|
Post by KelleeM on Jun 16, 2021 8:41:57 GMT
I have no idea how much babysitters make here in MA now.
In the mid to late 70s, when I was 14-17, I babysat for the same family (one preteen girl who went to bed at 8:30) every other Saturday night. I had no rate, I took what they gave me, usually $3 for 3-4 hours. The husband picked me up and dropped me off. I remember getting $5 a few times. I babysat for another family once (hadn’t ever met them before that evening) on New Year’s Eve when I was 16…the kids were asleep the whole time and I made $5 an hour.
|
|
|
Post by littlemama on Jun 16, 2021 20:00:11 GMT
$18-$20 per hour is insane for a babysitter. Fast food places around here pay the same. Guess it somewhat depends on where you live. And those people who work at fast food reastsurants are paying taxes on what they earn. Babysitting is typically a young teen's first job. It doesnt need to be as much as a professional with a college degree is taking home.
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Jun 16, 2021 20:06:59 GMT
Fast food places around here pay the same. Guess it somewhat depends on where you live. And those people who work at fast food reastsurants are paying taxes on what they earn. Babysitting is typically a young teen's first job. It doesnt need to be as much as a professional with a college degree is taking home. Most people around here want older teens to babysit - teens who could otherwise have one of those fast food jobs. I was shocked when my 18 year old was contacted by the parents of a 10 and 11 year old. At that age, I was the babysitter, but that’s not how it is now. (I’m not sure how we got to “professional with college degree” from a discussion of babysitting and fast food. ) I guess it comes down to supply and demand. If the supply of available babysitters wants a rate that you think is “insane,” then you either stop demanding babysitters and see if they come down in price, or if you pay what they want, or you go without. We had almost no date nights when our kids were little because we could not afford the going rate at that time, which was about $10-12/hr. That wasn’t the babysitters’ fault. No one owed me a night out at a rate I could afford.
|
|
|
Post by aprilfay21 on Jun 16, 2021 20:31:28 GMT
We don't use babysitters but we have a full time nanny. She's 22, certified in CPR, etc, and she's been with us for over 3 years. We pay her $19 when she only had my now 2 year old (when my others are in school) and $24 when she has all 4 (10, 7, 4, and 2.) We're in Texas.
|
|
|
Post by littlemama on Jun 16, 2021 21:58:46 GMT
And those people who work at fast food reastsurants are paying taxes on what they earn. Babysitting is typically a young teen's first job. It doesnt need to be as much as a professional with a college degree is taking home. Most people around here want older teens to babysit - teens who could otherwise have one of those fast food jobs. I was shocked when my 18 year old was contacted by the parents of a 10 and 11 year old. At that age, I was the babysitter, but that’s not how it is now. (I’m not sure how we got to “professional with college degree” from a discussion of babysitting and fast food. ) I guess it comes down to supply and demand. If the supply of available babysitters wants a rate that you think is “insane,” then you either stop demanding babysitters and see if they come down in price, or if you pay what they want, or you go without. We had almost no date nights when our kids were little because we could not afford the going rate at that time, which was about $10-12/hr. That wasn’t the babysitters’ fault. No one owed me a night out at a rate I could afford. My point is that is someone makes, say $30/hr, which is a decent wage, their take home after they pay taxes would be around $20 per hour. Babysitting as a teen is not something that is on a par with that type of job.
|
|
|
Post by ~summer~ on Jun 16, 2021 22:05:49 GMT
Littlemama - did anyone say they pay a teen $20/hour?
Yes don’t think you can compare a babysitter wage to a full time salaried (or hourly) wage where you are guaranteed 40 hours/week and get benefits. If that’s what you were comparing it to. I think nannying is extremely hard and important and certainly “worth” $20-25/hour. In my opinion.
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Jun 16, 2021 23:11:04 GMT
Most people around here want older teens to babysit - teens who could otherwise have one of those fast food jobs. I was shocked when my 18 year old was contacted by the parents of a 10 and 11 year old. At that age, I was the babysitter, but that’s not how it is now. (I’m not sure how we got to “professional with college degree” from a discussion of babysitting and fast food. ) I guess it comes down to supply and demand. If the supply of available babysitters wants a rate that you think is “insane,” then you either stop demanding babysitters and see if they come down in price, or if you pay what they want, or you go without. We had almost no date nights when our kids were little because we could not afford the going rate at that time, which was about $10-12/hr. That wasn’t the babysitters’ fault. No one owed me a night out at a rate I could afford. My point is that is someone makes, say $30/hr, which is a decent wage, their take home after they pay taxes would be around $20 per hour. Babysitting as a teen is not something that is on a par with that type of job. But that’s really irrelevant. As I said, a family can refuse to pay the “insane” amount and hope lack of demand makes the supply cheaper, but beyond that, the price is what it is. You can’t force people to work for the rate you prefer.
|
|
Bridget in MD
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,981
Member is Online
Jun 25, 2014 20:40:00 GMT
|
Post by Bridget in MD on Jun 17, 2021 1:36:41 GMT
I got $2-3/hr for 2-3 kids in the 80s. Once someone paid me $5/hr for 1 kid and I returned some of the money!!!!!
