Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a babysitter cost in Creston, IA in 2026?

In Creston, IA, the average babysitter earns about $13.77 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $551/week or $2,387/month. Most Creston families pay somewhere in the $7–$25/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$13.77/hr · Creston average

These numbers come from 69 live babysitter listings in Creston on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$551
$2,387
$28,642

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What drives the price

Most Creston families pay somewhere in the $7–$25/hour range. Where a given family lands depends on a handful of factors. Three of them drive most of the spread.


01

Experience

Experience is one of the biggest levers on a babysitter's rate.
Nannies with 10+ years, or specialty skills like newborn care or multiple languages, typically command the highest hourly rates.

02

Number of kids

One child is the baseline. Each additional child usually adds $1–$2/hour. Twins and infants tend toward the high end.
+$1 to $2/hour per additional child
Hourly rate by number of kids
1 kid (baseline)$13.77
2 kids~$14.77
3+ kids~$15.77+

03

Hours & schedule

Standard weekday daytime hours are easiest to staff. Early mornings, evenings, weekends, and last-minute coverage all push rates up.
10–20%premium for off-hours coverage
Hourly rate adjustment by schedule
Weekday 9–5 (standard)
Evening/weekend+$2–4/hr
Last-minute+$3–5/hr

Also factor in: live-in vs. live-out · household duties beyond childcare · driving · cooking · travel.

How do Creston babysitter rates compare to state and national averages?

Creston runs below the U.S. average for babysitter rates — a meaningful budget advantage for families looking here.

Hiring babysitters in Creston, IA typically costs about 3% less than the Iowa average of $14/hour and 18% less than the United States average of $17/hour.

Average hourly babysitters rates compared across Creston, IA and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Creston, IA
Creston, IA$14/hr
Iowa$14/hr+3%
United States$17/hr+22%

Where Creston, IA fits among nearby cities

10 nearby cities have enough babysitter data to compare, with rates ranging from $12.91/hour in Dubuque to $15.47/hour in Council Bluffs.

Below: how each compares to the Creston, IA average of $13.77/hour.

Nearby cities ranked by babysitter rate

10 cities near Creston, IA ranked by average hourly babysitter rate, most to least expensive.
#City$/hrvs. Creston, IA
1Council Bluffs$15.47+12%
2Ankeny$15.25+11%
3Des Moines$15.21+10%
4Sioux City$14.85+8%
5Davenport$14.63+6%
6Iowa City$14.50+5%
7Ames$14.28+4%
8Cedar Rapids$14.22+3%
9Cedar Falls$13.55-2%
10Dubuque$12.91-6%
Most expensive nearby: Council Bluffs ($15.47) Least expensive nearby: Dubuque ($12.91)

Tips to find a great babysitter without overpaying

  • Be flexible on experience. Some of the best babysitters on the platform have 3–5 years on the job and charge meaningfully less than experienced babysitters with 10+ years. References matter more than years.
  • Consider a share. If your kids are similar ages and you live near another family, a share is the single biggest cost reduction available without compromising on care.
  • Be specific about hours upfront. Most babysitters will take a slightly lower rate for a guaranteed steady schedule than for a higher-rate, unpredictable one.
  • Bundle benefits thoughtfully. Two weeks PTO, a health stipend, transit passes, education assistance, or an annual raise commitment can help close the gap with families offering a higher hourly rate.
  • Match rate to responsibilities. A higher rate often makes sense once you add cooking, errands, or driving. Don't compare apples to oranges across listings.

How to reduce nanny costs?

Split the cost of a nanny with another family
and enjoy flexible child care.
Learn more about nanny sharing

How families use Nanny Lane to find a babysitter in Creston, IA

Nanny Lane is a marketplace built specifically for connecting families with babysitters — no recruiters in the middle. Most families work through it like this:

  1. 01

    Browse babysitter profiles in Creston, IA

    Filter by hourly rate, experience, languages, and availability.

  2. 02

    Message the ones who look like a fit

    Reach out to the babysitters whose experience and rate match what you're looking for.

  3. 03

    Schedule a phone call, then a paid trial day

    Trial days feel awkward at first — that's normal. They're the best way to see how a babysitter fits with your family in real time.

  4. 04

    Hire your babysitter

    If you'd rather not handle taxes and payroll yourself, our payroll team can take care of it.

