How much should I charge for babysitting (in Michigan)?

Question

I've been babysitting for three years, and I know I am underpaid. I get $20 for a 13-14 hour service. That's fine for me, though, because I am close with the woman I babysit for. I am expanding my horizons and babysitting for someone else this Friday. I don't have any details for how many kids yet, or how old. I'll give you those when I get them (in approx. 3 hours)

Answer 1

with the economy the way that it is people can't afford to pay much for child care.  I know you would like to make more, but if you charge too much you won't have a job.  I too am in Michigan and the lady who will be babysitting for me charges $25 a day...no matter how many hours.  Even $125 a week is going to be hard for us but it is the cheapest I have found.  (my best friend even wanted to charge me more than that!)

Answer 2

How old are you? Are you in high school or college? If you're in high school you could probably charge $5 an hour for any job, plus $1 per hour for each additional child. For an infant you should charge $5 per hour each and toddlers $3 per hour each.

EDIT: Holy c**p, I go to Christian high school and I'm 17 too!

Answer 3

I work at home and run a childcare center in Iowa.I take care of 12 kids from differant hours.I make about per child $100 week.I cook and take them on summer trips that is when I charge extra.

I have my own child who is 4yrs old.So..she has tons of kids to play with and share her toys.

I don't work sundays.Every other saturday I charge extra fee since is MY WEEKEND.

You are under priced and is a hard job to babysit wild kids.So charge more like $5hr.If the parents are bothered by it.Make a list of the child how they behave and that should get them to cuff up the bill.Plus they work you work..Nothing is free in this world.

Answer 4

When I was babysitting I had a pretty standard fee structure that worked well, when I spoke up about it!

at 17, (which wasn't too long ago!) I charged $8 per hour for 1 child, $9 per hour for 2 children, and $10 per hour for 3 children.  It was pretty standard then.  If I was sitting late (after midnight) I requested an additional $2 per hour, because I hated driving home late and because I shouldn't have even been driving home at that time!

Before I was driving, when they had to pick me up and drop me off, I charged $2 less for each rate.

When I retired from hourly babysitting, I was making $15 per hour minimum.

Now, if I sit for a full day (which is very, very, occasional as I work full time during the school year,) I charge $75 per day for the day (usually 8-5) and $100 if it involves overnights.

You're offering a valuable service to these parents - a safe, trustworthy and reliable person to care for their children.  Value yourself!  If you get a "no" don't worry, there are people out there who will say "yes" to your fees.  Yes, the economy is stinky right now, but it is meaning people are going out less.  It doesn't mean they should pay you less!