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How much money should you pay a babysitter? How much should you charge to sit with children? This guide to babysitting rates will be your companion.

*One-Time Babysitters
Duration: Once a week or once a month
Payment: By the hour
Amount: Varies, depending on your area, from $5 to $20.

Maybe you only need a babysitter or will be sitting only once a week or once a month. In this case, you will want to pay or be paid by the hour. Take into consideration your area and what other people pay babysitters and what other babysitters with your experience level charge. The babysitter and parent should be in agreement about payment amount and methods.

*Regular Babysitters
Duration: Daily, Weekly
Payment: By the hour or flat rate
Amount: Varies, depending on your area, weekly rates $120 and up.

When you need a babysitter daily or weekly, it's common to pay the sitter at the end of the week. In smaller rural towns, $100 a week is acceptable for a Monday through Friday 8 to 4 babysitting position. In larger cities, weekly prices can be $300 and higher.

If you are a babysitter looking for regular work, you will want to charge less than an hourly rate. If you have to work overnight, on holidays, or you are expected to tutor the children with homework, you may charge more than normal.

*Young Sitters
You can base the rate you pay younger sitters on their age.
Age Rate per hour
10 - 12 $5.00
13 - 15 $6.00
16 - 18 $7.00 and up

*Experienced Sitters
Experienced sitters usually know their own rates. As a parent, you can ask for references, call the references and find out what the reference pays the sitter. Experienced sitters are the best choice for parents who have high needs children or babies.

*Age and number of children
If there is only one child to baby sit, rates should be lower. If there are two or more children, of course rates should be higher. If the children are babies, which always need more attention, rates should be higher.

Babysitting rates vary from town to town and from sitter to sitter. Figure out rates by knowing your babysitting needs and an agreement between you and the sitter.

Learn more about this author, Wendy Brock.
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