Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a babysitter cost in Cary, NC in 2026?

In Cary, NC, the average babysitter earns about $19.84 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $794/week or $3,439/month. Most Cary families pay somewhere in the $10–$30/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$19.84/hr · Cary average

These numbers come from 173 live babysitter listings in Cary on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$794
$3,439
$41,267

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What drives the price

Most Cary families pay somewhere in the $10–$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 $19.90/hour, while the most experienced (6-10 yrs) charge around $21.57/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)$19.84
2 kids~$20.84
3+ kids~$21.84+

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$22.16/hr
Part-time10–25 hrs/week$20.78/hr
Occasional5–15 hrs/week$19.43/hr
Live-inSet by family$20.86/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.

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

Cary sits close to the national average for babysitter rates.

Hiring babysitters in Cary, NC typically costs about 14% more than the North Carolina average of $17/hour and 4% more than the United States average of $19/hour.

Average hourly babysitters rates compared across Cary, NC and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Cary, NC
Cary, NC$20/hr
North Carolina$17/hr-13%
United States$19/hr-4%

Where Cary, NC fits among nearby cities

10 nearby cities have enough babysitter data to compare, with rates ranging from $14.59/hour in Jacksonville to $20.69/hour in Asheville.

Below: how each compares to the Cary, NC average of $19.84/hour.

Nearby cities ranked by babysitter rate

10 cities near Cary, NC ranked by average hourly babysitter rate, most to least expensive.
#City$/hrvs. Cary, NC
1Asheville$20.69+4%
2Charlotte$20.07+1%
3Raleigh$19.32-3%
4Durham$19.19-3%
5Wilmington$18.33-8%
6Winston Salem$17.30-13%
7Greensboro$16.71-16%
8Greenville$15.23-23%
9Fayetteville$14.74-26%
10Jacksonville$14.59-26%
Most expensive nearby: Asheville ($20.69) Least expensive nearby: Jacksonville ($14.59)

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 Cary, NC

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 Cary, NC

    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 Cary, NC

173 active listings in Cary

Mariana G. - Seeking Work in Cary

Nanny Mariana

Cary, NC
$8 - $20/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hi! I’m Mariana, I’m 14 and entering into freshman year of high school. I live in a Spanish speaking household and I’m fluent in both English and Spanish. I am also currently in a swim club at my local pool. My interests are reading, coloring and helping others! If I took care of your kids, I could bring some activities to do (with your permission of course), color, play, listen to (age appropriate) music, and any idea you or kid might have :) Helping others is very important to me because seeing others happy and with joy brightens my day! I look forward to helping you with your kids!

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Christina M. - Seeking Work in Cary

Nanny Christina

Cary, NC
$20/hr
Part-time
Occasional
4 years experience

A little bit about me

Mommy of a 5 year old, who also has cared for my nieces MANY times over the years, (now 13, 10). Looking to help you with permanent or occasional help with your kiddos now that my son is in daycare full-time and starting kindergarten in a couple of months!

I have a full and thorough background check completed on 3/16/26 that shows negative results for all 3 states I've ever lived in NC, NY, NJ, showing not just 7 years of history like many background checks do, but all the way back to when I was 18 years old (over 20 years of history) includes criminal, DMV, and sex offender. I am happy to share this with anyone interested in hiring me, as I'd FULLY expect you'd want to see this!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid

Recent reference

"Christina is my sister and one of the very few people my husband and I trusted to watch our two daughters from the time they were babies through their toddler and elementary years. Even when my first daughter was very colicky, she maintained a calm, patient demeanor with her. As my girls got a little older, Christina was great at connecting with them based on their particular interests and coming up with fun games and activities to engage with them. She was especially intuitive in her ability to handle any of their big emotions or stubborn moments by hearing them out and communicating with love and respect. I always appreciated that Christina was great at communicating with us while she was watching the kids, sending pictures, sharing funny moments, giving important updates, and asking questions for clarification if needed. From relating to my emotional girls to now raising her own active son, Christina would treat anyone else's children with the same love and care as her own family!"
- Tiffany
Mary Margaret H. - Seeking Work in Cary

