Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated
How much does a babysitter cost in New Bedford, MA in 2026?
In New Bedford, MA, the average babysitter earns about $17.83 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $713/week or $3,091/month. Most New Bedford families pay somewhere in the $15–$26/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.
These numbers come from 298 live babysitter listings in New Bedford on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.
- Weekly
(40 hrs) - $713
- Monthly
- $3,091
- Annual
- $37,086
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What drives the price
Most New Bedford families pay somewhere in the $15–$26/hour range. Where a given family lands depends on a handful of factors. Three of them drive most of the spread.
Experience
Number of kids
| 1 kid (baseline) | $17.83 |
|---|---|
| 2 kids | ~$18.83 |
| 3+ kids | ~$19.83+ |
Hours & 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.
Full-time, part-time, and live-in babysitter rates
| Arrangement | Typical hours | Average rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 35–50 hrs/week | $19.41/hr | |
| Part-time | 10–25 hrs/week | $18.55/hr | |
| Occasional | 5–15 hrs/week | $18.18/hr | |
| Live-in | Set by family | $19/hr |
Part-time runs slightly lower per hour than full-time here, which often means strong full-time demand supports higher rates for committed schedules.
Live-in rates are close to live-out here — but the package usually still includes room and board, so the all-in cost can be lower than it appears. The trade-off is space — you'll need a private bedroom and ideally a separate bathroom for the babysitter.
How do New Bedford babysitter rates compare to state and national averages?
New Bedford runs above the U.S. average for babysitter rates, in line with most major metros.
Hiring babysitters in New Bedford, MA typically costs about 14% less than the Massachusetts average of $21/hour and 6% more than the United States average of $17/hour.
| Area | Average hourly rate | vs. New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| New Bedford, MA | $18/hr | — |
| Massachusetts | $21/hr | +17% |
| United States | $17/hr | -6% |
Where New Bedford, MA fits among nearby cities
The most expensive city for babysitters near New Bedford, MA is Newton at $23.17/hour; the least expensive is Springfield at $17.56/hour.
Below are the 8 most and 8 least expensive cities near New Bedford, MA and how each compares to New Bedford, MA's average of $17.83/hour.
Most expensive cities near New Bedford, MA
| # | City | $/hr | vs. New Bedford, MA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newton | $23.17 | +30% | |
| 2 | Framingham | $22.63 | +27% | |
| 3 | Arlington | $21.61 | +21% | |
| 4 | Brookline | $21.42 | +20% | |
| 5 | Cambridge | $21.32 | +20% | |
| 6 | Boston | $21.13 | +19% | |
| 7 | Medford | $20.99 | +18% | |
| 8 | Natick | $20.66 | +16% |
Least expensive cities near New Bedford, MA
| # | City | $/hr | vs. New Bedford, MA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield | $17.56 | -2% | |
| 2 | Worcester | $18.19 | +2% | |
| 3 | Quincy | $19.41 | +9% | |
| 4 | Woburn | $19.62 | +10% | |
| 5 | Weymouth | $19.74 | +11% | |
| 6 | Waltham | $20.11 | +13% | |
| 7 | Malden | $20.15 | +13% | |
| 8 | Watertown | $20.26 | +14% |
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?
and enjoy flexible child care.
How families use Nanny Lane to find a babysitter in New Bedford, MA
Nanny Lane is a marketplace built specifically for connecting families with babysitters — no recruiters in the middle. Most families work through it like this:
- 01
Browse babysitter profiles in New Bedford, MA
Filter by hourly rate, experience, languages, and availability.
- 02
Message the ones who look like a fit
Reach out to the babysitters whose experience and rate match what you're looking for.
- 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.
- 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 New Bedford, MA
298 active listings in New Bedford
Nanny Emily
Nanny Emily
A little bit about me
Looking to not only find work but to also be a part of someone’s village, I know how hard it can be! Ideally I’d love to bring my little one along so she can socialize and play with your little one. This will also help me to be incredibly flexible as I am her main caretaker and don’t have other childcare for her until late evenings.
Currently residing in the New Bedford area but grew up on Cape Cod so I am open to both areas!
Looking forward to connecting!
