Going Rate for Babysitting?
By Mrs Money on November 1, 2009 – 8:55 pm -
So today I spent the day babysitting two boys, ages six and seven. Their mom is also an office manager at the bank I work at. It was a fun day, and we spent a lot of time outdoors, playing inside, and playing Wii. I really enjoyed the time I spent with them. The only downfall? It is the day after Halloween and when their parents said NOT TOO MUCH CANDY, one of the kids didn’t listen.
Needless to say, I had a few thoughts running through my head. One- only have one child so they can’t fight, and two- never ever Ever EVER allow my kids to eat any form of white sugar.
I’ve done some babysitting for friends before and not gotten paid. I watched my manager’s kids on a Friday when she was coming home from vacation for about 5 hours. Today I was there from 9:45AM to 7:00PM. I am exhausted. When it came time for me to leave, the mom handed me some cash, I said “are you sure?”, she said that was what she’d have to pay another babysitter, so yes. I put the money in my pocket, thanked her, and then left. When I got home, I looked to see how much money it was.
$80. I was expecting maybe $40 at the most. Now, I don’t have kids, so I have no idea how much babysitting runs, but that just seems a little extreme to me. I think I’m going to email her and tell her that’s too much money and that I am fine with less. I don’t want to rip her off.
Do you know what the going rate for babysitting is? What do you think I should do?
Posted in Money | 13 Comments »
November 1st, 2009 at 9:56 pm
I think $80 was fair. That’s about $10 per hour for two kids, which is reasonable.
And like you said, you were exhausted! Caring for kiddos is hard WORK, and it’s actually worth more than $10/hour, but most people can’t afford to pay much more. Heh
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Mrs Money Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:01 pm
I feel so much better after reading your comment. I’m glad I didn’t email her! It was hard work, but I did enjoy it too.
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November 2nd, 2009 at 8:06 am
First of all, I’m confused about how many hours you watched the boys yesterday. You said you were “there from 9:45 to 7pm” so I’m thinking roughly 9 hours? So just under $9/hour? I honestly don’t know what the going rate is, but I am sure it is much more than $9/hour. At any rate, do NOT email her and tell her it was too much! She appreciates you, and it shows that she is a considerate and honest person to pay you a reasonable amount ($80 vs. the “none” you mentioned). These things are precedent setting, so if you go down to under $4.50/hour on your rates (you said you expected no more than $40) that’s what she’ll expect to pay you in the future. You are worth at LEAST the amount she paid you (not half as much)! I babysat for people when I was a teen for free, and would babysit for five kids for $2/hour AND clean their kitchen while they were gone. Once a couple (where I babysat while visiting my dad in Oregon) paid me IIRC, $20/hour!! I was aghast and wouldn’t let them pay me that much. So don’t be like Mrs. Accountability! Get it in your head right now, YOU ARE WORTH MORE MONEY!! :-)
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Mrs Money Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:02 pm
That’s right! It was around 9 hours. I didn’t send her the email. I am glad that I posted this. My mom was worried I was accepting too much money, but then again, she’s never really paid a babysitter and my sister (the youngest) is 20! I kept the money and I’ll save it!
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November 2nd, 2009 at 10:03 am
Are you kidding? For 2 kids the going rate is *at least* $15 per hour – I think you were underpaid.
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Mrs Money Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:03 pm
It’s funny- you aren’t the only one that’s said that! I am happy with the $80 but at least now I know what the going rate is!
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November 2nd, 2009 at 12:26 pm
About 3 years ago, I babysat 2 children aged 3 and 6 from 7am til 5 pm, monday through friday for nearly an entire summer. I served breakfast, lunch, and a snack, and set the table for dinner every day. I made about 11.50 (canadian) an hour.
During this time, I also baby sat for 3 other families, an hour or 2 at a time which sometimes overlapped the first family.
I have no idea what the rate is now, but what you got paid does seem a little low.
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Mrs Money Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Wow! I am so glad you told me that. I now know how much to charge for next time!
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November 3rd, 2009 at 5:54 am
I agree that the going rate for 2 kids at the “affordable” side for parents is $15/hour. I’ve done babysitting for 2 kids in the past and considered that to be reasonable pay.
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Mrs Money Reply:
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:04 pm
I told my mom that I can never afford a babysitter.
I think that when I have kids I’ll have to work out a trade with someone!
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November 5th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
You were definitely underpaid…
9 hours and 15 minutes of work, and you got $80, which means less than $10/hour.
My brother pays the girl who watches his one son, $15/hour plus expenses like movie tickets, popcorn if they go out, etc.
And for 2 kids? It’s at least $20/hour in his area.
But still… you had fun right?
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Mrs Money Reply:
November 5th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Wow! I would love to babysit those kids!
Yeah, I did have fun. And I’m happy with the $80 so I can’t complain.
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November 20th, 2009 at 10:24 am
I paid for college thru babysitting, and 10 years ago the going rate was $10.00 an hour. So, maybe $15 an hour may be a good rate for the future.
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