Rate for college kid driving/ babysitting?

[Anonymous]

I am looking for help a couple hours most afternoons over the summer. I’m thinking a college kid with a morning job might be interested in picking up a couple extra hours, picking my kids up at camp and hanging out with them for a bit. We have some flexibility so they don’t need to work every day, but I need somebody who isn’t going to flake on me because something better comes up on any given day. What is a good enough hourly rate to make this worthwhile for a responsible young adult?

[Anonymous]

At least $30. Horrible as that is, I paid $25 an hour for one easy child last year and went through two unreliable flakes and finally got one good one.

[Anonymous]

Most people except camp counselors will not be available at that hour so you'd have to pay a premium and also provide a car or pay additional mileage for their car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am looking for help a couple hours most afternoons over the summer. I’m thinking a college kid with a morning job might be interested in picking up a couple extra hours, picking my kids up at camp and hanging out with them for a bit. We have some flexibility so they don’t need to work every day, but I need somebody who isn’t going to flake on me because something better comes up on any given day. What is a good enough hourly rate to make this worthwhile for a responsible young adult?

$20/$25 an hour would ensure loyalty and availability.

[Anonymous]

Mom of 2 college students here.

I've never heard of a college student with a "morning job" over the summer. They usually have something all day, like an internship or camp counselor, or they have some type of "shift work" job (like at an ice cream shop, retail, etc.) and their schedule changes every week.

Even though you say your schedule is "flexible" and won't need them every day, that actually might be seen as a negative for someone that wants guaranteed/lots of hours.

Rather than thinking about it as an hourly rate, I'd base your compensation around how much a student would want to earn per week--and I'd say most students won't bother if they aren't making at least $400-$500/week, no matter how few hours they are working.

[Anonymous]

This is almost impossible to fill unfortunately.

I'd say $30-35hr

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am looking for help a couple hours most afternoons over the summer. I’m thinking a college kid with a morning job might be interested in picking up a couple extra hours, picking my kids up at camp and hanging out with them for a bit. We have some flexibility so they don’t need to work every day, but I need somebody who isn’t going to flake on me because something better comes up on any given day. What is a good enough hourly rate to make this worthwhile for a responsible young adult?

$20/$25 an hour would ensure loyalty and availability.

No way will $20-25 cut it. OP is basically asking the college kid to tie up the most in demand part of the day, for just a few hours worth of pay.

[Anonymous]

$35 for 2 kids with guaranteed hours. I agree that total compensation matters and while I have had luck with college students, I find a shift needs to be 3-4 hours. That said I think it’s totally doable and plenty of college kids have somewhat flexible schedules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am looking for help a couple hours most afternoons over the summer. I’m thinking a college kid with a morning job might be interested in picking up a couple extra hours, picking my kids up at camp and hanging out with them for a bit. We have some flexibility so they don’t need to work every day, but I need somebody who isn’t going to flake on me because something better comes up on any given day. What is a good enough hourly rate to make this worthwhile for a responsible young adult?

$20/$25 an hour would ensure loyalty and availability.

No way will $20-25 cut it. OP is basically asking the college kid to tie up the most in demand part of the day, for just a few hours worth of pay.

Ehhhh it depends. I think the rate is low for 2 kids but based on my experience hiring college kids, that’s more than they’re making in other gigs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am looking for help a couple hours most afternoons over the summer. I’m thinking a college kid with a morning job might be interested in picking up a couple extra hours, picking my kids up at camp and hanging out with them for a bit. We have some flexibility so they don’t need to work every day, but I need somebody who isn’t going to flake on me because something better comes up on any given day. What is a good enough hourly rate to make this worthwhile for a responsible young adult?

$20/$25 an hour would ensure loyalty and availability.

No way will $20-25 cut it. OP is basically asking the college kid to tie up the most in demand part of the day, for just a few hours worth of pay.

Ehhhh it depends. I think the rate is low for 2 kids but based on my experience hiring college kids, that’s more than they’re making in other gigs.

It’s not just the rate, it’s the limited hours (a few hours a day, and not every day) and the fact that it is in the middle of the day. OP doesn’t specify how many hours beyond “a few”—but say it’s 3 hours, 3 days a week…so $180/week? If you’re a college kid and all your friends are going to the beach for a week, are you really going to want to stay behind for $180?

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks all. what i meant by not every day was if the kid has a retail shift schedule and can give us 3 days a week and they move around, that’s fine. I’m hoping 2-3 hours between 3 and 6 on whatever days, and ideally I’d find someone that was a camp counselor or swim team coach or something who starts early and would want to take this on for extra cash. No way is it meant to be their only gig. if they wanted 5 days/week i’d do it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks all. what i meant by not every day was if the kid has a retail shift schedule and can give us 3 days a week and they move around, that’s fine. I’m hoping 2-3 hours between 3 and 6 on whatever days, and ideally I’d find someone that was a camp counselor or swim team coach or something who starts early and would want to take this on for extra cash. No way is it meant to be their only gig. if they wanted 5 days/week i’d do it!

I'm saying this kindly, but I would honestly get this option out of your head because you aren't going to find it. If you do find someone, they will leave shortly after and you'll be back at square. Do yourself and your family a favor and come up with an alternate plan. Save your stress now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks all. what i meant by not every day was if the kid has a retail shift schedule and can give us 3 days a week and they move around, that’s fine. I’m hoping 2-3 hours between 3 and 6 on whatever days, and ideally I’d find someone that was a camp counselor or swim team coach or something who starts early and would want to take this on for extra cash. No way is it meant to be their only gig. if they wanted 5 days/week i’d do it!

I would say minimum shift of 3 hours. I also think your chances are better the closer you are to a college campus (more appealing if there's little commute involved for the student) and if you pay on the higher end of what has been discussed here.

Part-time babysitting arrangements aren't popular on this board but they are totally possible with the right pay/benefits and flexibility.

[Anonymous]

You’re better off finding an old lady for this kind of hours not a college student

[Anonymous]

I’ve had good luck with high schoolers. I don’t exactly pay an hourly rate. I pay $40 for a maximum Of 2 hours 45 mins. On Mondays I only need a sitter for 90 mins. We need someone 8 days a month generally and this has worked well for us.