A few years ago, paying a babysitter $15 or $18 an hour might have seemed perfectly reasonable, but many parents are now hearing a much bigger number: $25. That can turn an ordinary date night into a surprisingly expensive outing before dinner, tickets, or transportation enter the picture. Yet current babysitter rate data shows that $25 an hour is no longer unusual, particularly in expensive metropolitan areas or when a sitter has substantial experience. The confusing part is that national averages vary significantly depending on which childcare marketplace you check and how its data is collected. Before deciding that $25 is excessive—or automatically agreeing to it—parents should understand what they are actually paying for.
