Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated
How much does a babysitter cost in Lakewood, WA in 2026?
In Lakewood, WA, the average babysitter earns about $22.11 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $884/week or $3,832/month. Most Lakewood families pay somewhere in the $17–$30/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.
Average hourly rate$22.11/hr · Lakewood average
These numbers come from 32 live babysitter listings in Lakewood on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.
- Weekly
(40 hrs) - $884
- Monthly
- $3,832
- Annual
- $45,989
Find babysitters near you
What drives the price
Most Lakewood 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.
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
| 1 kid (baseline) | $22.11 |
|---|---|
| 2 kids | ~$23.11 |
| 3+ kids | ~$24.11+ |
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
| 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 Lakewood babysitter rates compare to state and national averages?
Lakewood runs above the U.S. average for babysitter rates, in line with most major metros.
Hiring babysitters in Lakewood, WA typically costs about 4% more than the Washington average of $21/hour and 17% more than the United States average of $19/hour.
| Area | Average hourly rate | vs. Lakewood, WA |
|---|---|---|
| Lakewood, WA | $22/hr | — |
| Washington | $21/hr | -3% |
| United States | $19/hr | -14% |
Where Lakewood, WA fits among nearby cities
10 nearby cities have enough babysitter data to compare, with rates ranging from $18.57/hour in Kennewick to $25.60/hour in Seattle.
Below: how each compares to the Lakewood, WA average of $22.11/hour.
Nearby cities ranked by babysitter rate
| # | City | $/hr | vs. Lakewood, WA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle | $25.60 | +16% | |
| 2 | Everett | $23.17 | +5% | |
| 3 | Auburn | $21.87 | -1% | |
| 4 | Puyallup | $21.35 | -3% | |
| 5 | Tacoma | $21.15 | -4% | |
| 6 | Bellingham | $21.09 | -5% | |
| 7 | Olympia | $20.33 | -8% | |
| 8 | Vancouver | $20.30 | -8% | |
| 9 | Spokane | $19.40 | -12% | |
| 10 | Kennewick | $18.57 | -16% |
● Most expensive nearby: Seattle ($25.60)● Least expensive nearby: Kennewick ($18.57)
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.
and enjoy flexible child care.
How families use Nanny Lane to find a babysitter in Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, 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 Lakewood, WA
32 active listings in Lakewood
Nanny Hayley
Nanny Hayley
Lakewood, WA
$21 - $40/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
5 years experience
A little bit about me
Hello families! My name is Hayley, and I am a dedicated childcare professional with experience caring for children of all ages in a variety of settings, including babysitting, daycare, and preschool. I am passionate about creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where children can learn, grow, and feel genuinely loved. Families describe me as dependable, patient, compassionate, and proactive, and I take pride in building strong, trusting relationships with both children and their parents. I believe in supporting children's development through play, exploration, creativity, and consistent care while becoming a positive and reliable extension of the family. My goal is always to help children thrive while providing parents with peace of mind knowing their little ones are in caring and capable hands!
Have experience working with
Infants
Special Needs
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Nanny Dean
Nanny Dean
Lakewood, WA
$22/hr
Occasional
10+ years experience
A little bit about me
Hello. My name is Dean Maritim. Am a full time student studying Business healthcare administration with a medical background from in nursing. I have looked after my siblings , nieces , nephews and friends babies/ children for years. Am an African American in my middle Adulthood.
Have experience working with
Infants
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Nanny Ashley
Nanny Ashley
Lakewood, WA
$19/hr
Occasional
8 years experience
A little bit about me
Hi! My name is Ashley im 38 yrs old, and live in Lakewood. I am a Dental Assistant. I get joy out of helping people. I LOVE kids and kids love me. I don't have any of my own yet, however i have many god kids and i am an Auntie to many! :) i am very reliable, honest, and trustworthy. I can't wait to meet you and your family!
