Babysitting Costs Across the U.S.: Average In-Home Babysitting Rates by State and Metro Area

Why Tracking Babysitting Costs Matters for Nanny Agencies

In the nanny agency business, staying on top of babysitting costs is crucial for both strategic and operational reasons. Babysitting rates can vary dramatically by region – from roughly $16 per hour in the most affordable areas to over $28 per hour in the priciest markets, with about $25/hour being the current national averageblog.urbansitter.com. Moreover, these costs aren’t static: the data shows wages for in-home sitters have been climbing (~5.9% in the past year, far outpacing general inflation) blog.urbansitter.com.

For agency owners, such regional wage data is invaluable. It informs how you set pricing for clients, what you need to pay to recruit and retain qualified caregivers, and even which services to emphasize. By understanding where and why babysitting costs are high or low, agencies can adapt their pricing models, tailor caregiver recruitment strategies, and adjust service offerings to remain competitive and profitable across different markets. In short, tracking Babysitting Costs helps nanny agencies ensure they’re aligning their fees and caregiver pay with local market realities – a key factor in sustaining a successful childcare business.

Key Findings on Babysitting Costs

• National Average: In-home babysitting costs average about $25 per hour for one child across the United States, as of the latest data (2025). This represents roughly a 6% increase year-over-year, significantly above the general inflation rateblog.urbansitter.com. (For families with two children, the average cost is higher, around $28/hourblog.urbansitter.com.)

• State-to-State Range: There is a wide gap in babysitting costs across states. State averages range from roughly $12.5/hour in the lowest-cost states to around $20/hour in the highest-cost statesparents.comparents.com. In other words, what a family might pay a sitter in one state can be nearly 60% higher or lower in another state. Most states cluster in the mid-teens (about $15–$17/hour) for average babysitter pay.

• Metro Area Variation: Babysitting costs in major metropolitan areas tend to exceed their state averages. Big, high-cost cities command the highest rates – for example, San Francisco sits at the top with about $28/hour, and Seattle averages around $26/hour for one childblog.urbansitter.com. Other large hubs like New York City and Los Angeles see rates in the mid-$24–$25 range for one childblog.urbansitter.comblog.urbansitter.com. By contrast, some cities are far more affordable: the lowest major metro rates are around $16–$18/hour (e.g. San Antonio at ~$16.85 and Philadelphia around ~$17–$18)blog.urbansitter.comblog.urbansitter.com.

• Premium for Additional Children: Families pay a premium for multiple children. On average, babysitting costs for two children are about $3–$4 more per hour than for one child (nationally ~$28/hr for two kids vs ~$25/hr for one child)blog.urbansitter.com. This reflects the extra work and attention required, and agencies often factor in an incremental hourly charge per additional child.

Average Babysitting Costs by State

Hourly babysitter wages show significant variation from state to state. Economic factors like cost of living, local labor supply, and prevailing wages contribute to these differences. At the high end, states such as Washington and Colorado have average in-home babysitting costs around $20 per hour, topping the nation. On the low end, states like Florida see average rates closer to $12–$13 per hour, the cheapest in the country. In fact, Washington’s average babysitting wage (about $20.31/hr) is roughly 60% higher than Florida’s (~$12.52/hr)parents.comparents.com.

The table below highlights a sample of the highest and lowest cost states:

Table: Average in-home babysitting hourly rates by state (top five and bottom five states).* Sources: ZipRecruiter data as reported by Parents.com parents.comparents.com.

Aside from the extreme outliers, most states fall somewhere in the mid-teens per hour. In other words, a typical state’s average babysitting cost might be around $15–$17/hour for one child. For example, states like Illinois, Michigan, and Oregon all hover near that range (mid-$15 to $17) according to recent surveysparents.comparents.com. This means that while regional differences are pronounced, a large number of states share fairly similar going rates for babysitters once high-cost coastal and low-cost rural states are set aside.

Average Hourly Babysitting Rate by State (Highest to Lowest):

Source: ZipRecruiter average babysitter pay by state, 2024 ziprecruiter.comziprecruiter.com.

