Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a babysitter cost in St. Peters, MO in 2026?

In St. Peters, MO, the average babysitter earns about $17.62 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $705/week or $3,054/month. Most St. Peters families pay somewhere in the $14–$25/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$17.62/hr · St. Peters average

These numbers come from 299 live babysitter listings in St. Peters on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$705
$3,054
$36,650

Find babysitters near you

What drives the price

Most St. Peters families pay somewhere in the $14–$25/hour range. Where a given family lands depends on a handful of factors. Three of them drive most of the spread.


01

Experience

More experienced babysitters command higher rates. Entry-level (0-2 yrs) average $17.38/hour, while the most experienced (6-10 yrs) charge around $19.52/hour.
Avg hourly rate by years of experience

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)$17.62
2 kids~$18.62
3+ kids~$19.62+

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.

Full-time, part-time, and live-in babysitter rates

ArrangementTypical hoursAverage rate
Full-time35–50 hrs/week$18.77/hr
Part-time10–25 hrs/week$17.56/hr
Occasional5–15 hrs/week$17.67/hr
Live-inSet by family$17.92/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.

Browse babysitters

How do St. Peters babysitter rates compare to state and national averages?

St. Peters sits close to the national average for babysitter rates.

Hiring babysitters in St. Peters, MO typically costs about 11% more than the Missouri average of $16/hour and 5% more than the United States average of $17/hour.

Average hourly babysitters rates compared across St. Peters, MO and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. St. Peters, MO
St. Peters, MO$18/hr
Missouri$16/hr-10%
United States$17/hr-5%

Where St. Peters, MO fits among nearby cities

10 nearby cities have enough babysitter data to compare, with rates ranging from $14.30/hour in Cape Girardeau to $17.62/hour in St. Peters.

Below: how each compares to the St. Peters, MO average of $17.62/hour — St. Peters, MO is highlighted at its true rank.

Nearby cities ranked by babysitter rate

10 cities near St. Peters, MO ranked by average hourly babysitter rate, most to least expensive.
#City$/hrvs. St. Peters, MO
St. Peters$17.62
2Kansas City$17.12-3%
3St. Louis$16.79-5%
4Lee's Summit$16.21-8%
5Florissant$15.94-10%
6Independence$15.77-10%
7Columbia$15.45-12%
8Springfield$15.42-12%
9Joplin$15.16-14%
10Cape Girardeau$14.30-19%
Most expensive nearby: St. Peters ($17.62) Least expensive nearby: Cape Girardeau ($14.30)

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 St. Peters, MO

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 St. Peters, MO

    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 St. Peters, MO

299 active listings in St. Peters

Abbi W. - Seeking Work in St. Peters

Nanny Abbi

St. Peters, MO
$13.75 - $15/hr
Occasional
5 years experience

A little bit about me

My name is Abbi. I play lacrosse. I am a Junior in highschool and 16 years old. I will be getting my drivers liscense within the next 2 weeks. I've been babysitting for 5 years. I have a website where you can find more info and a form if you need a babysitter. https://sites.google.com/view/babysittingwithabbi?usp=sharing

I charge $10 an hour, $5 for every extra kid. It wouldn't let me put $10 since it's technically below minimum wage.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Zeruiah S. - Seeking Work in St. Peters

Nanny Zeruiah

St. Peters, MO
$17 - $21/hr
Part-time
Occasional
4 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! My name is ZeRuiah Smith, and I am a second-year college student looking for work over the summer and during school breaks. I have over four years of experience working with children and currently work in the Francis Howell School District. I love creating fun, engaging activities and encouraging children to express themselves in different ways.

I also have a special passion for working with children with special needs, and I am currently working toward my Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification. I am patient, caring, creative, and dedicated to creating a positive and supportive environment for every child I work with.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Lillith F. - Seeking Work in St. Peters

Nanny Lillith

St. Peters, MO
$14 - $20/hr
Occasional
4 years experience

A little bit about me

I am still a teenager sadly. I turn 16 on July 6th, I have my drivers permit and my mom would drive me to and from. I have experience babysitting my own little brother (whom is 7), I have been babysitting him rather often since he was about 3! I am friendly and open to housekeeping and/or pet wathing too

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Ajee B. - Seeking Work in St. Peters

Nanny Ajee

St. Peters, MO
$22 - $30/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

I create a calm, easy kind of space; where things feel steady, but never suffocating or boring. There’s always room for laughter, curiosity, and those quiet little in-between moments that become part of the kids foundation.

At my core, I lead with care and intention. I show up consistently, with patience and a soft kind of strength, making sure the people around me feel safe, respected, and genuinely comfortable just being themselves. I ultimately love to see all my kiddos grow into their personality with strength & foundation.

Have experience working with

Infants

Certifications

CPR
First Aid

Recent reference

"Ajee was amazing! She was so sweet to my little one. She loved reading books and truly cared about her and for her. I was so happy to have Ajee around."
- Angela
MiKayla B. - Seeking Work in St. Peters

Nanny MiKayla

St. Peters, MO
$19 - $26/hr
Occasional
7 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! I’m MiKayla, a fun, caring, and dependable nanny who loves working with kids! I’ve been a lead facilitator at a before and after school program for the past 3 years and babysat for neighbors or family friends for the past 7 years, so I’m used to keeping little ones engaged, safe, and smiling. I’m CPR certified and love planning simple, creative activities, going on little outings, and getting outside for walks. In my free time, I enjoy reading, cooking, and watching a good mystery or romance show. I’m also happy to help tidy up and keep things running smoothly, anything to make your family’s day or night a little easier!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Elizabeth S. - Seeking Work in St. Peters

Nanny Elizabeth

St. Peters, MO
$17/hr
Occasional
3 years experience

A little bit about me

I am a current school counseling student looking to gain experience working with kids! I have previous experience as a preschool gymnastics coach.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Morgan S. - Seeking Work in St. Peters

Nanny Morgan

St. Peters, MO
$17.50/hr
Part-time
Occasional
3 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! My name is Morgan, and I’m 18 years old and currently still in high school. I absolutely love working with kids and have always felt naturally comfortable around them. I have experience caring for children of different ages and personalities, and I truly enjoy building strong, positive relationships with the families I work with.

I also have personal experience being around and caring for individuals with special needs, including my little sister and my dad. Because of this, I’ve developed a lot of patience, understanding, and compassion. I’m attentive, responsible, and always focused on creating a safe, supportive, and fun environment for children.

I would love the opportunity to support your family and provide dependable, loving care for your little ones!

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Essence S. - Seeking Work in St. Peters

Nanny Essence

St. Peters, MO
$17/hr
Occasional
1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hi my name is Essence i graduated high school In 2025. I’m going to cosmetology school I start in February. I love kids I’m great with them I’m kind, gentle, and caring. I do work my other job on the weekend I’m just trying to find something to do during the week after school.

Have experience working with

Infants

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Claire M. - Seeking Work in St. Peters

Nanny Claire

St. Peters, MO
$18/hr
Occasional
5 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! My name is Claire. I am a full time student and work a part time job. I currently work at a daycare, I am in the infant room. I have experience with kids all ages and love helping kids learn and grow. I’m available for occasional babysitting and would be happy to care for your little ones!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Find Nannies Near Me

Related costs in St. Peters MO

Popular services in St. Peters, MO

Start your journey towards finding your perfect babysitter

Get Started