Babysitting - going rates?

[Another Lynn]

I know this will vary a bit by area, city size, etc... but we're having a babysitter come Friday night (my Mom usually babysits) and I'm not sure what the going hourly rate is. We have 4 children, ages ranging from 9 to 2.

Thanks for any input!

[JFS in IL]

Young teen? Older teen? College-age? That makes a difference. My 14-yr-old gets $3/hr for one kid, add a buck an hour for extra kids. She runs cheap, though (what the market will bear, here.) Older kid - pay more like $6-7 an hour (note you are competing with a teen's Friday night fun, too, so have to make it worth while, esp. if you might need them to come back someday.)

[Tracey in TX]

$8-$10/hr for an experienced high school sitter

[Plaid Dad]

We never pay less than minimum wage ($8 in our state) and more for older/more experienced sitters.

[Barb F. PA in AZ]

My 13yo daughter officially charges $5-$7 an hour, but is usually paid anywhere from $6-$12 depending on number of kids, whether there was much advance notice, or whether the parents come home considerably later than originally planned. She makes $6 an hour for her regular 12 hr/wk job, but has made double that when she makes herself available on a Friday or Saturday night with a just a couple of hours' notice.

It's often a supply and demand thing. Are there more sitters than kids in your neighborhood or more kids than sitters? I think that would likely determine the going rate.

Barb

*Edited to say, I know that seems high for a 13yo, but she is reliable, excellent with the children (they always beg for her to come back) and leaves the kitchen and play area in better shape than she found it. With 4 younger siblings, she has more experience than most of the older teens around here, so word gets around.

[Rhesa]

I can't believe how much I pay for things in this city!

I pay $10/ hr for the sweet girl in our church who occasionally watches the kids. But when she can't do it, I have to pay between $15-20/ hr.

Needless to say, I don't get babysitters often. I look at that money and think, "That $$$could buy a LOT of books!":p

This is for two kids, by the way...

[beansprouts]

We try to switch off with other parents when we can. One Saturday we get a night out and the next we babysit. It only costs us our time, and for the evening we babysit it means we don't have to entertain our kids ;).