How much should a babysitter get paid in a rural town in MS?

Question

I have babysat for two summers. This summer I am trying to get organized. As of now. I have completed a babysitting workshop at our county extension office. And I am babysitting a little boy that is less than an year old who has hemophilia.

Answer 1

I get $10 an hour :)

Answer 2

minimum wage

Answer 3

A babysitter should get paid according to their experience.  How many children they are watching and how many hours the child/ children will be under their care.Also it is important to keep in mind if there is anything else that you need to do such as any type of housework (besides  regular picking up etc)

Answer 4

min. wage per hour per kid!

Answer 5

Babysitting is an important and very responsible job.  Please keep in mind though, that the parents have to pay your wage out of what they make.  I had to leave employment with 2 children as after childcare, tax, insurance and transportation I brought home no more than $25 a week for myself.

You really shouldn't ask for more than 50% of the parent's income.  Remember, they have a family to support!

As a side note, in Chicago (downtown) I paid $5/ hr per kid (not quite minimum wage) for afterhours and late night care, $80 a week for 2 hours nightly of afterschool care for my son, around $275 weekly for my 2-year old daughter 8 hours a day in day care, and $15 daily for 1/2 hour of morning care before school and then a 2-block walk to the school for my son (9 at the time).  I believe my son was about $225 weekly for the daycare (again Mon - Fri for 8 hours daily) when I needed that.  My coworkers were amazed that I was working at all having to pay that high of a rate.

If it is regular hours, you can't charge as high hourly (you are in guaranteed work and your 'employer' must be able to justify the expense of your care against their income).  If it is occassional, you can charge a little more per hour.

A friend of mine also had to give up her retail management job after her 2nd child as she couldn't afford a babysitter.  Just be sure you're being fair on the parent - when I was babysitting I didn't think at all about the person paying me and how that cut out of their take home pay.  I just wanted to be paid well for my work.  Now I can see both sides of the story!

Answer 6

Depends on the number and age of the kids.  My daughter started out making $6.00 an hour but now gets $8.00 or more.  She's a college student with CPR and 1st aid certification.