If you find it confusing and maybe a bit awkward sometimes working out how much a sitter or a nanny is going to cost you then don’t worry, we got you. Here is a general list of things that you should be considering when working out what to pay your sitter.
Number of Kids
If there are more than 5 kids that you’ve got or if you’ve joined up with another family to put all of the kids in the one house, then you might want to consider paying extra.
The sitter would very likely have earnt their keep and will be more willing to work for you again instead of running away in a traumatised mess.
Early or Late Hours
If you need your sitter to be working before 9am or if you’ve gone out for a big parents-gone-wild night out and you get home past 12, you should be paying your sitter a little extra for their time.
Extra points for making sure that they have a safe way of getting home in those dark hours.
Number of Hours
If the shift is only 2 hours, then you might want to consider bumping the pay up so that it’s worthwhile for the sitter to come and work.
On the other hand, if the shift is 8 hours or longer then you can probably get away with paying a smidge less.
Check with Fair Work
If you want to calculate to the cent what you should be paying, you can always use the wage calculator on the Fair Work website. This isn’t the most convenient way to go about it but will give you an idea of what you should be paying which you can base off.
Extra Jobs
Expecting your nanny to also be the cleaner, chef, teacher and personal assistant without paying them for it isn’t going to do well for your relationship with them.
Make sure you’re clear with them from that start about what you expect them to do and pay them an amount that you’re both happy with.
Qualifications
When your sitter has a degree in childcare or something similar, then this higher level of care requires a higher pay. People with these types of qualifications usually charge $10 extra per hour for their services.
Age
If your sitter is still a teenager then they aren’t meant to be paid as much as someone who’s older.
However, this rule usually isn’t put into practice (especially once they’re 18). In this situation, it’s best to discuss with the individual about how much they’re willing to work for.
About the Author
Maddy’s years of experience babysitting as well as her love of words bring us all we need to know about all things babysitting. She currently runs the Babysitters List site and still looks after kids occasionally.
