What would you pay a 14 year old babysitter?

[SDFgirl]

Around here, a college-aged sitter would get $10 per hour. We have a new 14-year-old sitter, does $7 per hour sound fair?

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

Why would you pay less unless the 14 year old will actually DO less than the college kid... ?

 

[bicker]

Yes, that was my first instinct: How much you pay someone for something should be based, at least in part, on how important what they're doing is. And if the other part is how well they're likely to do it, would you really want to be economizing (paying someone less because they're less qualified) when it comes to taking care of your children?

 

[SDFgirl]

Why would you pay less unless the 14 year old will actually DO less than the college kid... ?

Experience, expertise, ability to drive herself to/from the job...there are lots of factors. In every workplace, people with more experience get paid more.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Experience = less pay.
Also, I'd hope the 14 yr old was close to the family, sometimes they get less crappy but true...

Anyways..my oldest DD is 14 and no way in the world could SHE babysit!! LOL

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

on the other hand, I pay less for non-active babysitting vs. active babysitting.... If my kids are all in bed when the babysitter comes over and all they have to do is watch TV... then I pay a little less than "Active" babysitting, which might include them feeding, taking to the playground, playing etc...

 

[RUDisney]

My DD is 14 and has a recurring babysitting job. She gets $10 per hour for watching the two children and $8 per hour for watching just one.

Keep in mind that babysitting services are priced differently in different parts of the country. We are located near Scranton, PA.

 

[bicker]

... ability to drive herself to/from the job...

That one makes a lot of sense. Is it worth 30% of the whole, though?

there are lots of factors

It could depend on what those would be. What did you have in mind, beyond what has been already mentioned?

 

[SDFgirl]

That one makes a lot of sense. Is it worth 30% of the whole, though?

It could depend on what those would be. What did you have in mind, beyond what has been already mentioned?

Okay. When I hire a college aged babysitter, she has probably been sitting for years. She will have experience with lots of different types of situations, is probably more able to handle less-than-ideal situations, and is more mature. She just has more know-how. I'll pay a "premium" (so to speak) for that kind of knowledge/expertise.

She ALSO has a lot of other opportunities available to her, she could work at a lot of different places, so a $10 per hour rate is competitive.

A 14 year old has less experience and is less mature. She may not know instinctively how to react in certain situations. It's a trade off for me. I feel confident that she can play with my kids for 3 or 4 hours in the middle of the day. But, I wouldn't do any late nights with a 14-year-old. Also, the younger sitter does not have other opportunities available, she can't get a job at McDonalds, so I would think she'd be happy with a lesser rate of pay (because something is better than nothing).

Hope that makes sense. I really don't see why this is confusing. In every job I've ever had, I got paid less than more experienced workers doing the same job, until I gained more experience. That includes babysitting. I started out earning $2 per hour and the last job I had (5 or 6 years ago) paid $10 per hour.

 

[RUDisney]

Have you offered the 14yo a rate yet? That will ultimately be your deciding factor.

She may say ok to the first time and then no more. She may say ok and love having a job that pays. She may say no because she thinks she deserves more.

That's the real test here.

 

[bicker]

She will have experience with lots of different types of situations, is probably more able to handle less-than-ideal situations, and is more mature. She just has more know-how. I'll pay a "premium" (so to speak) for that kind of knowledge/expertise.

Yeah I understood that but it worries me to think about making economic trade-offs with regard to the safety of children like that. By the same token, perhaps another way of looking at it is that, with the college student, you're paying a premium for the reality that for certain things that go wrong the college student would handle them (taking the child to the hospital, for example), without even getting you involved until afterward, while the 14 year old would call you in to handle the situation.

But, I wouldn't do any late nights with a 14-year-old.

Yup it makes a lot of sense paying more for babysitting that includes late nights. Definitely. However, again, that's really a matter of you're paying for a different service, rather than paying based on age.

Also, the younger sitter does not have other opportunities available, she can't get a job at McDonalds, so I would think she'd be happy with a lesser rate of pay (because something is better than nothing).

Ah so you're essentially exploiting the 14 year old's lack of opportunity. That's fair... age discrimination is only protected for 40 year olds and up!

