Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a babysitter cost in Long Island City, NY in 2026?

In Long Island City, NY, the average babysitter earns about $24.95 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $998/week or $4,325/month. Most Long Island City families pay somewhere in the $16–$35/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$24.95/hr · Long Island City average

These numbers come from 35 live babysitter listings in Long Island City on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$998
$4,325
$51,896

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What drives the price

Most Long Island City families pay somewhere in the $16–$35/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
Hourly rate by number of kids
1 kid (baseline)$24.95
2 kids~$25.95
3+ kids~$26.95+

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.

How do Long Island City babysitter rates compare to state and national averages?

Long Island City is one of the more expensive babysitter markets in the country.

Hiring babysitters in Long Island City, NY typically costs about 15% more than the New York average of $22/hour and 31% more than the United States average of $19/hour.

Average hourly babysitters rates compared across Long Island City, NY and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Long Island City, NY
Long Island City, NY$25/hr
New York$22/hr-13%
United States$19/hr-24%

Where Long Island City, NY fits among nearby cities

10 nearby cities have enough babysitter data to compare, with rates ranging from $18.78/hour in Syracuse to $24.15/hour in New York.

Below: how each compares to the Long Island City, NY average of $24.95/hour.

Nearby cities ranked by babysitter rate

10 cities near Long Island City, NY ranked by average hourly babysitter rate, most to least expensive.
#City$/hrvs. Long Island City, NY
1New York$24.15-3%
2Flushing$22.87-8%
3Brooklyn$22.78-9%
4Queens$21.18-15%
5The Bronx$20.84-16%
6Staten Island$20.41-18%
7Albany$19.63-21%
8Rochester$19.20-23%
9Buffalo$19.09-23%
10Syracuse$18.78-25%
Most expensive nearby: New York ($24.15) Least expensive nearby: Syracuse ($18.78)

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 Long Island City, 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 Long Island City, 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 Long Island City, NY

35 active listings in Long Island City

Pravani L. - Seeking Work in Long Island City

Nanny Pravani

Long Island City, NY
$28 - $35/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

My name is Pravani lachhman! I have been a nanny for over 25 years! I adore kids, one of my favorite job is to take care of the little munchkins! I’m married have on daughter! She’s 18 years old! Looking for long term! Worked with 2 sisters for 12 years, in bay side queens, then with few other family in Lon island city! My last family I was with for 6 years in Long Island city! My now family are moving to port Washington

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Lisa Z. - Seeking Work in Long Island City

Nanny Lisa

Long Island City, NY
$25 - $40/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
6 years experience

A little bit about me

-`♡´- Hello there! I’m Lisa. Thanks for stopping by -`♡´-

I’ve been happily nannying the last 6+ years for children aged 2 months - 12 years. I have extensive experience with kids of all ages but have a soft spot for babies/toddlers. I also regularly babysit for a handful of families.

My current full time position is ending soon (youngest transitioning to daycare) so I’m looking for my next family. I strongly prefer FT hours.

Also open for babysitting opportunities!

I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2010 (degrees: Psychology & Mass Comm). I was in marketing for quite some time but eventually left to explore alternate career paths, seeking out work that felt more meaningful to me. I happened into nannying mostly by chance and haven’t looked back since.

CPR/First Aid certified with plenty of glowing references :)

I’d love to exchange hellos and learn all about your family and current childcare needs. Hope to hear from you soon!

