Whether you’re new to babysitting or just re-evaluating the hourly rate that you’ve been charging, it’s important to get familiar with the average babysitter rates and the variety of factors that babysitters and families take into account. Here’s what you need to know to determine a babysitting rate per hour that works for everyone.
Know the going rate for babysitting
Before you nail down your own babysitter rate, you’ll first need to figure out what other babysitters typically charge families to watch their kids. Babysitter pay in Australia typically ranges from $20 to $35 an hour, but largely depends on where you are in the country. Apart from your city, other key factors to consider when setting your rate include your experience and the duties involved in a job.
Know the factors that can influence babysitting rates
There are several factors that determine a babysitter’s hourly wage:
- Your level of experience
- The number of kids you will be watching
- The location where you live or where you will be babysitting
- The costs you incur, including travel costs and equipment
- Your duties, i.e. what you are expected to do alongside caring for the kids
- The hours you work
1. Experience
The more babysitting jobs or hours you’ve worked, the more pay you can earn. While a babysitter with little or no experience can usually expect to earn the base rate of $20–$23/hour, those with many years of professional experience can generally charge $30–$35/hour. Any additional skills, childcare certifications and training you have acquired along the way should also be reflected in your fees. A little side note: most employers and even private individuals will require you to provide a Working With Children Check (also known as ‘Blue Card’, ‘Working With Vulnerable People’ or ‘Ochre Card: Working With Children Clearance’ in some states and territories) and/or an Australian Police Check before they’ll consider using your services. These are not free to obtain, but they are usually tax-deductible. However, you may still want to factor this into your hourly rate.
2. Number of children
Looking after more children can be more work, so you can expect to charge a little more. While rates for looking after one child or two don’t vary greatly, for a family with four or five children, you can normally add an additional $10–$15 onto your hourly fee. The age and needs of the children should also be taken into account. Children with special needs and infants often require more care and additional certifications – so you can increase your pay if your charges fall into these categories.
3. Location
The base rate of $20–$23 varies slightly across the country: in major cities like Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, babysitting rates are marginally higher than they are in areas outside the city. So it’s worth doing your homework: use a babysitting rate calculator to see what the pay rate is in your area for babysitters with a similar profile to you. If your skillset is worth more in one town than a neighbouring one, you would be well advised to look for babysitting jobs in the town that pays more.
Here are some examples of the going babysitter rates based on location, according to recent Care.com data.
Current babysitter rates for top cities
| CITY | HOURLY BABYSITTER RATE |
|---|---|
| Sydney | $27.39 |
| Melbourne | $26.06 |
| Brisbane | $25.06 |
| Perth | $23.53 |
| Adelaide | $24.11 |
| Gold Coast | $25.44 |
| Newcastle | $24.88 |
| Canberra | $24.82 |
| Sunshine Coast | $25.42 |
| Central Coast | $23.67 |
| Liverpool | $26.09 |
4. Your costs
It’s worth taking other cost factors into consideration when calculating your rate. How far are you travelling to work, for example, and what is it costing you? Are you bringing any special items or equipment with you, e.g. toys, snacks or crafts? Don’t be afraid to factor these into your rate.
5. Your duties
Different employers will expect different things from their babysitters. Some families just want their kids to be supervised and entertained, while other jobs might involve cooking, doing the laundry and shuttling the kids to and from various activities. Make sure you understand the family’s needs and expectations in advance – and ensure your fee reflects the number of responsibilities you have.
6. The hours you work
In terms of your pay, when you are working can be just as important as what you are doing. Many sitters charge a premium rate for in-demand times such as Friday or Saturday night. If you are babysitting the whole night, however, your hourly rate may be lower than normal. Although a babysitter’s duties don’t stop while the kids are in bed, you don’t have to plan activities, cook dinner or supervise homework during this time.
Know the bare minimum you’re required to be paid
Families often expect experienced, high-quality care at the minimum possible price. But make sure the fee you’re paid reflects your needs – and the legal requirements. The minimum wage – sometimes referred to as the “National Minimum Wage” – as of 1 July 2021 is $20.33 per hour in Australia.This is reviewed yearly by the Fair Work Commission.
Know how much you need to make a living
While the minimum wage is a requirement, experts agree that for many people, it is not enough to live on. The wage workers actually need to make ends meet and support their families is referred to as the living wage.
It’s helpful to know the minimum wage so you can figure out if it’s going to be enough to cover your own personal costs of living and lifestyle. The tools below can help show you the estimated pay rates for babysitters and help you calculate your own salary requirements:
- Look up the average babysitting and childcare rates for your area
- Check out this budget planner from moneysmart.gov.au to find out how much you should realistically be charging to meet your needs
Don’t forget about tax
Remember that your babysitting rate is how much you’ll be paid before tax. You can use this income tax calculator to work out how much money you will actually have in your pocket after tax and the Medicare levy are deducted – which is useful to know when calculating your rates.