How Much Should You Pay Your Nanny in 2019, Depending on Where You Live
Figuring out how much is too much – or too little – to pay for babysitting can be tricky. You want to pay enough (this person keeps your kids alive in your absence, after all), but if you start too high early in the relationship, then you don’t really walk back.
It is always a good idea to ask local friends who are hiring a nanny about the current rates; but if you are like me and are among the first in a local group of friends to have a baby, you may need more information.
Every year, the UrbanSitter childcare network publishes an overview of the average childcare costs in major cities. The national average for 2019 is $ 16.75 an hour per child (and $ 19.26 for two), slightly higher than last year’s average of $ 16.43 . But the rates vary widely, from $ 11.63 per child in Las Vegas to $ 18.75 in San Francisco. New York, Seattle and Boston also top the list of highly paid caregivers.
(Now I see that when I lived in Phoenix, I overpaid a lot – only $ 12 ?? – but I can live with it.)
Other interesting facts from the survey :
- 42 percent of respondents said they pay between $ 10,000 and $ 30,000 per year for child care FOR A CHILD. (Ouch.)
- 63 percent of parents say they hire a nanny at least once a month.
- Most parents expect to spend over $ 1,000 on summer caregivers and babysitters.
- Parents are especially keen to get away from their children on their anniversary, but birthdays, New Years and Valentine’s Day are also important to them.