Have experience working with
Infants
Special Needs
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Nanny Janell
Nanny Janell
Lakewood, WA
$17/hr
Part-time
Occasional
< 1 year experience
A little bit about me
I am a senior in high school I graduate this year and in my high school I take educational classes where we go to elementaries to help with the kids. It's really fun and it made me want to continue helping out even if it isn't for class
Certification
CPR
Nanny Isadona
Nanny Isadona
Lakewood, WA
$17/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience
A little bit about me
Hi my name is Isa and I am currently a senior in high school. Children and I get along great. I will ensure your child is entertained and taken care of.
Nanny Itzel
Nanny Itzel
Lakewood, WA
$30/hr
Part-time
Occasional
4 years experience
A little bit about me
I am 32 years old.I am Hispanic and bilingual.Your kid/s could learn Spanish with me.I have always taken care of kids as growing up.Part time job after high school.I was a caregiver for a little over 8 years.My last patient had dementia.Takes a lot to care for others.I enjoy helping out as much as possible. I am a mother to two little boys ages 6&2. I enjoy teaching them basics abc/numbers/phrases in English and Spanish.We dont do screen time so we spend our time outside,playing playdough,blocks ,animals all the sensory fun games.As of now I am open to flexible nanny position or if you need a night out.I got you covered.You would have to do drops off at my home.I will be able to travel some days to homes.Just depends. Also we can discuss it in person if I meet the requirements for you guys.Here to help .
Have experience working with
Infants
Special Needs
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Nanny Isabelle
Nanny Isabelle
Lakewood, WA
$17/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience
A little bit about me
Im 13 I have babysat my younger cousins plenty of times and I enjoy spending time with little kids I think their awesome.
Have experience working with
Infants
Special Needs
Certification
First Aid
Nanny Tami
Nanny Tami
Lakewood, WA
$22/hr
Part-time
6 years experience
A little bit about me
I am an ambitious, recently graduated educator with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education & Family and Child Life, looking for opportunities to put my education to practice and use my skills to help support children in there development. I am passionate about working with children and would love to find a job working with a family as a baby sitter or nanny.
Have experience working with
Infants
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Recent reference
"Tami was the team lead in the infant classroom and I was the classroom assistant. I came in mid-year, not knowing the children or the classroom routine. Tami was a patient, friendly and supportive supervisor that really helped me feel comfortable stepping into my new role. Our classroom ran smoothly and the kids really loved her. They were happy to see her each day. She did a great job at managing the stress of lesson planning, documentation, conferences all while being in the classroom building connections with each child, and supporting their development. You can tell she loves what she does and really has a passion for working with kids. I was lucky to have such a great team lead and I know that any family would be just as lucky to have her as a nanny. She would definitely care for and love your kids as if they were her own."
- Samantha P.
Nanny Leslie
Nanny Leslie
Lakewood, WA
$23 - $30/hr
Full-time
10+ years experience
A little bit about me
Hi! My name is Leslie and I love working with kids! I have a BA in elementary education, so I consider myself to be a teaching nanny. I have ten plus years working with child in various fields from the classroom to people’s homes. I love to not only nurture the child I work with to help them with their development, but also create fun activities that help their intellectual development as well. Since so much learning can occur outside the home, I love to take the kids I work with on all kinds of outings like the zoo, parks, libraries, beaches etc. I am able to do light housework, laundry, simple meal prep, and pick up/drop offs. I am also available to travel with families for vacations etc.My current family is moving out of the country in April. I will be available May 1st. I have excellent references and would be happy to supply them upon request. I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Have experience working with
Infants
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Recent reference
"We found Leslie through a very respected nanny placement service and could not believe our luck. She is kind, patient, highly engaged, and easy to communicate with. She also has an extensive background in teaching and was able to guide us (first-time parents) through child development in a way that gave us immense comfort. Although our son is well within normal ranges for every developmental area, we immediately say positive changes in his speech, behavior, and overall demeanor when Leslie began caring for him. Leslie is a natural caregiver who loves guiding and teaching children. Only an out-of-state move prompted us to part ways. It would be impossible to list all of Leslie’s exceptional qualities. I think the most important one goes beyond her obvious professional qualifications. Leslie has integrity within her that is difficult to find and impossible to teach. I trust her implicitly and felt such comfort allowing her to care for our child and be in our home daily."
- Erin