Nanny Mary Margaret

Cary, NC
$20/hr
Part-time
Occasional
8 years experience

A little bit about me

I’m a sophomore at UNC with nine years of babysitting experience working with children of all ages, and I love being a sitter because I genuinely enjoy connecting with kids and creating a safe, supportive, and fun environment for them. Over the years, I’ve cared for infants through teenagers in a wide range of situations, from regular weekly care to occasional date nights, and I’ve learned how to adapt quickly, communicate clearly, and build trust with both kids and parents. I bring strong skills in homework help, planning engaging activities, managing routines, and handling challenges with patience and problem-solving, as well as a safety-focused mindset and familiarity with age-appropriate supervision.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Jeniffer P. - Seeking Work in Cary

Nanny Jeniffer

Cary, NC
$20/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

My name is Jennifer I have 3 sweet boy and group age 4,8 and 11 years old I have a lot experience in childcare I have a lot patience I love to play with children

Have experience working with

Infants

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Rebekah S. - Seeking Work in Cary

Nanny Rebekah

Cary, NC
$20 - $25/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
6 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi, my name is Rebekah! I have been babysitting for more than 6 years. Some hobbies I enjoy are art, crafts, piano, cooking/baking, and anything outdoors (kayaking, biking, hiking). I am a nursing student at Liberty University in VA, going into my 3rd year this fall.

I am currently looking for a position for this summer in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area from around mid-May to August. I absolutely love working with kids and infants! My plan after graduation is to start working as either a pediatric or labor and delivery nurse.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Irene I. - Seeking Work in Cary

Nanny Irene

Cary, NC
$20/hr
Part-time
Occasional
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hi! I’m Irene, a recent graduate from NC State with years of experience caring for children. I’ve babysat family friends’ kids growing up and worked as a part-time babysitter, caring for children as young as 2 years old. I’m responsible, patient, and skilled at keeping kids engaged with fun, age-appropriate activities.
Miya C. - Seeking Work in Cary

Nanny Miya

Cary, NC
$20/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

Hello my name is Miya Carter I love working with children I have been working in child care for over 20 years I have been both a nanny and preschool teacher. I am presently a student at the Capella university working towards my BA in psychology . I was a teacher in New York during the pandemic. I am currently a 2 year old teacher . I am a army wife I have been a nanny for over 20 years. I am a member of the national society of leadership and Success. I am looking for part time after 6pm and the weekend.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Sarah L. - Seeking Work in Cary

Nanny Sarah

Cary, NC
$28 - $35/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
8 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi, my name is Sarah Leonard. I am a career nanny and have worked with newborns all the way through 5 year olds. Through the years, I have worked in a four star childcare facility as a lead teacher, as a nanny for an infants, and am currently a nanny for twins!
I have a passion for working with young children and helping them achieve their next milestone and having those light bulb moments. I love creating developmentally appropriate activities for children to help them learn as much as possible while still having fun. When taking care of children, I enjoy having fun with them in a calm, fun, and playful manner. I look forward to talking to you and your family.

Have experience working with

Infants

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Nusrath M. - Seeking Work in Cary

Nanny Nusrath

Cary, NC
$20/hr
Part-time
Occasional
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

Professional nanny with over 30 years of experience providing exceptional care for children from newborns to teenagers. Skilled in creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment that supports each child’s physical, emotional, and developmental needs. Extensive experience caring for children with special needs, including adapting routines, encouraging independence, and working closely with families to ensure individualized care. Reliable, patient, compassionate, and highly organized, with a strong commitment to maintaining open communication with parents. Experienced in infant care, feeding, sleep routines, educational activities, homework support, meal preparation, and light housekeeping related to childcare. Dedicated to helping children thrive while giving families peace of mind through dependable, professional, and loving care.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
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