Babysitter rates will rely on several factors. If you hire a teenage babysitter from your own community for instance, you can expect to pay a lesser amount than the one you pay for when you get a sitter from an agency. However, there are still other considerations to make, and paying lesser does not guarantee that your kids will be in good hands.

So what is the usual babysitter rate? Babysitting rates usually range anywhere from $4 to $12 per hour. Remember those days when you could pay a 13-year-old teen from your neighborhood just a few dollars and she'd be totally fine with the rate? While there are a number of teens these days who are willing to watch over your kids for 3 bucks an hour, the majority of parents today have more expectations from anyone who is offering babysitting services. Parents to day are more watchful over what goes around in their home due to some tragic events in the past. Nobody wants a stranger in the home watching over the kids, however, sometimes it is necessary for parents to have someone care for the kids while they run errands. Therefore, hiring someone who is professional, reputable, can be trusted, and can perform additional tasks may come with a higher rate. For instance, a family may want a sitter who can drive in case of an emergency, cook or even tutor.

It all depends on your case. If you're going to leave your kids with a caregiver for just a few hours while you're out on the weekend or have to rush to a meeting, you could hire a teenage babysitter. If your sitter is young and have only one child who needs care, you could expect a babysitter rate of just around $3 to $4. Usually, a second child adds an extra $1 per hour.