The Average Hourly Rate for a Babysitter in Every State

Getting a sitter can give you a night away from the kids or a precious few hours to yourself. Here's how much you can expect to pay a babysitter in your state.

By Dina Roth Port and Hiranmayi Srinivasan

Updated on August 8, 2022

A nanny or a babysitter can be an essential part of the proverbial village it takes to raise a child. Since many people don't have a built-in, multi-generational "village," hiring a babysitter can help you get some much-needed help and time to yourself.

While it's nice to have family or friends that will take the kids off your hands, most parents need to add a sitter to their budget. In fact, a 2017 Care.com survey found that 74% of parents hire a babysitter at least once a month.

Getty Images. Art: Jillian Sellers.

Factors That Impact Rates

According to UrbanSitter, the national average hourly rate for a babysitter in 2022 was $20.57 for one child and $23.25 for two kids. However, how much you pay your babysitter depends on a variety of factors, including:

Where you live
The babysitter's level of experience and education
Demand
How many children you have

"Those on the higher price end are typically our enrichment leaders who are often college-educated sitters who lead kids in certain activities like art, music, acting, dancing, and homework help," says Yi-Hsian Godfrey, co-founder and CEO of Apiari, an online platform that matches families with child care providers.

You can also expect a higher cost if you have more than one child under the age of 2 or if you're getting together with some friends for a shared nanny or sitter. Full-time career nannies will also often charge higher rates than those who offer occasional babysitting.

The pandemic also increased the demand (and appreciation) for babysitters. "We are seeing a growing movement in recognizing nannies and babysitters as a valued profession for many parents," says Marina Lloyd, owner of Utah-based nanny placement agency The Nanny Haven. From 2021–2022, babysitting rates went up 11%, according to UrbanSitter, outpacing inflation by 4%. Lloyd saw the average rate increase by about 20% in her area between 2019 and 2021.

Babysitting Rates by State

Below is a guide to every state's average hourly babysitting rates as of 2022, so you know what to expect when you need one.

State	Average Rate for a Babysitter (per hour)*
Alabama	$14.07/hr
Alaska	$15.80/hr
Arizona	$16.08/hr
Arkansas	$14.17/hr
California	$17.16/hr
Colorado	$17.57/hr
Connecticut	$15.92/hr
Delaware	$17.68/hr
Florida	$13.70/hr
Georgia	$12.74/hr
Hawaii	$16.46/hr
Idaho	$17.03/hr
Illinois	$13.40/hr
Indiana	$15.47/hr
Iowa	$14.56/hr
Kansas	$14.07/hr
Kentucky	$13.73/hr
Louisiana	$12.49/hr
Maine	$16.10/hr
Maryland	$18.41/hr
Massachusetts	$16.79/hr
Michigan	$16.87/hr
Minnesota	$15.61/hr
Mississippi	$13.71/hr
Missouri	$16.05/hr
Montana	$16.03/hr
Nebraska	$17.62/hr
Nevada	$16.42/hr
New Hampshire	$17.08/hr
New Jersey	$16.24/hr
New Mexico	$14.11/hr
New York	$18.14/hr
North Carolina	$14.65/hr
North Dakota	$15.42/hr
Ohio	$14.71/hr
Oklahoma	$16.62/hr
Oregon	$15.58/hr
Pennsylvania	$14.98/hr
Rhode Island	$15.82/hr
South Carolina	$17.42/hr
South Dakota	$14.68/hr
Tennessee	$15.74/hr
Texas	$15.09/hr
Utah	$14.46/hr
Vermont	$16.77/hr
Virginia	$18.04/hr
Washington	$18.97/hr
West Virginia	$15.13/hr
Wisconsin	$14.82/hr
Wyoming	$15.88/hr

*Numbers from Ziprecruiter data and estimates.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!