As shown above, the gap between the highest and lowest states is on the order of $6–$7 per hour. The West Coast and Northeast states dominate the high end, while the Southeast states account for many of the low end. On a regional basis, the Northeast and West have average rates around $17–$18/hr, the Midwest around $16–$17, and the South closer to $15–$16parents.comparents.com. This mirrors general cost-of-living patterns. Notably, Washington state (and D.C.) outpace even high-cost Northeastern states slightly, and Florida and West Virginia sit at the bottom

Average Babysitting Costs in Major Metro Areas

When we zoom in from statewide averages to specific metropolitan areas, the picture becomes even more stratified. Babysitting costs in large cities tend to be higher than their statewide average, reflecting the higher cost of living and stronger demand in urban centers. In fact, coastal and economically booming metros dominate the high end of the spectrum. For example, San Francisco has the highest reported in-home babysitting rate at roughly $28.4 per hour for one child, and Seattle is not far behind at about $26.2 per hourblog.urbansitter.com.

Other major hubs like New York City and Los Angeles see average rates in the mid-$20s (around $24–$25/hr for one child)blog.urbansitter.comblog.urbansitter.com. In contrast, some large cities – particularly in lower-cost regions – have much lower going rates. San Antonio, TX stands out as one of the least expensive major cities at only about $16.85/hr on average, and a city like Philadelphia, PA averages around $17–$18/hr for one childblog.urbansitter.comblog.urbansitter.com. The spread between the most expensive and least expensive metros can exceed 60%, even more dramatic than the state-level gap.

Below is a snapshot of five major metro areas with the highest babysitting costs and five with the lowest, based on recent nationwide data:

Table: Average hourly babysitting rates in selected U.S. cities (for one child). San Francisco and Seattle top the list, while markets like San Antonio and Philadelphia are on the low endblog.urbansitter.comblog.urbansitter.com.

Generally, large urban areas with higher costs of living (e.g. San Francisco, NYC, Seattle, Boston, Los Angeles) command higher babysitting rates, often well above $ twenty per hour. These are places where competition for experienced childcare providers is intense and families are accustomed to paying a premium for all services. By contrast, cities in regions with lower living costs or lower wage norms (for instance, parts of the South or Midwest) see more moderate babysitting rates – though even in these “lower” cost metros, rates tend to hover around $20/hour, reflecting the overall nationwide upward pressure on child care wages. It’s also worth noting that some mid-sized cities can exhibit unexpectedly high rates if local supply-demand conditions dictate; for example, Reno, NV averages above $25/hrblog.urbansitter.com, outpacing many larger cities, likely due to regional labor market quirks or a shortage of caregivers in that area.

Average Hourly Babysitting Rate in Major U.S. Metro Areas: (data for ~60 of the largest metros; ranked by cost)

Sources: Sittercity 2024 data for 61 major U.S. citiessittercity.comsittercity.com. (Estimated values for a few additional metros not in that dataset are extrapolated from state averages and nearby cities.)*

Regional Cost Patterns:

Regional Cost Patterns: As the tables show, California dominates the high-cost list (with several of its metro areas averaging well above $22/hr), and other expensive markets include the tech hubs and large coastal cities of the Northeast and Pacific Northwest. For example, San Jose/Silicon Valley has the highest reported rate at nearly $29/hr, and San Francisco, Seattle, NYC, Los Angeles, Boston all see rates around $25/hr or moresittercity.comsittercity.com.

These cities have high costs of living and competitive labor markets, which drive up what sitters charge. By contrast, the most affordable babysitting markets are in the South and parts of the Midwest. Many mid-sized cities in those regions – such as Oklahoma City, Memphis, Greenville (SC), Columbia (SC), Kansas City, Louisville – see average rates in the $18–$20/hr range sittercity.comsittercity.com. Even larger Southern metros like New Orleans or San Antonio are around $20/hr on average, significantly lower than similarly sized coastal metros. Overall, the West Coast and Northeast tend to be 20–30% more expensive for in-home childcare than the South or Midwest.

Factors Influencing Babysitting Costs

Why do babysitting costs differ so much from one place or family to another? Several key factors drive the price of in-home childcare:parents.com

• Location & Cost of Living: Where you live is one of the biggest determinants. High-cost metropolitan areas and states with a higher minimum wage or strong economy tend to have more expensive babysitting rates. Families in cities like San Francisco or New York must offer higher pay to attract sitters, whereas small towns or less expensive regions can pay less.

• Caregiver’s Experience and Qualifications: The experience level of the babysitter or nanny matters. Seasoned caregivers, especially those with specialized training or education (e.g. early childhood education degrees), command higher wages than inexperienced teenage sitters. Certifications like first aid or CPR and background in teaching or nursing can further raise a sitter’s asking rate.

