I used to live in DC and now I live on the Bay Area. I feel like rates are similar in both places. I pay the preschool teacher who babysits $20 / hr because that’s what she asked for. A friend just recommended another babysitter (also a preschool teacher) who charges $22 / hr. If a kid couldn’t drive, wasn’t CPR / first aid certified, wasn’t picking up or making dinner I’d probably pay close to their age (so $15 / hr for a 15 year old). It also depends if someone is truly sitting my 4 and 8 year old vs a mother’s helper and needs me home. If I can’t go to a yoga class or out for coffee etc then it’s worth less to me. A neighbor wrote a few of us two years ago that her then 12 year old wanted to me a mother’s helper. I couldn’t leave her with a diapered two year old. I said I’d be happy to hire her at $12 / hr. My neighbor said her said her understanding was that rates were $20 / hr. Needless to say I never hired the daughter.

Anonymous wrote:Why do b people keep trying to tie wage to age. Why not just get your 65 year old neighbor to babysit and pay her $5/hour because she had nothing better to do, or she should be thankful because her SS check is only $600/month.

You are paying someone to watch your KID!!! That is their job regardless of age. Pay accordingly.

Lots of jobs have a pay range based on experience, even it it's essentially the same job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don’t know anyone who pays high schoolers more than $10/hour.

I’ve known nannies who were making $15 - $20/hour.

Where do you live? I’m in arlington abd haven’t been able to find a sitter willing to take $15 for 10 years. Many sitters want $22-$25 for two kids now.

DP. I'm in McLean and a few years ago a high school student asked $12/hour, although I'm sure it would increase now.

Anonymous wrote:My 15 year old DD charges $22 for Fri/Sat night and $18 for weekdays. She one of those sitters that plays with the kids and leaves the house cleaner than she found it.

She has 7-8 moms that are constantly texting her. She raised her rates in May and she is still has more work than she can do.

We are in McLean and all of the families live in or close to our neighborhood.

My 15 year old DD charges $22 for Fri/Sat night and $18 for weekdays. She one of those sitters that plays with the kids and leaves the house cleaner than she found it.

She has 7-8 moms that are constantly texting her. She raised her rates in May and she is still has more work than she can do.

Why do b people keep trying to tie wage to age. Why not just get your 65 year old neighbor to babysit and pay her $5/hour because she had nothing better to do, or she should be thankful because her SS check is only $600/month.

You are paying someone to watch your KID!!! That is their job regardless of age. Pay accordingly.

At least 15$/hr for a 15 year old watching two kids. Chevy Chase MD

Please list where you live instead of “my area”. Location helps provide context. If you’re not in DMV your cost of living is different.

We are in Arlington. Sitters charge $20 hr, sometimes more if driving or if on diaper duty. Younger sitters will take a few dollars less, but we round up and it feels like a tip for them.

Maybe 10-15? I paid $20 when my children were young and needed a lot of help. It sounds like she’s there for general supervision and not really babysitting. A 15 yo doesn’t really need to babysit a 12 yo. So I would likely pay 10-15 per hour to have someone a little older there if needed. I’d also pay more if the teen had a license and needed to drive them places. That’s worth the money these days and may be back up to $20 per hour.

I have 2 14 yr olds that come to my house (together) and I pay them $12/hr for 3 kids. It is a steal, I know. They live a few houses down. If they happen to be babysitting for 4+ hrs I pay them extra just because but they always are surprised and grateful.

16-18 I pay $12-13. In college $15

The going rate for sitters is going to vary a lot depending on where you live.
I would expect a sitter in rural OH to make a lot less than in the DMV.
The going rate for a sitter is dependent on what people are willing to pay.
My kid is starting to sit and when folks ask what the rate is they respond with $13 an hour but that it is flexible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don’t know anyone who pays high schoolers more than $10/hour.

I’ve known nannies who were making $15 - $20/hour.

High schoolers in this area are too spoiled to accept $10/hr. If you know teens who will take it you must be somewhere with less spoiled kids.

Yes somewhere were the adults make $15 an hour. I have relatives in OH and SC that are in their 50s and make that.

I'm also from a part of the country where people think $15/hr is a solid wage. I'm surprised no one matches young women tofrom "flyover country" to be live-in nannies with DCUM types like some sort of domestic au pair agency.

But at any rate, good luck finding a $10/hr babysitter there.

Anonymous wrote:I would not want my teen making more than they make at their first job post college. $20 per hour is ridiculous for a teenager. Especially one who can't drive!

I realy hope yoir child makes more than $20 an hour after college. I made that much in my first job, and I graduated in 1997!

Many years ago I had a 12 year old mother’s helper in the house while I had a meeting and needed my kids occupied. She asked for $12/hour. I’d rather just pay $20/hour for a real babysitter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don’t know anyone who pays high schoolers more than $10/hour.

I’ve known nannies who were making $15 - $20/hour.

High schoolers in this area are too spoiled to accept $10/hr. If you know teens who will take it you must be somewhere with less spoiled kids.

Yes somewhere were the adults make $15 an hour. I have relatives in OH and SC that are in their 50s and make that.