My DD gets about $7-$10 here in MD - older kids. I am not sure what she'd charge for babies....
|
|
maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,728
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
|
Post by maryannscraps on Jun 17, 2021 10:35:35 GMT
Fast food places around here pay the same. Guess it somewhat depends on where you live. And those people who work at fast food reastsurants are paying taxes on what they earn. Babysitting is typically a young teen's first job. It doesnt need to be as much as a professional with a college degree is taking home. My point was that someone hiring a teen babysitter is competing with the other jobs available to teens -- fast food, etc. that pay pretty well and have consistent hours. Most teens with part time jobs don't earn enough to pay taxes.
|
|
|
Post by littlemama on Jun 17, 2021 12:06:42 GMT
I got $2-3/hr for 2-3 kids in the 80s. Once someone paid me $5/hr for 1 kid and I returned some of the money!!!!! My DD gets about $7-$10 here in MD - older kids. I am not sure what she'd charge for babies.... That is a much more reasonable rate. Also, when I was a teen, we didnt set rates. We were asked to babysit, we did, and we got paid what the person wanted to pay us. Usually was around $2-$3/ hour
|
|
|
Post by Really Red on Jun 17, 2021 12:38:16 GMT
$18-$20 per hour is insane for a babysitter. Nope. I paid $10/hr when my kids were little (10 years or so ago) and it was worth every penny. I got a great sitter who knew I appreciated her enough to pay her enough to take care of the most important people on earth. They were not toddlers and went to bed within an hour or so of us leaving. My neighbor was looking for someone to watch his kids (18mos and 5 mos) for $10/hr and I laughed at him. All I know is that the few times I got to go out, were times when everyone in the neighborhood was going out too. Guess who always got a sitter?
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Jun 17, 2021 15:04:17 GMT
I got $2-3/hr for 2-3 kids in the 80s. Once someone paid me $5/hr for 1 kid and I returned some of the money!!!!! My DD gets about $7-$10 here in MD - older kids. I am not sure what she'd charge for babies.... That is a much more reasonable rate. Also, when I was a teen, we didnt set rates. We were asked to babysit, we did, and we got paid what the person wanted to pay us. Usually was around $2-$3/ hour I think that many kids who are industrious enough to go out looking for babysitting jobs these days are also much more savvy than we were back in the day. The handful of kids who post mention that they have had babysitter training courses, are Red Cross certified, know CPR, etc. so they know they have value. Responsible sitters are REALLY hard to come by in my area and the few who do babysit are always booked up weeks in advance. Many of the babysitting aged kids that I know have a laundry list of activities they’re involved in from elementary age on up so they don’t have time to bother with things like babysitting, mowing lawns or shoveling snow like we used to do to earn spending money. Plus with the current labor crunch, many places are hiring kids as young as 14-15 if they can get them. If you were a kid that age and wanted to work, would you rather take a job scooping ice cream for $16 an hour at a place where your friends will come and hang out or occasionally babysit by yourself for some family that’s only willing to pay you $5-7 an hour on all the weekend nights when you would rather be out yourself with your friends? For a kid seriously looking to earn money, they’re going to take the job with more reliable hours.
|
|
|
Post by beaglemom on Jun 17, 2021 16:39:57 GMT
SF Bay Area.
Summer of 2000 I was paid $8 an hour to watch 1 kid.
I haven't used teens with my kids. I have only used older women. I pay $25 an hour for 1, up to $40 an hour for all 4.
|
|
pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,904
Aug 14, 2015 21:47:17 GMT
|
Post by pilcas on Jun 17, 2021 16:44:13 GMT
Sounds about right to me. Minimum wage in my city is $15. It would also depend if you had a person regularly or on the odd night.
|
|
oh yvonne
Prolific Pea
Posts: 7,990
Jun 26, 2014 0:45:23 GMT
|
Post by oh yvonne on Jun 17, 2021 17:06:21 GMT
thanks for the input all. Looks like the general consensus is that is about average rate for a babysitter (not a nanny, an on call type babysitter be it a teen or adult).
Its not unique to California like that one woman complained. I swear we here in California get blamed for everything lol.
|
|
sassyangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,456
Jun 26, 2014 23:58:32 GMT
|
Post by sassyangel on Jun 17, 2021 21:59:31 GMT
I got $2-3/hr for 2-3 kids in the 80s. Once someone paid me $5/hr for 1 kid and I returned some of the money!!!!! My DD gets about $7-$10 here in MD - older kids. I am not sure what she'd charge for babies.... That is a much more reasonable rate. Also, when I was a teen, we didnt set rates. We were asked to babysit, we did, and we got paid what the person wanted to pay us. Usually was around $2-$3/ hour I actually think it’s a bad thing we didn’t learn our market value and to negotiate our own rates. A lot of people my age now, are really bad at it, and are screwing themselves over in their professional jobs.
|
|
|
Post by iteach3rdgrade on Jun 17, 2021 22:08:50 GMT
In the 80s I babysat on Saturday evenings for a family with 1 child. I was paid about $20 for about 5-6 hours.
We've been fortunate to never have to pay a babysitter for our son. Grandparents helped out, or we took him with us. We would have stayed home if we were paying someone $30-$60 for a night out. I don't know a lot of people my age paying babysitters.
|
|