Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a babysitter cost in Elizabethtown, PA in 2026?

In Elizabethtown, PA, the average babysitter earns about $17.50 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $700/week or $3,033/month. Most Elizabethtown families pay somewhere in the $15–$22/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$17.50/hr · Elizabethtown average

These numbers come from 30 live babysitter listings in Elizabethtown on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$700
$3,033
$36,400

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What drives the price

Most Elizabethtown families pay somewhere in the $15–$22/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)$17.50
2 kids~$18.50
3+ kids~$19.50+

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 Elizabethtown babysitter rates compare to state and national averages?

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

Hiring babysitters in Elizabethtown, PA typically costs about the same as the Pennsylvania average of $17/hour and 7% less than the United States average of $19/hour.

Average hourly babysitters rates compared across Elizabethtown, PA and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Elizabethtown, PA
Elizabethtown, PA$18/hr
Pennsylvania$17/hr0%
United States$19/hr+7%

Where Elizabethtown, PA fits among nearby cities

10 nearby cities have enough babysitter data to compare, with rates ranging from $15.92/hour in Erie to $20.43/hour in West Chester.

Below: how each compares to the Elizabethtown, PA average of $17.50/hour.

Nearby cities ranked by babysitter rate

10 cities near Elizabethtown, PA ranked by average hourly babysitter rate, most to least expensive.
#City$/hrvs. Elizabethtown, PA
1West Chester$20.43+17%
2Philadelphia$19.35+11%
3Pittsburgh$18.98+8%
4State College$17.50
5Lancaster$17.31-1%
6Allentown$17.00-3%
7York$16.33-7%
8Reading$16.33-7%
9Harrisburg$16.17-8%
10Erie$15.92-9%
Most expensive nearby: West Chester ($20.43) Least expensive nearby: Erie ($15.92)

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 Elizabethtown, PA

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 Elizabethtown, PA

    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 Elizabethtown, PA

30 active listings in Elizabethtown

Ellay. P. - Seeking Work in Elizabethtown

Nanny Ellay.

Elizabethtown, PA
$18 - $19/hr
Part-time
Occasional
4 years experience

A little bit about me

My name is El Lay Paw. I am twenty-five years old and originally from Thailand. I moved to the United States when I was seven years old. I have a passion for travel and enjoy spending time in nature. Occasionally, I babysit for the children of my parents' friends. I have a strong affection for children and take pleasure in watching them develop. Although I do not have formal professional childcare experience
, I am attentive and interactive when caring for children.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Laniyah G. - Seeking Work in Elizabethtown

Nanny Laniyah

Elizabethtown, PA
$18/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
6 years experience

A little bit about me

I am a fun, dependable, and deeply caring babysitter dedicated to keeping your kids happy and secure! I love bringing energy to every day with creative games and activities, ensuring your little ones are always engaged and smiling. While fun is my passion, safety is always my absolute top priority. I provide a warm, patient, and highly responsible environment so you can have total peace of mind. I can't wait to bring lots of laughter and excellent care to your family!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Cheyenne C. - Seeking Work in Elizabethtown

Nanny Cheyenne

Elizabethtown, PA
$17/hr
Part-time
Occasional
4 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! I’m Cheyenne, an Early Childhood Education major with four years of experience as a figure skating coach. I’ve worked with children from ages 2 to 15, and I’m always happy to support kids who are younger or older. I’m passionate about emotion based and play based development, and I love creating environments where kids feel safe, confident, and excited to learn and play. I am currently learning ASL and am very familiar with "baby signs". I also have hands‑on experience with de‑escalation and conflict resolution, helping children navigate big feelings and tough moments with patience and care.

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Cheyenne S. - Seeking Work in Elizabethtown

Nanny Cheyenne

Elizabethtown, PA
$16/hr
Part-time
Occasional
1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hi! I am an Occupational Therapy grad student wanting to pursue my career focused in pediatrics! I am currently in my first clinical rotation at a pediatric outpatient clinic with kiddos with a variety of ages and needs! I am also first aide and CPR (healthcare level) certified! Ps. I am an animal lover too!

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Rebekah G. - Seeking Work in Elizabethtown

Nanny Rebekah

Elizabethtown, PA
$15/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
5 years experience

A little bit about me

I'm an experienced nanny and babysitter who loves creating a safe, fun, and structured environment for kids. I'm very flexible and currently staying home with my daughter, so I’m looking to care for children in my home. Families are welcome to drop their little ones off. I provide a cozy, kid-friendly space and reliable care.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certification

CPR
Lauren K. - Seeking Work in Elizabethtown

Nanny Lauren

Elizabethtown, PA
$15/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hi! My name is Lauren and I am currently a junior in college. I am majoring in accounting and love to work with people! In the summers I currently work at Dunkin and my favorite part of the job is seeing customers. I have babysat before and love kids and being active. If you have any questions I would love for you to reach out! Thank you!

Have experience working with

Special Needs
Madisson S. - Seeking Work in Elizabethtown

Nanny Madisson

Elizabethtown, PA
$15.71/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
5 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! I watch kiddos from my house in Elizabethtown, Pa. I live with my 2.5 year old daughter, hubby, and a kitty!! My husband and I are Christian so my childcare is faith-based! I do respect other religions/traditions though.
Our daughter is very advanced due to curriculums I follow, so your kiddo(s) will be educated at least an hour a day in my care! ☺️
We stay on a schedule with lots of free playing, coloring, and of course outside time!
My normal rate is actually a daily flat rate, not hourly, so if you have questions about that please reach out! It’s usually anywhere between $30-$50/day per child, depending on hours! The hourly rate on my profile is just an average that it prompted.
I am very communicative as I have my own written policy agreement for parents to sign, and I utilize a childcare app for all daily updates! ☺️
I do meet-and-greets either in person or over the phone first, but I can’t wait to meet you and become your family’s childcare provider! ☺️

Have experience working with

Infants
Maia N. - Seeking Work in Elizabethtown

Nanny Maia

Elizabethtown, PA
$23/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

Hello, my name is Maia!
I am 31 years old.
I graduated from Penn State with my bachelors in Elementary Education.
I am looking for an evening, weekend, or date night position. I currently wok at a child care center with children aging from infants through school age. I'm a fun, outgoing, energetic person. I have years of experience working with all ages children for over 10+ years. My clearances are up to date and I am CPR/First Aid certified, which I am more than happy to provide you with.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Larissa B. - Seeking Work in Elizabethtown

Nanny Larissa

Elizabethtown, PA
$18 - $24/hr
Full-time
Part-time
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

Hi I have been working with children for 20 years. Mainly my experience is with infants and multiples. Even working as a newborn specialist. I am looking for either part time or full time depending on the hours.

Have experience working with

Infants

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
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