Available babysitters in Creston, IA

69 active listings in Creston

Alyssa W. - Seeking Work in Creston

Nanny Alyssa

Creston, IA
$10/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
2 years experience

A little bit about me

Hello, I’m Aly. I started babysitting when I was 11 and I started with my nieces. I’ve been an aunt since I was 5! I now have 24 nieces and nephews ranging from 6-21, and I have spent a lot of time watching them. I then worked as an IDD instructor with preschool youth, daycare teacher for children 3-5 and then worked as a case manager for foster youth.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Savana A. - Seeking Work in Creston

Nanny Savana

Creston, IA
$13/hr
Full-time
1 year experience

A little bit about me

My name is savana and I absolutely love children I’m going to school at SWCC doing night classes 2 days a week also

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certification

CPR
Zoe P. - Seeking Work in Creston

Nanny Zoe

Creston, IA
$13.12/hr
Full-time
3 years experience

A little bit about me

I'm a 19 year first time expecting mom with huge love for children. Ive watched children my entire life and have a lot of experience with children ages 0-10 years and even raised my niece from newborn to two years old.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Patty J. - Seeking Work in Creston

Nanny Patty

Creston, IA
$14/hr
Full-time
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

I have worked over 30 years with children ages 0 through school-age. Have taught preschool, infant/ toddler teacher, childcare director, nanny and para educator. I am grandma of ten.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Kacee S. - Seeking Work in Creston

Nanny Kacee

Creston, IA
$13.50/hr
Full-time
3 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! My name is Kacee, I am 30 and enjoy looking after kids! I am also an animal lover. I have had many years of experience taking care of children be it taking care of a cousins kids or a friends kids.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Kaylyn M. - Seeking Work in Creston

Nanny Kaylyn

Creston, IA
$13/hr
Part-time
4 years experience

A little bit about me

Hello, my name is Kaylyn and I am 20 years old. I have had multiple babysitting jobs long term for a couple families over the span of 3-4 years. I spent this last school year as a Preschool Teacher’s Associate. I enjoy caring for children and helping them learn/grow. In the past the most children I have babysat at a time was 3, and I have taken care of children from ages 6months old to 12 years old(not including my younger siblings). I am very kind and patient and look forward to speaking with you!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Jaiden S. - Seeking Work in Creston

Nanny Jaiden

Creston, IA
$13/hr
Full-time
2 years experience

A little bit about me

My name is Jaiden Stephens and I am a graduate from the LPN program at Southwestern Community College, just waiting to take boards! (: I have cared for children of all ages working at a before and after school program as well as being an Nanny during the summers. I come from a family with 4 younger siblings so providing guidance and caring for littles is my specialty. Trustworthy, dependable, outgoing, loving, and understanding.. that’s me!

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid

Recent reference

"Jaiden is a hard worker and very attentive to children. Every time I returned home from having her work with my child my home was always clean and my child was always well kept and happy. She does activities with the kiddos inside as well as outside. She always has something planned instead of TV time. My child just loved it when Jaiden came to stay and watch her. She is well mannered around the children and well as respectful towards adults. I also knew Jaiden when she was a student in elementary-high school. She was always getting along with her peers and respected her teachers. She worked hard to get good grades and continued working hard in extracurricular activities. You absolutely will not go wrong hiring Jaiden to be your nanny. If you have any questions please feel feee to contact me and I would be happy to answer them."
- Ashli
Riley s. - Seeking Work in Creston

Nanny Riley

Creston, IA
$15/hr
Part-time
2 years experience

A little bit about me

my name is riley, I am 19 almost 20 and a college student I have babysat for pretty much all my life, I have experience with children who a are special needs and diabetic, I do drive, cook, and clean, I will nanny of all sorts but I would love older children who attend school so I can make it work with my college schedule, also a live in nanny position would be amazing.

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Mae P. - Seeking Work in Creston

Nanny Mae

Creston, IA
$15/hr
Full-time
4 years experience

A little bit about me

I’m a 19 year old college student who currently works in the health care field. I am going to college to be a health care administrator. I enjoy bike riding, hiking, and pretty much all things outdoors! I am the youngest of four girls and have a very close family! I have watched kids of all age groups. We’ve done activities like swimming, crafts, roller skating, and going to the park.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
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