Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a babysitter cost in Ellensburg, WA in 2026?

In Ellensburg, WA, the average babysitter earns about $18.72 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $749/week or $3,245/month. Most Ellensburg families pay somewhere in the $17–$25/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$18.72/hr · Ellensburg average

These numbers come from 68 live babysitter listings in Ellensburg on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$749
$3,245
$38,938

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What drives the price

Most Ellensburg families pay somewhere in the $17–$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)$18.72
2 kids~$19.72
3+ kids~$20.72+

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$19.18/hr
Part-time10–25 hrs/week$19.51/hr

Part-time and full-time hourly rates are similar here — short schedules don't always command a premium when full-time openings are easy to fill.

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

Ellensburg sits close to the national average for babysitter rates.

Hiring babysitters in Ellensburg, WA typically costs about 12% less than the Washington average of $21/hour and the same as the United States average of $19/hour.

Average hourly babysitters rates compared across Ellensburg, WA and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Ellensburg, WA
Ellensburg, WA$19/hr
Washington$21/hr+13%
United States$19/hr+0%

Where Ellensburg, WA fits among nearby cities

10 nearby cities have enough babysitter data to compare, with rates ranging from $18.55/hour in Kennewick to $25.57/hour in Seattle.

Below: how each compares to the Ellensburg, WA average of $18.72/hour.

Nearby cities ranked by babysitter rate

10 cities near Ellensburg, WA ranked by average hourly babysitter rate, most to least expensive.
#City$/hrvs. Ellensburg, WA
1Seattle$25.57+37%
2Everett$22.98+23%
3Auburn$21.73+16%
4Puyallup$21.12+13%
5Tacoma$20.98+12%
6Olympia$20.64+10%
7Bellingham$20.57+10%
8Vancouver$20.23+8%
9Spokane$19.31+3%
10Kennewick$18.55-1%
Most expensive nearby: Seattle ($25.57) Least expensive nearby: Kennewick ($18.55)

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 Ellensburg, WA

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 Ellensburg, WA

    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 Ellensburg, WA

68 active listings in Ellensburg

Aubrey C. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Aubrey

Ellensburg, WA
$18/hr
Part-time
Occasional
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

Hello, Im Alivia! I’ve babysat for my aunts and uncles since I was young. I worked in a community center where I would help as a teachers assistant, I helped kids with arts and crafts and sentence forming. I know how to cook and clean! I attend Central Washington University, I am a first year student, and I have a some spare time on my hands! I love kids and helping them grow!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Aubrey Jace P. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Aubrey Jace

Ellensburg, WA
$17.72/hr
Part-time
Occasional
1 year experience

A little bit about me

i work with my cousins everyday they are 9 and 11 but i’ve been babysitting them sense they were 5 and 7. i’ve also worked with toddlers and baby’s i’ve worked with a 1 year old and a 3 year old. i’ve never been fired from a job

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Evelyn G. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Evelyn

Ellensburg, WA
$18/hr
Occasional
2 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi parents! My name is Evelyn and I am a junior in high school! I have grown up my whole life taking care of kids! Including my little brother who is now 10! I’m great at multi tasking, being creative, and im pretty talkative when it comes to kids! I have CPR training including for infants! I have first aid training as well too! I hope to find a job with kids because I have a special spot in my heart for any kid I see! Thank you

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Jaycel Ann D. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Jaycel Ann

Ellensburg, WA
$18.50/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
3 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! My name is Jaycel, and I’m a reliable, caring, and attentive nanny with experience working with children of various ages. I love creating a safe, supportive, and engaging environment where kids feel comfortable, confident, and free to be themselves.
I bring a calm, patient, and positive approach to childcare, along with strong communication and organizational skills. My background in support-based and customer-focused roles has helped me develop strong multitasking and problem-solving skills that translate naturally into caring for children. I’m attentive to routines, safety-conscious, and adaptable to each child’s unique needs and personality.
I enjoy helping with daily routines, engaging children in creative play and learning activities, and providing dependable supervision parents can trust. As a college student, I’m responsible, motivated, and reliable, and I’d love to be a positive part of your family’s day-to-day life.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Salma L. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Salma

Ellensburg, WA
$17.67/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

I am a student at CWU majoring in law and Justice. I have always taken care of the kids in my family.

Have experience working with

Special Needs
Kennedy P. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Kennedy

Ellensburg, WA
$20/hr
Part-time
Occasional
2 years experience

A little bit about me

I am currently a student attending Central Washington University here in Ellensburg. I am earning a degree in elementary education, and just love kids! I have many years of babysitting/nannying/pet sitting experience, and would love the opportunity to do so here!

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certification

CPR
Ashley N. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Ashley

Ellensburg, WA
$17/hr
Part-time
Occasional
1 year experience

A little bit about me

I’m Ashley Neufang I am 21 years old. I love children so fun to be around, I been around kids a lot. I love babysitting I make me get out of the house and keep my busy. I worked at bright Horizon and growing tots daycare and I have experience kids and infants. I love to help out the parents. I have CPR Certification and food safety certification. I took two years of my high school education to learn child development.

Have experience working with

Infants

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Valeria R. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Valeria

Ellensburg, WA
$18/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

I am 17 years old. I have both high school and college experience taking classes at both. I have been babysitting my family members since I was 10.

Have experience working with

Special Needs
Alyssa N. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Alyssa

Ellensburg, WA
$18/hr
Occasional
1 year experience

A little bit about me

I am a high schooler looking to become a babysitter! I am a cheerleader at EHS and love working with kids!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certification

CPR
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