Whether you need a full-time nanny or just an occasional sitter for date nights, you might be in for a budget-busting surprise, depending on your location.
A recent survey by UrbanSitter of 20,000 families around the U.S. uncovered the average hourly rates for babysitters in several major cities across the country.
Denver comes in at the low end, with an average hourly rate of $12.22 for one child. The Mile High City is closely followed by San Diego at $12.81 per hour for one kiddo, which is somewhat surprising, considering that this SoCal city made the U.S. New & World Report list of places with the highest cost of living.
San Francisco was the priciest place for parents, with sitters raking in an average of $17.34 an hour. New York City, Seattle and Boston followed closely. Childcare providers in each of these metros make more than $16 an hour, on average.
With approximately one-third of parents reporting that they hire sitters at least once a week, care for kids can quickly become a major budget consideration. Nearly half of all parents surveyed report that they dish out at least a grand on babysitters every year.
Nannies are even more costly. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income jumped 5.2 percent between 2014 and 2015. However, nanny rates increased a sizable 10 percent in the past year. Nearly one-third of parents report paying $20K to $30K per year to their nannies; another third pays even more. Less than a quarter of nannies receive childcare benefits from their employers, so the bulk of these costs are out of pocket.
However, getting a break may be well worth the high price tag. A whopping 68 percent of parents who responded to the Urban Sitter survey shared that their lives would be hard and even miserable without the services of a trusted childcare provider. The notion that raising kids is expensive is certainly not a new one. Factoring in the cost of a safe, caring and responsible babysitter is a must.
Here’s the full list from UrbanSitter:
1. San Francisco
San Francisco takes the cake for the most expensive babysitter rates, charging $17.34 per hour for one child on average. For two kids, you’ll pay an average of $19.79 per hour and for three children, you’ll pay $22.21.
2. New York City
Unsurprisingly, it’s very expensive to get a sitter in the Big Apple. You’ll pay $16.89 per hour for one child, $19.66 for two kids and $21.47 per hour for three children, on average.
3. Seattle
In Seattle, you’ll pay $16.42 per hour for a babysitter for one child. Beyond that, you’ll pay $17.68 per hour for two children and $19.94 for three children, on average.
4. Boston
For a babysitter in Boston, you’ll need to fork over an average of $16.02 per hour for one child, $18.75 for two children and $20.89 for three kids, according to the UrbanSitter survey.
5. Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, you’ll spend $15.62 per hour for a babysitter for one child, $17.32 for two children and $19.33 for three children, on average.
6. Washington, D.C.
In the nation’s capital city, you’ll spend $15.51 per hour on a babysitter for one child, on average. Beyond that, you’ll spend $17.96 per hour for two children and $19.59 for three children.
7. Chicago
The Windy City comes in at No. 7 on the UrbanSitter list, with a babysitter costing $13.94 per hour for one child, $15.79 per hour for two kids and $17.39 per hour for three children, on average.
8. San Diego
It’s not terribly expensive to get a babysitter in San Diego—one child will cost you $12.81 per hour. For two kids, it’s $15.26 per hour and for three children is $18.50.
9. Denver
Coming in last on the list, it costs just $12.22 per hour for one child to get a babysitter in Denver. It’s $13.89 for two children and $16.71 for three children, according to the UrbanSitter survey.
Tricia is a professional writer and editor who lives in North Texas with her family and one smelly dog. She is a wannabe problem solver, junk food maven professional coffee practitioner, web guru and general communicator. More.
