A lot of parents wonder what a fair rate for a babysitter is. With different factors to consider, like the amount of children and how much work is involved, what you should pay a babysitter will vary widely. It even changes from region to region. To adjust your budget accordingly, let’s find out what you should be paying a babysitter in 2015.
ACCC hopes this answers the question, “How much should you pay the babysitter?”
Deciding How Much to Pay the Babysitter
As I mentioned, there are many factors to consider when calculating your babysitter’s pay. You want to be fair without going broke. Here are factors to consider when deciding how much you should be paying the babysitter.
Babysitting Factor #1: The Children
The children are a big factor when deciding on your babysitter’s wage. The more children that need to be looked after, the more it will cost you. Their age and the intensity of care can also add dollars. Newborns require a lot more care than a 12 year old. If any of the children require special attention, that too can bump up the price.
Babysitting Factor #2: Babysitter’s Experience
Just like any other job, the more experience a babysitter has, the more they will get paid. A more experienced person might be able to take on additional responsibilities than someone just starting out. A teenage babysitter isn’t going to cost as much as an experienced nanny in their thirties. Keep this in mind when you’re budgeting for a babysitter.
Babysitting Factor #3: Geographical Area
Your geographical area is another determining factor for the babysitter’s payment. Large metro areas, like Boston or San Francisco, will draw a bigger wage because of the cost of living. In this case, you are probably already used to paying a high price for your living expenses so just go with the flow!
Babysitting Factor #4: Other Childcare Responsibilities
Will the babysitter be cooking dinner? Tutoring and doing homework? Laundry or other cleaning? How about picking the kids up from school? There are a lot of other childcare responsibilities that babysitters take on. If they are just there to make sure the kids stay in their rooms and stay asleep, you should expect to pay less than if they made dinner, went through homework and tucked everyone into bed.
A recent article by ABC News cited a survey that showed prices around the country vary from $10-25 an hour for a babysitter. Think through these factors, ask friends what they dish out for their sitter and make a judgement call. Talk with your babysitter before any work is done so you have an agreement on payment. There are also calculators to help you. Enjoy the evening out!
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
