Nobody wants to be the family that underpays, or to guess high and set a rate you can't keep up. Here's what babysitters are actually being paid in the US and Canada in 2026, where the numbers come from, and what should move yours up or down.
The going rate in 2026
| Where | Average | Source |
|---|---|---|
| US, one child | $26.24 an hour | UrbanSitter, from bookings on its app (January 2026) |
| US, two children | $29.87 an hour | UrbanSitter |
| US, three children | $32.33 an hour | UrbanSitter |
| US, listed rates | $20.68 to $28.53 an hour | Care.com, rates sitters list (October 2026) |
| Canada | CA$18.68 an hour | Babysits.ca, rates sitters list (2026) |
The figures measure different things. UrbanSitter's is what parents paid on real bookings (UrbanSitter). Care.com's and Babysits' are what sitters ask on their profiles (Care.com, Babysits). Each comes from one company's own users, so treat them as a guide, not a survey of everyone.
UrbanSitter's average rose 4.9% in a year, faster than the 3% inflation it compared it with. If you set your rate a few years ago, it's probably low.
By city
Rates swing a lot by city. From the same sources:
| City | Average |
|---|---|
| San Francisco | $29.63 |
| Seattle | $27.70 |
| Honolulu | $27.22 |
| Columbus | $19.98 |
| Dallas–Fort Worth | $19.25 |
| San Antonio | $18.21 |
| Vancouver | CA$20.53 |
| Toronto | CA$20.20 |
| Montreal | CA$18.46 |
| Calgary | CA$18.03 |
| Edmonton | CA$17.34 |
US cities from UrbanSitter (one child, January 2026); Canadian cities from Babysits.ca (2026).
What moves the rate
Start from your city's average, then adjust:
- More kids. UrbanSitter's numbers show about $3.50 an hour more for a second child and $2.50 for a third.
- Experience and training. A sitter with first aid, CPR or a babysitting course, or years with kids your children's age, can ask more.
- Age. A 13-year-old who has just finished a course isn't charging what a university student with a car does.
- Driving. If they do the school pickup or take kids to practice in their own car, add for gas, or agree a per-trip amount.
- Extra jobs. Cooking dinner, homework, bath and bedtime for three, or any housework, are worth more than watching a movie with kids who are already asleep.
- Short notice and late nights. Tonight, a holiday or past midnight usually costs more.
- Regular hours. A sitter who has every Tuesday and Thursday may take a little less for steady work. Many families pay the same either way to keep them.
Things to agree before the first night
Saying these out loud saves an awkward conversation at 11 p.m.:
- The rate, and whether it's per hour or per night.
- A minimum. Many sitters want two or three hours, even if you're back early.
- What happens if you cancel late, or come home late.
- Cash, e-transfer or app. Some sitter apps take payment and charge a fee on top.
- Who drives, and how the sitter gets home after dark.
Do I have to pay taxes on a babysitter?
Usually not for the occasional teenage sitter. It changes when someone works for you regularly.
In the US, Social Security and Medicare taxes apply once you pay one household employee $3,000 or more in cash wages in 2026. Wages paid to someone under 18 don't count, unless household work is their main job, and a student's never is (IRS Publication 926, Tax Topic 756). Federal unemployment tax has its own threshold: $1,000 in any quarter.
In Canada, it depends on whether the sitter is your employee or self-employed. If they're an employee, you deduct income tax, CPP and EI and issue a T4; if they're self-employed, you don't deduct anything. The CRA can rule on which it is if you're not sure (Canada Revenue Agency).
For a nanny, or a sitter with set hours every week, check with an accountant. This isn't tax advice.
Once the rate's settled
A good sitter is worth keeping. Two things help: a one-page information sheet so they're never guessing, and a schedule they can see. In Kid Pickup, your sitter gets their own free account under your plan, sees the pickups that are theirs or still open (not your whole week), and gets a reminder before they leave. Still looking for someone? Here are the best babysitting apps in the US and Canada.
FAQ
How much should I pay a babysitter in 2026?
In the US, about $26 an hour for one child on average, according to UrbanSitter's 2026 booking data, and more in big cities. In Canada, sitters on Babysits.ca list about CA$18.68 an hour, and around CA$20 in Vancouver and Toronto.
How much more do I pay for two kids?
UrbanSitter's US average is $26.24 an hour for one child and $29.87 for two, so about $3.50 more.
How much do you pay a 13-year-old babysitter?
Less than an adult with experience, but agree the rate with them and their parents first. A young teen who has done a babysitting course can reasonably charge more than one who hasn't.
Do I pay a babysitter while the kids are asleep?
Yes. They're still responsible for your children. Some families pay a lower rate after bedtime, but agree that before the night, not after.
Do I need to report what I pay a babysitter?
In the US, not for a sitter under 18, or for an adult paid less than $3,000 in cash wages in 2026. In Canada it depends on whether they're your employee. Ask an accountant for a regular nanny.