Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a babysitter cost in Albany, NY in 2026?

In Albany, NY, the average babysitter earns about $19.41 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $776/week or $3,364/month. Most Albany families pay somewhere in the $16–$25/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$19.41/hr · Albany average

These numbers come from 224 live babysitter listings in Albany on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$776
$3,364
$40,373

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What drives the price

Most Albany families pay somewhere in the $16–$25/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 $19.29/hour, while the most experienced (6-10 yrs) charge around $21.02/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)$19.41
2 kids~$20.41
3+ kids~$21.41+

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$20.88/hr
Part-time10–25 hrs/week$19.63/hr
Occasional5–15 hrs/week$19.31/hr
Live-inSet by family$20.34/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 Albany babysitter rates compare to state and national averages?

Albany sits close to the national average for babysitter rates.

Hiring babysitters in Albany, NY typically costs about 9% less than the New York average of $21/hour and 3% more than the United States average of $19/hour.

Average hourly babysitters rates compared across Albany, NY and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Albany, NY
Albany, NY$19/hr
New York$21/hr+10%
United States$19/hr-3%

Where Albany, NY fits among nearby cities

10 nearby cities have enough babysitter data to compare, with rates ranging from $18.65/hour in Syracuse to $23.99/hour in New York.

Below: how each compares to the Albany, NY average of $19.41/hour — Albany, NY is highlighted at its true rank.

Nearby cities ranked by babysitter rate

10 cities near Albany, NY ranked by average hourly babysitter rate, most to least expensive.
#City$/hrvs. Albany, NY
1New York$23.99+24%
2Brooklyn$22.54+16%
3Flushing$22.49+16%
4Queens$21.25+9%
5The Bronx$20.71+7%
6Staten Island$20.28+4%
Albany$19.41
8Rochester$19.04-2%
9Buffalo$19.03-2%
10Syracuse$18.65-4%
Most expensive nearby: New York ($23.99) Least expensive nearby: Syracuse ($18.65)

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 Albany, NY

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 Albany, NY

    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 Albany, NY

224 active listings in Albany

Loyalty J. - Seeking Work in Albany

Nanny Loyalty

Albany, NY
$20/hr
Part-time
Occasional
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

My name is Loyalty, and I am 18 years old. I am hardworking, thoughtful, responsible, and outgoing. I am the type of person who reflects on my experiences, learns from them, and continues to grow. I have a lot of experience with children, as I am the oldest daughter and have helped care for my siblings, cousins, and other family members. Through this experience, I have learned patience, communication, and how to create a safe, positive environment for kids. I enjoy spending time with children, helping them learn, and keeping them engaged in fun activities.

Have experience working with

Special Needs
Amanda C. - Seeking Work in Albany

Nanny Amanda

Albany, NY
$20/hr
Full-time
Occasional
5 years experience

A little bit about me

I am an LPN for 16 years. I have kids of my own ranging from 8mos to 15 yr old. Reliable and flexible .

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Madison W. - Seeking Work in Albany

Nanny Madison

Albany, NY
$20 - $30/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
4 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi my name is Madison. I love kids. I have a baby sister (4) and a baby brother (3) who I love and take care of as if they were my own. I am very out going and bubbly and love putting smiles on kids faces. My favorite subject is math and I am a senior in college. If you give me the chance around you baby you will see how easy going I am and how easily babies are draw to me. I would love to be your next babysitter

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Issy I. - Seeking Work in Albany

Nanny Issy

Albany, NY
$21 - $25/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
5 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! I am Issy and I have 5+ years of hands on, experienced childcare! I love using art/music to bond with children. Love making new bonds with families!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Amiyah G. - Seeking Work in Albany

Nanny Amiyah

Albany, NY
$19 - $25/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hi, I’m amiyah and i’m 17 years old, I am great with kids and great with kids with special needs. The 2 schedules are for while i’m in school and during the summer. During the school year i can do 4:30 pm-8:30 pm
on weekdays, and during summer and school breaks i can do 8 am- 4:30
pm

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Niah B. - Seeking Work in Albany

Nanny Niah

Albany, NY
$20/hr
Occasional
4 years experience

A little bit about me

Hello, my name is Niah and I am 25 years old. I am a responsible and reliable babysitter with previous experience in child care. My goal is always to create a safe and positive environment. I also have experience with cooking, food prep and light housekeeping.
Elizabeth W. - Seeking Work in Albany

Nanny Elizabeth

Albany, NY
$20/hr
Part-time
Occasional
3 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! My name is Elizabeth. I am a student at the University at Albany, as well as an athlete on their D1 cheerleading team. I am first aid and cpr certified. I love working with children and have a lot of experience working with children of all ages!

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Makayla S. - Seeking Work in Albany

Nanny Makayla

Albany, NY
$20/hr
Part-time
Occasional
1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hello! I am a 19 year old College student at Medgar Evers College studying Adolescent English Education. I have been babysitting children of close family for about 5 years, recently receiving my first job as a teachers assistant over the summer.

I have certifications in DASA, Child Abuse and Neglect training. I am not officially CPR certified, but I have taken official CPR training courses as part of job training for my Teaching Assistant Position. I am very flexible with my schedule and am very excited to work!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Tia H. - Seeking Work in Albany

Nanny Tia

Albany, NY
$18.88/hr
Part-time
Occasional
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

I am a 17 year old high school student enrolled in night school Monday and Wednesday 4-7 PM. I am hardworking, fast learning and driven by my motivation to make it out of Albany and show the world my talent in Arts, especially photography. I volunteered to work with the special needs classes for a few months in my fellow highschool, and have previous experience with caring for and connecting with children and also taking care of pets in the home as well! I am open to cleaning, organizing and things of that nature.

Have experience working with

Special Needs
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