The Average Hourly Rate for a Babysitter in Every State

A nanny or a babysitter can be an essential part of the proverbial village it takes to raise a child. Since many people don't have a built-in, multi-generational "village," hiring a babysitter can help you get some much-needed help and time to yourself.

While it's nice to have family or friends that will take the kids off your hands, most parents need to add a sitter to their child care budget. In fact, a 2023 babysitter survey by Care.com found that over half of parents hire a babysitter at least once a week, but that figure would climb to 63% if it were easier to find a sitter.

What's more, a 2024 cost of care report by Care.com found that people who used babysitters for eight hours per week spent nearly $200 every week on that care. Read on to learn how much caregivers should charge for babysitting services and what you can expect to pay for babysitting based on where you live.

Factors That Impact Babysitting Rates

According to UrbanSitter, the national average hourly rate for a babysitter in 2024 was $23.61 for one child and $26.57 for two kids. However, how much you're charged for babysitting depends on a variety of factors, including:

• Where you live
• The babysitter's level of experience and education
• Demand
• Number of children

"Those on the higher price end are typically our enrichment leaders who are often college-educated sitters who lead kids in certain activities like art, music, acting, dancing, and homework help," says Yi-Hsian Godfrey, co-founder and CEO of Apiari, an online platform that matches families with child care providers.

You can also expect a higher cost if you have more than one child under the age of 2 or if you're getting together with some friends for a shared nanny or sitter. Full-time career nannies will also often charge higher rates than those who offer occasional babysitting.

The COVID-19 pandemic also increased the demand (and appreciation) for babysitters. "We are seeing a growing movement in recognizing nannies and babysitters as a valued profession for many parents," says Marina Lloyd, owner of Utah-based nanny placement agency The Nanny Haven.

From 2020–2021, babysitting rates went up 11%, according to UrbanSitter, outpacing inflation by 4%. Lloyd saw the average rate increase by about 20% in her area between 2019 and 2021.

Average Babysitting Rates by State

Below is a guide to every state's average hourly babysitting rates as of 2024, according to ZipRecruiter, so you know how much to expect to pay when you need one. Consider the average babysitter rate for your state as a starting point.