What to pay a babysitter?

[kschick96]

I was just wondering what the going rate for a babysitter is these days. I'm not talking about daycare, just a teen who would come to your house for the evening while you go to dinner. Moms of teens who babysit, please feel free to let us know what your teens get per hour.

I used to babysit in the early 90's when I was a young tween/teen. I lived in a rural area and got $2-$3 per hour per kid and I'm sure times have changed and the going rate is way different these days! Thanks for your help!

[Doglover8180]

I am not a teen but I have babysat all through college and beyond. I charge $10 an hour and I have a degree and significantly older than a teen. I think a teenager could get $7 or so.

[3timesoccermom]

I remember seeing another thread like this one a while back kschick, so you can probably get some answers there too.

[jljenkins]

We had one of my sons day-care teachers watch him one night and she was $10/hr!

[uncommon]

SO keeps telling me $10/hr+ is the norm for a teenage babysitter these days. I would rather ask my mother lol.

[billig]

TEN BUCKS AN HOUR?
I'll start babysitting!

[Doglover8180]

I would not think a teen can get $10 an hour.... most college kids - work retail, etc... and just make $7 something - minimum wage. I think $7 something is plenty for a teenager. Now a grown adult, yes I see $10 - because they have more experience with children, and any situations that could potentially arise during babysitting and you pay for that additional maturity.

[roxygirlie1021]

When I babysat back in hs (almost 10 years ago now...geez!) I used to get anywhere from $8-$12/hr, so I could see $8-$10/hr being a reasonable price for a teenager to expect to receive. Of course, it probably depends on where you live as well. I lived in the outskirts of DC when I was a teen. I live in the south now, and I've seen babysitting rates online for closer to $7-$9/hr.

[SmilinJusBecuz]

I would not think a teen can get $10 an hour.... most college kids - work retail, etc... and just make $7 something - minimum wage. I think $7 something is plenty for a teenager. Now a grown adult, yes I see $10 - because they have more experience with children, and any situations that could potentially arise during babysitting and you pay for that additional maturity.

,

I don't have children, but I dont see how you can relate someone working in retail to someone watching your child.

[uncommon]

,

I don't have children, but I dont see how you can relate someone working in retail to someone watching your child.

Babysitting in the house (for a school age child) isn't usually a ton of work in my experience. It's usually at night and the kids are sleeping for at least some of the time.

Frankly I would not pay $10/hr for a babysitter. I certainly didn't make that much 10-12 years ago doing it and I would have been shocked to be offered that much.

A nanny should be paid that or more - not a teenager sitting around watching tv and eating chips or whatever I've left for them.