Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated
How much does a babysitter cost in Virginia in 2026?
In Virginia, the average babysitter earns about $16.97 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $679/week or $2,941/month. Rates across Virginia fall in the $12–$25/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.
These numbers come from 23,605 live babysitter listings in Virginia on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.
- Weekly
(40 hrs) - $679
- Monthly
- $2,941
- Annual
- $35,298
Find babysitters near you
What drives the price
Across Virginia, babysitters rates fall in the $12–$25/hour range. Where a family lands depends on a handful of factors. Three of them drive most of the spread.
Experience
Number of kids
| 1 kid (baseline) | $16.97 |
|---|---|
| 2 kids | ~$17.97 |
| 3+ kids | ~$18.97+ |
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 | $18.11/hr | |
| Part-time | 10–25 hrs/week | $17.07/hr | |
| Occasional | 5–15 hrs/week | $17.74/hr | |
| Live-in | Set by family | $17.64/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 Virginia babysitter rates compare to the national average?
Virginia sits close to the national average for babysitter rates. Specific cities can run higher or lower — major metros typically command a premium, while smaller towns tend to be more affordable.
Hiring babysitters in Virginia typically costs about 1% more than the United States average of $17/hour.
| Area | Average hourly rate | vs. Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $17/hr | — |
| United States | $17/hr | -1% |
Where babysitters cost most and least in Virginia
10 cities have enough babysitter data to compare, with rates ranging from $14.78/hour in Lynchburg to $21.22/hour in Arlington.
Below: how each compares to the Virginia state average of $16.97/hour.
Nearby cities ranked by babysitter rate
| # | City | $/hr | vs. Virginia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arlington | $21.22 | +25% | |
| 2 | Alexandria | $19.43 | +14% | |
| 3 | Richmond | $17.62 | +4% | |
| 4 | Woodbridge | $16.99 | — | |
| 5 | Fredericksburg | $16.55 | -2% | |
| 6 | Virginia Beach | $16.46 | -3% | |
| 7 | Norfolk | $15.85 | -7% | |
| 8 | Chesapeake | $15.53 | -8% | |
| 9 | Newport News | $15.41 | -9% | |
| 10 | Lynchburg | $14.78 | -13% |
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.
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How families use Nanny Lane to find a babysitter in Virginia
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 Virginia
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.