• Job Responsibilities and Scope: The duties expected of the sitter will influence cost. If a babysitter’s role includes additional tasks – for example, cooking meals, driving children to activities, tutoring/homework help, or caring for infants/toddlers with more intensive needs – they will understandably charge more. Essentially, the more you ask of a babysitter beyond basic supervision, the higher the rate is likely to be.

• Number of Children: As noted earlier, sitters usually charge premium rates for multiple children. Managing multiple kids is more work (and stress), so sitters often have a higher base rate for two or more children. Agencies and caregivers typically add a few dollars per hour for each additional child to compensate for the extra responsibility.

• Timing and Availability: This encompasses factors like the time of day and how much notice is given. Short-notice requests, evening or weekend jobs, and holiday sittings can come with higher rates. While this might not be a formal “listed” factor in surveys, in practice many caregivers charge more for inconvenient hours or last-minute bookings. Additionally, a shortage of local sitters or high demand at certain times can drive up effective rates – families may bid up pay to secure a sitter when caregivers are in short supply.

These factors interrelate with regional economics. For instance, a city with a tight labor market for childcare (few available sitters relative to demand) and a high cost of living will see all of these elements combine to push babysitting costs to the upper end. On the other hand, if you’re in an area with many college students or caregivers (increasing supply) and a lower cost of living, typical rates will be lower – even for equally experienced sitters – simply because the market won’t bear as high a price.

Average hourly babysitting rates in the 10 costliest U.S. metro areas. Tech-centric and coastal cities like San Jose, San Francisco, Seattle, and New York command the highest prices (often $25–$29/hr for one child). These areas have high living costs and strong demand for childcare, pushing rates well above the national average.

Top 10 Lowest-Cost Metro Areas:

Average hourly babysitting rates in 10 of the most affordable large metro areas. Southern and Midwestern cities like Oklahoma City, Memphis, and Columbia (SC) see significantly lower rates (around $18–$19/hr). Lower cost of living and wages in these areas contribute to more modest babysitter pay expectations.

Trends and Insights in Babysitting Costs

Over the past few years, the cost of hiring a babysitter has been on a noticeable upward trend nationwide. Notably, these wage increases have outpaced inflation, indicating a real rise in caregivers’ earnings, not just cost-of-living adjustments. For example, in the immediate aftermath of 2020, babysitting rates jumped about 11% in 2021, followed by another ~9.7% increase in 2022axios.com. That sums to roughly a 21% surge in just two yearsaxios.com – a striking growth rate far above general wage trends. By comparison, inflation during that period was much lower, so families and agencies saw the real cost of childcare climb substantially. More recent data suggests the pace has moderated but continues upward: between 2023 and 2024, average babysitter pay rose another ~5–6%blog.urbansitter.com, which is still higher than inflation and most other sectors’ wage growth.

What’s driving these cost increases? 

A major factor is supply and demand in the labor market for childcare. There has been a well-documented shortage of babysitters and child-care workers in many areasaxios.com. In the wake of the pandemic, some caregivers left the field, and many alternative job opportunities arose, meaning families now compete for a smaller pool of sitters. With high demand and limited supply, sitters can command higher pay. One survey found that over half of parents hire a babysitter at least once a week, and even more would do so if sitters were easier to findparents.com – underscoring that demand is outstripping accessible supply. This dynamic is forcing wages up across the board.

At the same time, the profile of caregivers is evolving. Experienced professionals are entering (or re-entering) the childcare workforce due to the higher pay on offer – for instance, former teachers, nurses, and early childhood educators have been drawn to nannying or babysitting rolesaxios.com. These individuals often bring higher qualifications and expect commensurately higher compensation, further driving up the average babysitting cost. On the flip side, daycare centers and other providers sometimes struggle to retain staff when private sitting jobs pay more, creating a feedback loop of labor scarcity in child careaxios.com. All of these trends contribute to a steady rise in in-home babysitting rates.

Geographically, the upward trend has been felt everywhere, but not uniformly. High-cost cities saw some of the sharpest increases – for example, Seattle’s average babysitting rate jumped 16% in one year (2022)axios.com as tech-sector families bid up prices. Yet even traditionally lower-cost areas have seen increases; the gap between regions persists, but all boats have risen, so to speak. This means nanny agencies must keep an eye on both the overall trend and the specific local shifts. For instance, if a city’s average rate shoots up by double digits in a year, agencies in that region may need to adjust their pay scales and client fees more rapidly than agencies elsewhere.

