Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a babysitter cost in Wilmington, DE in 2026?

In Wilmington, DE, the average babysitter earns about $18.81 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $752/week or $3,260/month. Most Wilmington families pay somewhere in the $15–$30/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$18.81/hr · Wilmington average

These numbers come from 174 live babysitter listings in Wilmington on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$752
$3,260
$39,125

Find babysitters near you

What drives the price

Most Wilmington families pay somewhere in the $15–$30/hour range. Where a given family lands depends on a handful of factors. Three of them drive most of the spread.


01

Experience

More experienced babysitters command higher rates. Entry-level (0-2 yrs) average $18.75/hour, while the most experienced (6-10 yrs) charge around $21.75/hour.
Avg hourly rate by years of experience

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)$18.81
2 kids~$19.81
3+ kids~$20.81+

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$21.54/hr
Part-time10–25 hrs/week$18.68/hr
Occasional5–15 hrs/week$19.94/hr
Live-inSet by family$20.66/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.

Browse babysitters

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

Wilmington sits close to the national average for babysitter rates.

Hiring babysitters in Wilmington, DE typically costs about 3% more than the Delaware average of $18/hour and the same as the United States average of $19/hour.

Average hourly babysitters rates compared across Wilmington, DE and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Wilmington, DE
Wilmington, DE$19/hr
Delaware$18/hr-3%
United States$19/hr0%

Where Wilmington, DE fits among nearby cities

10 nearby cities have enough babysitter data to compare, with rates ranging from $16.88/hour in Dover to $19.24/hour in Bear.

Below: how each compares to the Wilmington, DE average of $18.81/hour — Wilmington, DE is highlighted at its true rank.

Nearby cities ranked by babysitter rate

10 cities near Wilmington, DE ranked by average hourly babysitter rate, most to least expensive.
#City$/hrvs. Wilmington, DE
1Bear$19.24+2%
2Newark$18.83
Wilmington$18.81
4Middletown$18.74
5Leipsic$18.58-1%
6Millsboro$18.35-2%
7Milford$18.20-3%
8New Castle$18.05-4%
9Smyrna$16.99-10%
10Dover$16.88-10%
Most expensive nearby: Bear ($19.24) Least expensive nearby: Dover ($16.88)

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 Wilmington, DE

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 Wilmington, DE

    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 Wilmington, DE

174 active listings in Wilmington

Denita P. - Seeking Work in Wilmington

Nanny Denita

Wilmington, DE
$18/hr
Part-time
Occasional
3 years experience

A little bit about me

Hello my name is Denita! I am 16 years old, and I have 4 younger siblings, their ages ranging from 12-4. I frequently babysit a lot of my family members and some family friends, including kids who have special needs. I am very patient and I'm great at multitasking. I can cook, clean, and play games with the children.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Samia T. - Seeking Work in Wilmington

Nanny Samia

Wilmington, DE
$18/hr
Occasional
6 years experience

A little bit about me

my name is mia, i am 18 years old currently enrolled in deltech community college studying diagnostic medical sonography aspiring to be a obgyn ultrasound technologist. in my free time i like to listen to music, draw, journal, and create new hairstyles

Have experience working with

Infants
Emily D. - Seeking Work in Wilmington

Nanny Emily

Wilmington, DE
$18/hr
Occasional
6 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi, my name is Emily! I'm a West Chester University alumnus with a degree in Communication Studies. I started babysitting in high school to save up money for college and I continued to work in childcare while in college to support myself. Along with babysitting, I’ve worked as a teacher at two different daycares with two different age groups - infants and toddlers. I love crafts, animals, and being outside!

Have experience working with

Infants

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Regina M. - Seeking Work in Wilmington

Nanny Regina

Wilmington, DE
$20/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

I am retired, single Mom, raised three children who are now successful with careers. I am happy to take any necessary classes, such as CPR, First Aid, etc. I am physical fit and able to keep up with children.

I am excellent with children, friendly, easy going and able to handle a challenge.

I am reliable, dependable, kind and considerate.

Thank you and have a great day!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Julia M. - Seeking Work in Wilmington

Nanny Julia

Wilmington, DE
$20/hr
Occasional
4 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi families! My name is Julia Mitchell. I recently graduated from Delaware Technical Community College with an Associate of Arts in Teaching Paraeducator K-12 and I am currently looking for instructional paraprofessional positions for the upcoming school year. While I do not have a lot of babysitting experience, I have strong experience working with children in school, childcare, and camp settings.
I completed my internship in a general education classroom at Heritage Elementary School in the Red Clay School District. I have also worked as a full-time assistant preschool teacher in a 4 and 5 year old classroom, a counselor at Sanford ESF Camps, and at Extended Day at Sanford School with preschool through 4th grade.

I am CPR and First Aid certified and have completed my Child Protection Registry, TB test, background check, and Health and Safety Training for Child Care Professionals. I am happy to provide references upon request. I look forward to connecting with your family!

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Tasia S. - Seeking Work in Wilmington

Nanny Tasia

Wilmington, DE
$20/hr
Occasional
6 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi there! I’m Tasia, I'm 18yrs old high school student, and I truly love caring for children and supporting families. I enjoy building real connections, encouraging creativity, and creating a warm space where kids feel happy, confident, and cared for. I take pride in being reliable, compassionate, and someone both parents and kids can trust.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Andrea V. - Seeking Work in Wilmington

Nanny Andrea

Wilmington, DE
$20/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
3 years experience

A little bit about me

My name is Andrea Vallejo-Reyes, I am a Delaware Tech alumni with my associates in Early childhood development. I am outgoing, passionate, I have great work ethic, and I love working with kids , I have lots of experience with kids, including babysitting for friends and family.

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Shanya E. - Seeking Work in Wilmington

Nanny Shanya

Wilmington, DE
$17.12/hr
Occasional
2 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! My name is Shanya, and I’m currently a high school student. I’m actively involved in cheerleading and track, which has taught me dedication, teamwork, and time management. I’ve always loved working with children and enjoy creating a fun, safe, and engaging environment for them.

I am a responsible and reliable babysitter who takes my job seriously. Whether it’s helping with homework, preparing meals, playing games, or bedtime routines, I ensure that kids are well cared for while having a great time. Parents can count on me to be punctual, attentive, and respectful of household rules.

I would love the opportunity to help care for your little ones! Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Have experience working with

Infants

Certification

CPR
Rashida S. - Seeking Work in Wilmington

Nanny Rashida

Wilmington, DE
$25 - $35/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
7 years experience

A little bit about me

I'd describe my personality as respectful, kind, and loving.

I like working with kids because they are so much fun with a vast range of imagination, filled with a lot of hope and admiration.

I'm looking for a job that provides a sense of togetherness and a family whose values are respect, love, loyalty, happiness, communication, etc.

I started working with kids in Liberia, at a very young age. I had a household full of kids whom I would care for along with the neighbor kids after I come home from grade school. I started to work professionally as a nanny with ABC Nanny in 2016.

In my spare time, I like to cook, clean, read and study the Bible, read different books for school and fun, work-out, go to church, go the beach, etc.

One thing you should know about me is that I hold highly that everyone is very precious, treating everyone the way I would like to be treated, is very important.

My skills include listening, paying attention, and being involved and present.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Find Nannies Near Me

Related costs in Wilmington DE

Popular services in Wilmington, DE

Start your journey towards finding your perfect babysitter

Get Started