How much should I pay a babysitter?

Question

What's the average babysitting cost? Who provides the food? I'm thinking about $5-$10.

Answer 1

You provide the food, absolutely.  And you cover expenses the babysitter might incur while working for you (He/she should clear these with you first).

How much you pay your babysitter should depend on how many kids you have, the babysitter's age and experience, and the amount of work your babysitter will have to do (will they be playing all day, or only for an hour and then sitting around while the kids are sleeping?), and if your kids are wild and crazy or low-intensity.

If your babysitter is old enough to make minimum wage in your state, you need to pay her/him at least that amount.

I work as a babysitter in Seattle.  The kids I sit for are 5 and 3.  I work for three families that each have 2 kids of those ages, and I make somewhere between 10-14$/hr with all of them (I sit for each family individually).  Minimum wage in WA is $8.07.  I'm 21 and experienced.  Just for comparison.

I hope this helps!