Babysitting rate calculator
Not sure what to charge? Start from what families pay on average, adjust for your experience and area, and see what your hours add up to.
What babysitters charge in 2026
UrbanSitter's 2026 survey of bookings puts the US average at $26.24 an hour for one child and $29.87 for two. Care.com reports a lower average starting rate of $19.81, based on posted rates, so the two figures measure different things.
Rates run higher in big cities and for sitters with first aid training, experience with babies or a car. Teen sitters starting out often charge below the average and raise their rate as families book them again.
Raising your rate
Take a babysitting or first aid course, collect a reference from each family, and charge a little more for extra children, late nights and holidays.
Questions people ask
How much should I charge for babysitting?
The 2026 US average is about $26 an hour for one child and $30 for two according to UrbanSitter, with teen and new sitters often starting lower. Adjust for your area and experience.
Should I charge more for two kids?
Yes. Families pay more for more children; the average is about $3.60 an hour higher for two than for one.
How much can a teen make babysitting?
It depends on hours. At $18 an hour for 8 hours a week, about $576 a month over a school year. Federal child labor hour limits do not apply to occasional babysitting in a private home.
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