember getting paid $10 for watching 3 or 4 kids for a whole day when I was a teen (and I'm not that old!).


I really have never paid for childcare, so I have no clue. DH and I hardly every go out without the kids and if we do my sister will watch them (I watch hers occasionally too) or we'll go out if we have my grandma stay over. My parents will watch them if we plan in advance, but they're usually very busy.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

We paid $10/hr for a 10 yr. old, so really not much work at all (and that was 2 years ago). We also give a $10 bonus at the end of the night, and always round up the hour. That's the only way to get older high school/college kids in my area. I would pay more for an infant -- a 7 month old is a huge responsibility, and you want to keep this sitter for years to come!

Providing transportation for the sitter is a given for us, I wouldn't pay less because of it. I would expect to give her $20 a week. If you do, she will probably be willing to make a long-term commitment.

Maria

 

[anna08]

Going rate here for high schooler is $10/hr and we usually round up.

 

[dyna]

OMG DD pays my other DD 20.00 yes 20 dollars a week about 40 hrs per week. DD drives the mile over to the other sisters house takes the 1 boy to preschool an picks him up couple days a week. Is there for the younger ones therapys hauls them to their sporting events an library etc......2 boys 2 1/2 an 4 yrs old so they require full time attention too.