We don’t go out often. Usually when we do my parents babysit, but they live in another state, so when we want to go out locally we are stuck. I found a sitter for tonight, she’s 17 years old and sitting is her only PT job. She didn’t tell me what she charges, so I guess I have to figure it out. When I was younger and did babysitting, I charged about $2.00 an hour, I’m pretty sure it’s more now.
It’s two kids, 8 and 10 for about 5 hours. No cooking is involved.
What’s the going rate ?
I used to charge $3 per kid per hour. You might want to ask her if you know that she babysits for other people and has some sort of idea herself.
I believe “the going rate” varies widely, depending on the local supply-and-demand. It’s probably best just to ask her.
Ask around. Here in OH the going rate is ~$2/child/hour, an extra $5 if the sitter doesn’t have to be picked up and dropped off. I also ask ahead of time what fast food or pizza she likes and I’ll have that waiting for her when she arrives.
I also think high maintenance children (and you know if you have them) deserve more per hour. Scale your wages according to how much work she has to do.
$20 is the minimum I’ll pay, even if it’s just a few hours because I recognize that she gave up an evening to babysit.
I sat twice for the daughter of a friend here, the daughter in question having some fairly serious behavioral problems (she really IS ADHD, trust me on that!) and was paid $40 for five hours, one and a half of that when she was in bed. I was shocked; that IS hazard pay, but when I was sitting more regularly I usually got about a buck-fifty an hour. I’m 27 so I would expect something around minimum wage, though for a friend I’m willing to settle for a whole lot less or none at all; I wasn’t expecting to get paid anywhere NEAR what I was for that job.
She is a very high-maintanance kid but if I’d gotten $40 for babysitting at fourteen, which the mother swore to me was her usual payment, I’d have been over the moon. I was pretty happy with it NOW!
I’d ask around. It’s always better to overpay a bit than to underpay, though.
I would ask her what she charges, that’s her job & at 17 she better start learning about salaries 
My friend charges $15 an hour plus $2 per extra child. Of course, sometimes only $5 an hour if that’s all she thinks they can afford or she thinks the kids need the love & attention…
'round here (long island), babysitters get a lucritive $10/hour. Interesting how it is so different in OH.
I pay my sitter about $3.00 per hour. I live in Ohio also. Of course, I have to pick her up take her home afterwords which is about a 25 minute ride each way. I only have a 11 year old son who is no problem whatsoever. Seems fair I guess…
[ul]:eek: [sup]AMAZING! When did babysitting become a profession?[/sup][/ul]
I have babysat a great deal (though not much anymore) and I usually recieved $5-6 an hour.
When did cheerleading become a sport? 
::d&r::
kniz, my aunt is a nanny. I believe that is as close as it is possible to get to a professional babysitter.
She’s done other jobs, but she loves kids, and has always gone back to it.
I have friends who baby-sit, and they charge between $8 and $10 an hour. Of course, they’re older, with years of experience and their own cars. Between $2 and $3 an hour seems really low? Why would anyone, even a 14-year-old, work for that little?