Babysitting rates for 1 child?

Question

A girl my fiance' works with needs a babysitter for her 5 year old son. And I don't know what to charge her if I take the job. I use to babysit my brother and sister from birth until about 5 or 6, but I never got paid for that because my parents were deadbeats. Also I've never met the kid, so I don't know what his behavior is like, whether he is good or bad etc. So could someone give me a ballpark estimate. Thanx!

Answer 1

Maybe just try it out for a few days and see how things go. I think $2.50 an hour is reasonable. The going rate around here is $2-3 an hour.

Answer 2

Never ever have I been paid less than 8 dollars an hour, to hear people suggest 2-3 dollars an hour is just silly.

That wouldn't even pay for the gas to get to the house to watch the child.

I wouldn't go lower than 6 dollars an hour.

Answer 3

well its more difficult and more of a responsibility than a minimum wage job. so more than $8/hour. i would say $9 or $10/hour.

Answer 4

I would say 5 bucks an hour. Be worth it though. Play with the kid, read and do the dishes.

Answer 5

I would say about $3/hr really depends.  If they don't make a lot of money I wouldn't go charging them more than that unless they want to claim it on taxes.  I would meet the kid first and find out for sure what he is like and if you will be able to handle it.  

Answer 6

I pay my sitter 12 per hour. I know a lot of people who charge between $10 and $12

Answer 7

i always do 5

Answer 8

You can usually get 1 child in daycare for $50-$75 per week.. That's $10 for an 8 hour day on the cheap side and a little more than that on the high end... There isn't really money to be made in babysitting :)

Answer 9

Well, I have never, ever been paid $2 an hour. That is not worth it at all, I think. If you babysat for 6 hours, you'd have $12 and a wasted day. Especially if you need extra cash for gas or something... because babysitting is tiring! Kids don't treat a babysitter the same way they treat their parents. They expect you to keep them entertained constantly, for every second. If you're expected to cook for him and bathe him, I definitely would charge more than $2.

I usually get paid ATLEAST $5 an hour. Probably more like $7- $8. If you'll be babysitting for only 2-3 hours or so, I'd charge $20-$25 in all.

But that's just me, personally.

Answer 10

I know a sitter, and she charges $10 an hour.