Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated
How much does a babysitter cost in Kent, WA in 2026?
In Kent, WA, the average babysitter earns about $21.57 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $863/week or $3,739/month. Most Kent families pay somewhere in the $17–$30/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.
These numbers come from 106 live babysitter listings in Kent on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.
- Weekly
(40 hrs) - $863
- Monthly
- $3,739
- Annual
- $44,866
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What drives the price
Most Kent families pay somewhere in the $17–$30/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) | $21.57 |
|---|---|
| 2 kids | ~$22.57 |
| 3+ kids | ~$23.57+ |
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 | $22.90/hr | |
| Part-time | 10–25 hrs/week | $22.24/hr | |
| Occasional | 5–15 hrs/week | $20.91/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.
How do Kent babysitter rates compare to state and national averages?
Kent runs above the U.S. average for babysitter rates, in line with most major metros.
Hiring babysitters in Kent, WA typically costs about 1% more than the Washington average of $21/hour and 13% more than the United States average of $19/hour.
| Area | Average hourly rate | vs. Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| Kent, WA | $22/hr | — |
| Washington | $21/hr | -1% |
| United States | $19/hr | -12% |
Where Kent, WA fits among nearby cities
10 nearby cities have enough babysitter data to compare, with rates ranging from $18.72/hour in Kennewick to $25.76/hour in Seattle.
Below: how each compares to the Kent, WA average of $21.57/hour.
Nearby cities ranked by babysitter rate
| # | City | $/hr | vs. Kent, WA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle | $25.76 | +19% | |
| 2 | Everett | $23.43 | +9% | |
| 3 | Auburn | $22.09 | +2% | |
| 4 | Puyallup | $21.39 | -1% | |
| 5 | Tacoma | $21.36 | -1% | |
| 6 | Bellingham | $20.97 | -3% | |
| 7 | Olympia | $20.76 | -4% | |
| 8 | Vancouver | $20.45 | -5% | |
| 9 | Spokane | $19.44 | -10% | |
| 10 | Kennewick | $18.72 | -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.
How to reduce nanny costs?
and enjoy flexible child care.
How families use Nanny Lane to find a babysitter in Kent, 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:
- 01
Browse babysitter profiles in Kent, WA
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 Kent, WA
106 active listings in Kent
Nanny Imanat
Nanny Imanat
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Nanny Ja’Nyah
Nanny Ja’Nyah
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Nanny Trinity
Nanny Trinity
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Nanny Serenity
Nanny Serenity
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Nanny Nizigiyimana
Nanny Nizigiyimana
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I am a very caring, loving, patient human being who enjoys being in the presence of children. I’m passionated about working with Deaf kids (in the future), as I am in school majoring in Sign language/Deaf Studies!
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Nanny Destiny
Nanny Destiny
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Nanny Leah
Nanny Leah
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Nanny Atlas
Nanny Atlas
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