In-home babysitting rates have been rising faster than inflation in recent years. From 2022 to 2024, average sitter pay climbed about 5–6% per year nationally, outpacing general inflation (~3% or less)blog.urbansitter.com. Industry surveys attribute this growth to a tight childcare labor market and higher willingness to pay after the pandemicparents.com. 

For instance, in 2021 babysitter wages jumped ~11% as families competed for limited caregiversparents.com. In 2025, the nationwide average for one child hit roughly $25/hr (up from ~$23.50 in 2024)blog.urbansitter.com. We see this trend reflected across many states and cities – even traditionally lower-cost areas have inched up somewhat. Parents using 8 hours of babysitting a week now spend nearly $200 weekly on averageparents.com. This upward pressure is expected to continue as demand remains strong.

Regional Variations:

The cost differences across regions are primarily driven by local cost of living and wages. Higher minimum wages and general income levels on the West Coast and Northeast translate to higher baseline pay for babysitterssittercity.com. Conversely, in regions with lower median incomes and cheaper living costs (many Southern and rural areas), babysitting rates tend to be lower. For example, Washington and California have high state minimum wages and large urban centers, correlating with top-tier babysitting rates, whereas a state like Mississippi or West Virginia (lower wage base) has much cheaper sitter costs. Metropolitan data shows a similar pattern: urban hubs with high housing costs (San Francisco, NYC, etc.) are the most expensive for child care, whereas smaller metros in lower-cost states remain relatively affordablesittercity.com. Even within a region, proximity to wealth centers matters – for instance, in the New York area, suburban Stamford, CT commands $25/hr (likely due to affluent commuters), whereas upstate Buffalo, NY averages closer to $18 – $19/hrnannylane.com.

Implications for Nanny Agencies and Childcare Businesses

For industry professionals – nanny agency owners, child-care recruiters, and HR managers in the care sector – these findings on Babysitting Costs carry important implications. First and foremost, the data underscores the need for localized pay strategies. An agency operating in multiple regions should calibrate its pricing and caregiver pay to each area’s market rates. For example, charging families in Seattle or Boston the same flat rate as families in rural Arkansas would likely either price you out of the local market or underpay caregivers. Instead, successful agencies set tiered pricing reflecting regional cost differences, ensuring that caregiver compensation in high-cost cities remains attractive enough to recruit top talent while keeping services affordable in lower-cost areas.

Additionally, the consistent upward trend in babysitter wages means agencies must budget for annual increases and proactively communicate these trends to clients. Educating client families about why rates are rising – citing factors like inflation, caregiver shortages, and higher qualifications – can help justify price adjustments. Many parents may not be aware that, for instance, average babysitting costs have climbed ~20%+ in just a couple of yearsaxios.com. By positioning your agency as a knowledgeable advisor on wage trends, you build trust while also making the case for necessary rate hikes to maintain quality service (and to pay your nannies competitively).

Recruiting and Retention

From a recruiting and retention standpoint, tracking babysitting costs enables better strategy as well. If data shows that a neighboring city or state has significantly higher pay, local agencies might start losing sitters to those markets unless they respond. For instance, a nanny agency in northern New Jersey must stay cognizant of New York City’s going rates – a short commute could entice caregivers to cross into the city for higher pay if the gap is large. Agencies can use regional wage data to adjust their offers, provide bonuses, or improve working conditions to retain talent. In high-cost regions, agencies might also consider offering additional perks (like transportation stipends or training opportunities) to attract caregivers if budgets are tight.

The Future is Not Static

Babysitting costs data is not just a statistic for a nanny agency – it’s a strategic tool. By leveraging up-to-date insights on regional babysitting rates and trends, agency owners and childcare businesses can set competitive pricing, allocate resources wisely, and ensure both families and caregivers are satisfied. The childcare landscape is evolving, and those businesses that adapt their pricing and services in line with market realities will be best positioned to thrive. Tracking and responding to babysitting cost trends is thus integral to delivering value in the care industry, ensuring that your agency remains both competitive and sustainable in every region you serve.

Sources: National and regional rate data from UrbanSitter (2024–2025)blog.urbansitter.comblog.urbansitter.com, Sittercity 2024 city pay databasesittercity.comsittercity.com, ZipRecruiter 2024 state salary dataziprecruiter.comziprecruiter.com, Care.com’s 2024 Cost of Care reportparents.com, and Parents.com analysisparents.comparents.com. These figures reflect reported/posted rates for babysitters (part-time/on-demand caregivers, not live-in nannies). All amounts are in USD per hour for one child unless otherwise noted.

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