If you’ve been a parent for any length of time, you know there are two kinds of babysitters: Those who tell you their rates and those who don’t. Maybe your caregiver has a fixed hourly fee but recently asked for a raise. Or maybe they’re a family friend who allows you to name your price – even if it’s less than they’d actually like.
Either way, what’s your obligation as an “employer”? According to a national survey by Care.com, babysitters earned an average of $13.44 per hour last year. Sitters earning the lowest hourly wage were in Grand Rapids, MI at $11.31, while the highest paid were in San Francisco at $16.65. In just 5 years, the average babysitter’s wage has increased 28%. That’s up from $10.50 in 2009.
So how does your pay stack up? Unlike restaurant tipping, there’s no widely accepted standard when it comes to rewarding (and therefore keeping) a good sitter. But that’s no excuse to underpay your hardworking help. Here are 8 practical tips from Care.com to help you answer this complicated question of pay:
- Never pay less than minimum wage – ever.
- See what other sitters in your area are charging. Ask around or check out a handy pay rate calculator like this one.
- Are you in a city? If so, expect to pay more.
- Age and experience matter. A qualified nanny with CPR training can charge more than a 14-year-old you have to drive home at the end of the night.
- More kids equal more pay. So add $2–5 per hour for each additional child. (That means no letting your friends freeload off your sitter when you go out together.)
- Reliability and loyalty count. If you’ve had the same, awesome sitter for years, consider a pay raise—even if they don’t ask for it.
- Holidays typically cost more, especially if you’re booking last minute!
- If your sitter goes above and beyond (like your kitchen sink isn’t full of stuck-on pizza dishes when you get home) think about rounding up or adding a tip.
Paying your sitter shouldn’t be a budgeting afterthought—it should be a priority. This person is responsible for the most precious people in your life for several hours. So keep your quality caregivers by rewarding exceptional service with a fair-market wage. Great sitters are worth it.