How Much to Pay a Babysitter?

We pay our sitter depending on what time we leave...is dinner going to have to be made for them? Is she going to have to get them ready for bed,etc...If my kids are already fed and in bed already before she gets here,and she just sits there and watches tv and is on the lookout for robbers and fires,etc...she only asks for 5.00 hr for all my 3 kids. (via her mothers requests we dont over pay her,as she stated to me,she can work at taco bell at a real job for $7.00 doing alot more work, lol)...so,i just go by their wishes.Of course if she has more to while her,bed prepping,playing etc,i pay her accordingly.

I agree on different rates for different experience levels. We had a 14 year old who lived next door and we payed her 6 an hour. We have a 21 year old who we use for longer time periods and later nights and we pay her 8 to 10 an hour.

We always round up with our sitter...but it works out to $8-$10 an hour generally (I have 2 kids).

I remember getting a flyer in the mail (not mailed, just went around and put them in people's mail box) from some 16 year old in my area... she said she'd just moved into town, her dad owns a car dealership, she has her own transportation, she charges $10 an hour and here's her cell phone number. I just about died... Just thought you little spoiled brat! Hee hee... but then I realized, that's about what we pay ours...but she just takes what we give her... we don't have a set amount... just give it to her and she goes. :)

We don't really have a set amount either, but it averages somewhere between $7 and $10 an hour for two kids. Also, depends on how long we're gone and what time it is. If the girls are sleeping the whole time we're out, I don't feel like she needs to get top dollar that night. But, at the same time, if we are only gone for an hour or an hour and a half, we still give her $20. Ask the babysitter what her hourly rate is, if she doesn't have one I would just go with what you think is fair.

Have fun on your big night out!

I think for someone that is a teen w/out much experience is about $6-7 and more someone that is older, with A LOT of experience, cpr/first aid certified the going rate is $10 an hr which is what I charge for up to 2 kids.

I hope this helps.
M.