How Much to Pay a Babysitter in 2026
National average $16/hr — rates by city, number of kids, and time of day
The typical babysitter rate is $13–$20/hour nationwide, with $16/hour as the starting point for one child during daytime hours. San Francisco runs $27/hr. Oklahoma City runs $13/hr. Evening and weekend rates add $2–$3/hr.
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2026 national babysitter rate averages
National Avg
$16/hr
1 child, daytime
Typical Range
$13–$20
Per hour, 1 child
Evening Add-On
+$2/hr
After 6pm & weekends
2nd Child Add
+$3/hr
Per additional child
Source: Sittercity, Care.com market surveys + BLS wage data for childcare workers. 2026 estimates.
Babysitter Rate Calculator
Enter your city's average rate, number of kids, and time of day to get a suggested range.
Your city's average for 1 child, daytime
What Affects Babysitter Pay
Factors that raise the rate
- ↑ Experience: 3+ years with references: +$2–$5/hr
- ↑ CPR/First Aid cert: +$1–$3/hr; some families require it
- ↑ Multiple kids: +$3/hr per child beyond the first
- ↑ Evening/weekend: +$2–$3/hr after 6pm or on weekends
- ↑ Holiday bookings: +$5–$10/hr on New Year's Eve, etc.
- ↑ Infant under 12mo: +$2–$3/hr — higher care demands
- ↑ Special needs: +$3–$10/hr depending on needs
- ↑ Last-minute booking: +$2–$5/hr if <24 hours notice
Factors that lower the rate
- ↓ Regular schedule: Weekly reliability often earns a small discount
- ↓ Daytime hours: $2–$3/hr below evening rates
- ↓ Older kids (6+): Lower care demands vs. infants/toddlers
- ↓ Long shifts (4+ hrs): Some sitters offer a flat-rate discount
- ↓ Student sitter: College students: often 10–20% below market
- ↓ Neighbor/friend: Social relationship can mean lower rate
Babysitter Rates by City (2026)
Sorted alphabetically. Click any city for full rate details, tipping guide, and local market notes.
| City | Avg Rate | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $13/hr | -$3/hr |
| Anaheim, CA | $19/hr | +$3/hr |
| Atlanta, GA | $16/hr | avg |
| Aurora, CO | $16/hr | avg |
| Austin, TX | $17/hr | +$1/hr |
| Bakersfield, CA | $15/hr | -$1/hr |
| Baltimore, MD | $18/hr | +$2/hr |
| Boston, MA | $23/hr | +$7/hr |
| Charlotte, NC | $15/hr | -$1/hr |
| Chicago, IL | $18/hr | +$2/hr |
| Cincinnati, OH | $15/hr | -$1/hr |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $15/hr | -$1/hr |
| Columbus, OH | $14/hr | -$2/hr |
| Dallas, TX | $16/hr | avg |
| Denver, CO | $19/hr | +$3/hr |
| El Paso, TX | $12/hr | -$4/hr |
| Fort Worth, TX | $15/hr | -$1/hr |
| Fresno, CA | $15/hr | -$1/hr |
| Houston, TX | $15/hr | -$1/hr |
| Indianapolis, IN | $14/hr | -$2/hr |
| Jacksonville, FL | $14/hr | -$2/hr |
| Las Vegas, NV | $15/hr | -$1/hr |
| Long Beach, CA | $19/hr | +$3/hr |
| Los Angeles, CA | $21/hr | +$5/hr |
| Louisville, KY | $13/hr | -$3/hr |
| Memphis, TN | $13/hr | -$3/hr |
| Mesa, AZ | $14/hr | -$2/hr |
| Miami, FL | $17/hr | +$1/hr |
| Milwaukee, WI | $15/hr | -$1/hr |
| Minneapolis, MN | $17/hr | +$1/hr |
| St. Paul, MN | $16/hr | avg |
| Nashville, TN | $15/hr | -$1/hr |
| New Orleans, LA | $14/hr | -$2/hr |
| New York City, NY | $24/hr | +$8/hr |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $13/hr | -$3/hr |
| Omaha, NE | $14/hr | -$2/hr |
| Philadelphia, PA | $17/hr | +$1/hr |
| Phoenix, AZ | $15/hr | -$1/hr |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $16/hr | avg |
| Portland, OR | $20/hr | +$4/hr |
| Raleigh, NC | $16/hr | avg |
| Riverside, CA | $17/hr | +$1/hr |
| Sacramento, CA | $18/hr | +$2/hr |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $15/hr | -$1/hr |
| San Antonio, TX | $14/hr | -$2/hr |
| San Diego, CA | $20/hr | +$4/hr |
| San Francisco, CA | $27/hr | +$11/hr |
| San Jose, CA | $25/hr | +$9/hr |
| Seattle, WA | $22/hr | +$6/hr |
| Tampa, FL | $15/hr | -$1/hr |
| Tucson, AZ | $13/hr | -$3/hr |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $15/hr | -$1/hr |
| Washington, DC | $22/hr | +$6/hr |
| Wichita, KS | $13/hr | -$3/hr |
Tipping Guide
Tipping is not required for babysitting — the hourly rate is already the full price. But it's common in specific situations.
New Year's Eve, Christmas Eve, major holidays: tip $10–$20 on top of the hourly rate. The sitter gave up their own plans.
Year-end bonus of one to two nights' pay is standard for a weekly babysitter. Think of it like a holiday bonus for a long-term employee.
Cleaned up, put the kids to bed, handled an unexpected mess? $5–$10 extra is a fair acknowledgment.
Called with less than 4 hours notice and they came through? A $10–$15 tip recognizes that they rearranged their schedule.
Common Questions
How much does a babysitter cost per hour?
The national average is $16/hour for one child during daytime hours. Ranges are $13–$20/hour across most markets. San Francisco ($27/hr) and New York ($24/hr) sit at the top. Oklahoma City ($13/hr) and El Paso ($12/hr) at the bottom.
Is a babysitter cheaper than daycare?
For a few hours, yes. For full-time care, no — a babysitter at $16/hr for 40 hours/week costs $2,560/month, compared to $1,230/month national average for infant daycare. For two kids, the math changes: two daycare spots ($2,460/month) can cost more than one babysitter watching both children ($16 + $3 = $19/hr × 160 hrs ≈ $3,040/month). Compare daycare vs babysitter costs →
What's the minimum wage for babysitters?
Babysitters are technically exempt from federal minimum wage in many situations (casual, intermittent domestic service). But no reputable sitter works for $7.25/hour in 2026. Market rates have long outpaced minimum wage. The real floor is set by local cost of living — $12/hr in lower-cost markets, $18+/hr in high-cost cities.