♡ Lisa

Have experience working with

Infants

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Mayra S. - Seeking Work in Long Island City

Nanny Mayra

Long Island City, NY
$25/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
9 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! I’m Mayra, a loving and dedicated nanny committed to supporting each child’s overall growth, development, and well-being. With 8+ years of childcare experience and 5,000+ certified hours, I provide attentive, nurturing, and reliable care. ❤️
👶 Infant Qualified | 🐶 Pet Lover | 🚭 Non-Smoker | 💉 Fully Vaccinated
I currently care for a little girl in Astoria and have been with her family for 1.5 years, since she was 17 months old. I also provide occasional babysitting for families in the area.
My experience includes newborns, toddlers, and children ages 3–7, including an Au Pair program caring for three children.
I’m patient, loving, fun, creative, clean, organized, punctual, and attentive. I enjoy age-appropriate activities that encourage learning, confidence, creativity, and healthy routines.
I can also prepare meals, do children’s laundry, organize their spaces, and help with child-related household tasks.
⭐ Great references available upon request! 📲 [phone number hidden]

Have experience working with

Infants

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Nataly A. - Seeking Work in Long Island City

Nanny Nataly

Long Island City, NY
$25/hr
Part-time
Occasional
2 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! I’m a caring, responsible, and dependable 20-year-old babysitter with over 3 years of experience caring for children. I’ve cared kids ages 4–12 and helped with school pickups, playtime, meals, bedtime routines, and evening care.
I really enjoy working with kids and creating a fun, positive environment while making sure they feel safe and comfortable. I’m also open to caring for babies and younger children and am always willing to learn and get to know each child’s individual needs and routine. I’m not currently in school, so I have a flexible schedule and can really commit to a long-term family that I can build a great relationship with.
I’m currently looking for a part-time or full-time position with 25+ hours per week for the [phone number hidden] school year. I’m also available for date nights, occasional babysitting, and one-time jobs when my schedule allows. I’d love the opportunity to meet your family and help make your day-to-day routine a little easier!
Maria G. - Seeking Work in Long Island City

Nanny Maria

Long Island City, NY
$23/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
5 years experience

A little bit about me

I am a responsible, caring, and dedicated individual with a genuine love for working with children. I am known for being punctual, patient, and creative, which helps me provide a safe and engaging environment for kids of all ages. I have experience taking care of children, assisting with daily routines, homework, and planning fun and educational activities. I am also skilled in cooking nutritious meals for children and have knowledge of basic first aid, which allows me to handle minor injuries or emergencies calmly and effectively. I am flexible with my schedule and able to adapt to the specific needs of each family, always prioritizing the children’s safety and well-being.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Briana A. - Seeking Work in Long Island City

Nanny Briana

Long Island City, NY
$23 - $25/hr
Part-time
Occasional
< 1 year experience
Nathalia V. - Seeking Work in Long Island City

Nanny Nathalia

Long Island City, NY
$20/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hi! My name is Nathalia. I really enjoy working with kids and helping them learn, play, and feel safe. I've had experience caring for children, and I love building positive relationships with them while making sure they have fun and are well cared for. I'm patient, responsible, and dependable, and I enjoy helping with daily routines and keeping things organized. I'm looking for a family I can support and create a positive, caring environment for.

Have experience working with

Special Needs
Chica G. - Seeking Work in Long Island City

Nanny Chica

Long Island City, NY
$20/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
5 years experience

A little bit about me

Hello my name is Smeily but my nickname is Emi I been working with kids since 2021 but I have always been taking care of kids my whole life because of my little brothers. I just moved to Astoria NY and I’m available full time/part time.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Brittany M. - Seeking Work in Long Island City

Nanny Brittany

Long Island City, NY
$15.50/hr
Occasional
2 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! My name is Brittany and I'm a responsible, caring, and energetic 16-year-old babysitter. I enjoy spending time with children and creating a fun, safe, and positive environment for them. Whether it's helping with homework, playing games, reading stories, or keeping little ones entertained. I'm always ready to help. I'm also happy to help with household tasks, such as tidying up rooms, washing dishes, folding laundry, or helping keep the house organized while caring for your children.
I'm dependable, patient, and understand the importance of following parents instructions and routines. My goal is to make sure your children feel comfortable and cared for while giving you peace of mind when you're away.
I would love the opportunity to help your family and look forward to meeting you and your children!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
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