 

[SDFgirl]

Yeah I understood that but it worries me to think about making economic trade-offs with regard to the safety of children like that. By the same token, perhaps another way of looking at it is that, with the college student, you're paying a premium for the reality that for certain things that go wrong the college student would handle them (taking the child to the hospital, for example), without even getting you involved until afterward, while the 14 year old would call you in to handle the situation.

Yup it makes a lot of sense paying more for babysitting that includes late nights. Definitely. However, again, that's really a matter of you're paying for a different service, rather than paying based on age.

Ah so you're essentially exploiting the 14 year old's lack of opportunity. That's fair... age discrimination is only protected for 40 year olds and up!

Bicker, thanks for your interesting points. I'd enjoy debating this with you (honestly, I'm not being snarky) but I have a million and one things to do today, so I'm just going to have to leave this debate alone now. I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.

 

[bicker]

You too.

 

[Duckkie]

I think it depends on the sitter, the situation, and the experience. My daughter is 15 and has been babysitting since 13. She is Red Cross certified as a SafeSitter as well as CPR/First Aid/Ped First Aid trained. Those cost $$ which was an investment in her business. She charges $8/hr for one child and $11/hr for two or more. She rarely has a weekend un-booked and is actually spending next weekend doing a weekend sitting job (Fri night - Sun morning) for one of her regular families. That weekend is a flat $250 and includes some cleaning, the kids laundry, and cooking for the kids. This weekend job will make her next WDW payment in full (GS trip going to WDW May '11) so she is thrilled about the opportunity. The best part... the two children she is babysitting are incredibly well behaved and she has been sitting for them for two years already so she is already comfortable in the home and with the kids routine.

Around here, a college-aged sitter would get $10 per hour. We have a new 14-year-old sitter, does $7 per hour sound fair?

 

[MIGrandma]

Wow, I hope my DD's babysitter doesn't see this!!

She is a college student, and sits for DD's two children, ages 5 and 1 and is paid $5.50 per hour. I can't imagine having to pay someone $10 or more an hour for babysitting, that is even more than minimum wage.

 

[PatsGirl]

I think $7/hour for that age is a good starting rate as well as the $10/hour for a college-aged sitter. The other factors I always considered when paying was their ability to sit late at night, if they have their own car, active v. nonactive times, and number of kids.

If they are experienced, can drive themselves there, and can stay late night or have to prepare a meal, $10+ is good. If they are 14, are only staying a few hours in the afternoon with no meals, and the child is self-sufficient (4+) I think $5-7 is good. DD13 earns $5/hour for sitting with an 8 yo for a few hours e/o weekend. The only requirement she has is to make a sandwich for lunch and do arts and crafts with her or take a walk, etc. Again, if there are two kids and one or both require one-on-one care (diapering, feeding, cleaning up after), more $$.

I love the posts that think people should pay more than $10/hour. I have friends in their 40s that don't make much more than that and then have taxes taken out. Remember, this is tax-free, per diem pay ~ you can pick up the work as you please and turn it down if it doesn't meet your scheduling requirements

 

[goofy's friends]

my DD13 just started babysitting and is redcross trained. She has been given a regular job at the neighbors who pay her $10/hr. We tried to tell them that was too much, but they insisted that they pay all their babysitters the same amount. That sounded fair.

I see your point about less experience because that was my initial response too. However, I can tell you that no one could take the job more seriously than my DD13 and she does a great job.

 

[mjkacmom]

For the ages of your kids, $10 an hour. My dd13 sits for my friend's kids, and gets $7 an hour, but her kids are 7 and 9 (and she's my friend, so I told her to pay my dd less).

 

[mjkacmom]

Wow, I hope my DD's babysitter doesn't see this!!

She is a college student, and sits for DD's two children, ages 5 and 1 and is paid $5.50 per hour. I can't imagine having to pay someone $10 or more an hour for babysitting, that is even more than minimum wage.

I got paid $6.50 an hour 20 years ago for one 4 year old!

 

[kidzmom3]

my 14 and 12 year old dd's make $8 for 1 $10 for 2 and $2 extra per hour after midnight.