What to Pay Babysitters
It often seems as though the rate you should pay for babysitting is shrouded in mystery. While there isn't a specific formula for calculating what you should pay your babysitter, there are a few guidelines that can help you prepare for the fee conversation. These guidelines are up to date as of February 2010.
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Age
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The age of the babysitter impacts the amount you will pay her. Generally, an older babysitter has more years of experience under her belt. Also, younger babysitters may not be able to drive and may have less flexibility in their schedules. In general, younger babysitters should be paid about two dollars less per hour than older babysitters, according to the Adventures in Babysitting portion of the Chicago Now website.
Location
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The further you get from a major metropolitan area, the less expensive your babysitter's fees may be. According to Chicago Now writer Genevieve Theirs, a metropolitan area extends to about 10 miles outside the city's limits. Within that 10-mile radius, college-age sitters may charge anywhere from $11 to $15 per hour. Between 10 to 40 miles outside the metropolitan area, rates drop by $1 to $2 per hour. Over 50 miles from a metropolitan area, sitters may charge between $3 and $10 per hour.
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Qualifications
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Some babysitters may charge as much as $15 to $20 per hour for their services because of specialized experience. These qualifications may include CPR and first aid training, experience in working with children with disabilities or a history as a full-time nanny. It's important to find out a babysitter's special qualifications during the interview before accepting or rejecting her fees.
Considerations
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If you have several children who need supervision, you might consider paying an extra dollar for each additional child. However, while it pays to be generous, Moneywatch writer Sarah Lorge Butler recommends keeping lots of small bills handy so that you don't end up raising expectations by paying, for example, $40 for a $32 sitting session. Rounding up to $35 would be sufficient in this case.
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References
- Photo Credit Mother image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
