CostGuide

Family & Education

Babysitter cost in the US

Nationally, Babysitter runs about $24 per hour. In the lowest-cost cities in this guide it is closer to $19, and in the highest-cost cities about $30.

Typical cost

Most people pay about

$24

per hour

Fair price range: $18 to $32

On the low end
$18
On the high end
$32

Estimated from national price data. Not a quote.

How prices have moved

Up 3.1%past year

Up 23.9%over five years

How prices for services other than rent have moved nationally, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (Services less rent of shelter, CUUR0000SASL2RS), through August 2026. It tracks price change, not the dollar prices on this page.

What moves the price

  1. Number of kids
  2. Late night
  3. Date-night demand
  4. First aid
  5. Transportation

Ways to pay less

  1. Use a regular sitter
  2. Pay for a 4-hour minimum only if required
  3. Share sitters
  4. Ask about extra-kid rates
  5. Book early

Lowest-cost cities for Babysitter

PlaceTypicalRange
National typical$24
$18 to $32
Brownsville, TX$19
$14 to $25
Jackson, MS$19
$15 to $26
Laredo, TX$19
$15 to $26
McAllen, TX$19
$15 to $26
Shreveport, LA$19
$15 to $26
Amarillo, TX$19
$15 to $26
El Paso, TX$20
$15 to $26
Lubbock, TX$19
$14 to $26

Highest-cost cities for Babysitter

PlaceTypicalRange
National typical$24
$18 to $32
Honolulu, HI$30
$22 to $40
San Francisco, CA$32
$24 to $43
New York, NY$30
$23 to $40
San Jose, CA$33
$24 to $43
Sunnyvale, CA$32
$24 to $43
Santa Barbara, CA$30
$22 to $39
Cambridge, MA$31
$23 to $41
Fremont, CA$31
$24 to $42

Babysitter in every city

Typical estimate for each city. Open one for the full range.

District of Columbia
Mississippi
New Hampshire
North Dakota
Rhode Island
South Dakota

Questions people ask

Babysitter: what does it cost?

Across the US, Babysitter typically costs about $24 per hour, with most prices between $18 and $32.

Where is Babysitter cheapest?

Among the 250 cities in this guide, the lowest estimates are in Brownsville, TX, Jackson, MS, Laredo, TX, at about $19.

Is this a quote?

No. These figures are estimates built from national price data and each city's cost of living. A local pro will price your actual job.