What's a fair fee for a teenager to watch my 8yr old after school for a couple hrs 5 days a week?

Question

I want to be fair and help out our community kids because we live in a rural area and there are not hardly any places to work for teenagers within a 40 mile radius

Answer 1

$5-ish an hour sounds about fair. That's what I made. Or, find out what minimum wage is, and pay around that.

Answer 2

Wow, I don't know where everyone lives but this past summer my 15 year old watched an 11 year old and she earned $7 per hour cash. At night when she babysits she gets $8 an hour.

Clearly she isn't watching kids for people who work at McDonalds but I still can't believe she gets that much. However, it is the going rate around here.

Also, don't forget that teens are often afraid to speak up if they are not happy with the pay. So check around and see what other kids make when they babysit. Find a good figure and if you can afford it, pay the teen slightly more per hour but give them some home chores or have them help your child do chores each day for 20-30 minutes. That way you get your money's worth, the teen makes a little extra so will be VERY dedicated to your scheduling needs and your kids learns a bit about housework.

Answer 3

I paid my sitter for my 8-9 year old - birthday was during the summer - $30 bucks for a day 8 hours or more. She had to help with summer school work, make easy lunches and clean up. But I also let the two of them take naps, they played sports, walked the dog, etc. An easy gig but I wanted to know she felt responsible to earn the money. To babysit on a night out she charges $5.00 an hour and pretty much does the samething, except maybe help get my daughter in bed. The going rate in our area is $3-$5 per hour plus a really nice Christmas and Birthday present! Good sitters are hard to find, if you have one, go a little above so that she comes back to you instead of the next person who asks, you know that loyalty thing...... Either way, I say negotiate a weekly rate and lay out expectations.

Answer 4

The amount should depend on your local rate, how much experience she has, formal training and what her responsibilities will include. In my area ( I live in a suburb of a larger city) the rate varies from 5-12 $ per hour. It is very hard to find a teenager to be responsible enough to show up 5 days a week- if you find one I suggest you pay her very well or you will be leaving work early a lot! Hopefully you will find one who is willing to help with homework, play and make an afternoon snack.

Answer 5

It depends on the sitter. If he or she won't be doing much but sitting on the couch watching TV and keeping your child from burning the house down, a few bucks an hour would be sufficient. If they have taken babysitting courses and training seminars, however, and come prepared with a bag of toys, books, etc. to keep your child entertained, I would pay around the same hourly rate as local businesses pay their employees. A good babysitter is invaluable, and the benefit to your child is worth a couple dollars more an hour.

Answer 6

I think 4-5 dollars an hour is good but if there is not a job for at least 40 miles maybe 8 dollars an hour.

Answer 7

Wow alot of you are sooooo cheap....
$2-$3 yeah right give her $5-$7 dollars...
Taking care of an 8 yr old is hard work....and if it's a couple hours
She gonna want more dough..she may not say this but..it's a fact
Take into consideration-Does she have to prepare meals...
Give the kid a bath..etc...She's a teenager so she takes time away from her school work to help out......

Answer 8

Depending on what you expect from the teen, $5-$7 an hour is fine. If you just want the teenager to hang with your son to keep him from burning down the house, I'd stay around $5 an hour. If you expect homework to be done during this time, or any meals, or any housework, I'd up the price according to what is being done.

Answer 9

I would ask around to other parents and see what their babysitters charge. This is also a great way to find an after school babysitter with a good recommendation.

I always charged $5 in my rural area... but I haven't babysat in more than 5 years now...

Answer 10

I have recently tried this myself, and its hard to pay enough to not rip the sitter off, but still make it worth while to work, I found to come to a weekly figure rather than per hour was much better. I payed my sitter $50 per week to look after my 7yo, for 3 each day after school, she was stoked with that, and I was happy too.
Suggest a figure, and tell your sitter if not happy, you can negotiate. Good luck, hope it all works out.

Answer 11

Sounds really good of you. Chid care is a major responsibility.Iwould say five dollars an hour at the most.The world could do with more people like you to give teenagers a chance.