How much to charge for babysitting [2023 rates]
How much should you charge for babysitting or nanny services in 2023? This guide will tell you.
You’ve perfected your resume, lined up your references, and rocked the interview—now you have a family in front of you who can’t wait to hire you. They just have one more question:
How much do you charge for babysitting?
Gulp.
Talking money with any potential employer is always nerve-wracking. You know your cost of living—and you know your experience level. At the same time, you want to make sure the employer feels it’s a fair price and they’re getting what they pay for. You also don’t want to get undercut by a high schooler down the street who charges for babysitting in popcorn and unlimited Netflix after the kids go to sleep. (More on that later.)
As a nanny agency who has long championed both the rights and the recognition of babysitters and nannies, we get this question all the time, and we never tire of helping sitters figure out how much to charge. There are a lot of factors that go into it, so let’s break it down.
(Psst. Are you looking for a nanny job? This Complete guide to finding a nanny job will tell you everything you need to know!)
Charge based on your babysitting experience
This may be the main factor that you can control in terms of how much to charge.
Here’s how the experienced-based formula works:
More experience means parents are getting a babysitter they can trust to handle various demands, situations and needs
Having a babysitter they can trust in multiple scenarios gives parents peace of mind
Peace of mind equates to a higher rate for the sitter — plus, they’re not paying someone else to come in and do homework or wash the baby’s onesies.
If you have special skills and experience that a certain position requires, you can also use that to bump up your rate. This might include experience working with kids with disabilities or infants. Add it to your hourly rate and then explain to a potential family employer your reasoning and how that experience helps them specifically.
You also have the chance to show why a teenage babysitter (while helpful and reliable at times) is not what they need in a position that requires more experience and a professional mindset.
Your babysitting position has its price
Working as a babysitter is different than working as a full-time nanny. You may not have a set schedule, and you usually have to successfully juggle a few different families to make ends meet financially. You also have less commitment, and many babysitting positions (for a fill-in or a date-night) may not be regarded as serious and professional as a nanny shift.
It’s also less common to have benefits with PTO and health insurance as part of your job perks (even though we are constantly working on getting parents to include this for their regular, part-time sitters, and it’s getting more common). This factors into how much you should charge for your babysitting.
Babysitting rates change locally
A huge factor in how much babysitters charge is where they are working. In large cities like New York—where demands on the position are high, babysitters are super qualified, and the cost of living is much higher than the country average—a babysitter can and should charge more.
Babysitting rates for 2023
With all this in mind, we still know you want to see some real numbers. In 2023, the rates we are seeing for babysitters are:
For temporary, one-off, or non-regular part-time babysitting: $25-30/hour. That’s in a metropolitan area, like New York City. Even just outside city limits, the rate quickly drops to about $15-22/hour.
For regular, part-time babysitting/nannying: $25-35/hour.
Highly specialized non-regular babysitting rates may be: $30-40/hour and higher if it involves tutoring in specific subjects.
The secret to making more money? Level up in your career
As we mentioned earlier, most babysitting positions do not come with healthcare benefits, paid time off, or regular salary increases. Do you know what does? Turning a side gig into a professional employment.
Full-time nannies often earn $30-40/hour, as well as overtime, paid time off, sick leave, and a healthcare stipend or reimbursement. That alone makes it pretty clear that going from babysitter to nanny is a pretty smart career move.
How to turn into a childcare professional:
Commit to regular hours with one or a few families, part-time or full-time. Most regular positions will include a guaranteed weekly minimum, so you always know how much you’ll be making.
Put in the time: more experience equals more money, period. Whether that means being with one family for a long time or gathering lots of different skillsets in childcare, all experience is good experience, leading you to those higher rates.
Renegotiate your contract: If you are working long-term with a family, make sure to have yearly contract reviews. Ideally, a yearly rate increase should be included in the job contract when you start working with a family. If you are working with an agency like Smart Sitting, we will help you and the family with this. Switching jobs is generally another way to level up your income, but don’t leave families in the lurch if you’ve committed to a longterm position.
Talk with us before pricing your babysitting work
Babysitting rate negotiations with a family can still be daunting.
Even with all that knowledge in your corner, the babysitting rate negotiations with a family can still be daunting. Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone. SmartSitters in our network have the benefit of dedicated Family Specialists negotiating rates, potential benefits, and reasonable job expectations on their behalf. We only work with the best, most dedicated and engaging babysitters and nannies, and we know you deserve work that aligns with what you’re bringing to the table.
Want to learn more about becoming a SmartSitter? Learn more about our nanny jobs.
Think you have what it takes to be a SmartSitter?
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