Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a babysitter cost in Lynden, WA in 2026?

In Lynden, WA, the average babysitter earns about $20.13 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $805/week or $3,489/month. Most Lynden families pay somewhere in the $17–$26/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$20.13/hr · Lynden average

These numbers come from 34 live babysitter listings in Lynden on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$805
$3,489
$41,870

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What drives the price

Most Lynden families pay somewhere in the $17–$26/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)$20.13
2 kids~$21.13
3+ kids~$22.13+

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 Lynden babysitter rates compare to state and national averages?

Lynden runs above the U.S. average for babysitter rates, in line with most major metros.

Hiring babysitters in Lynden, WA typically costs about 5% less than the Washington average of $21/hour and 7% more than the United States average of $19/hour.

Average hourly babysitters rates compared across Lynden, WA and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Lynden, WA
Lynden, WA$20/hr
Washington$21/hr+5%
United States$19/hr-7%

Where Lynden, WA fits among nearby cities

10 nearby cities have enough babysitter data to compare, with rates ranging from $18.55/hour in Kennewick to $25.57/hour in Seattle.

Below: how each compares to the Lynden, WA average of $20.13/hour.

Nearby cities ranked by babysitter rate

10 cities near Lynden, WA ranked by average hourly babysitter rate, most to least expensive.
#City$/hrvs. Lynden, WA
1Seattle$25.57+27%
2Everett$22.98+14%
3Auburn$21.73+8%
4Puyallup$21.12+5%
5Tacoma$20.98+4%
6Olympia$20.64+3%
7Bellingham$20.57+2%
8Vancouver$20.23
9Spokane$19.31-4%
10Kennewick$18.55-8%
Most expensive nearby: Seattle ($25.57) Least expensive nearby: Kennewick ($18.55)

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 Lynden, 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:

  1. 01

    Browse babysitter profiles in Lynden, WA

    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 Lynden, WA

34 active listings in Lynden

Laine J. - Seeking Work in Lynden

Nanny Laine

Lynden, WA
$20/hr
Part-time
Occasional
5 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi, I'm Laine! I'm a recent graduate from the University of Arizona, and I will be attending graduate school for Speech-Language Pathology in the fall! Over the past year, I have worked as an elementary school paraeducator for students with specialized behavioral, social-emotional, and academic needs.

Alongside that, I’ve gained hands-on experience in K-8 schools and speech clinics, learning how to support children with diverse communication and sensory needs. I’ve also been babysitting on and off for 5+ years and truly enjoy creating a safe, fun, and supportive environment where kids can thrive.

I'm currently looking for a babysitting job during the evenings and weekends as I save for graduate school. I am also open to a more full-time position throughout the summer. I’d love the chance to connect with your family! Feel free to reach out with any questions!

Have experience working with

Special Needs
Jessica E. - Seeking Work in Lynden

Nanny Jessica

Lynden, WA
$19/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

hii i grew up in a family of 10 and i have lots of experience of taking care of my siblings, especially while my parents were away. i love taking care of kids and creating a good relationship with them.
i am willing to be flexible with hours if needed. i can give the kids rides if also needed.

Have experience working with

Special Needs
Galaxia V. - Seeking Work in Lynden

Nanny Galaxia

Lynden, WA
$22/hr
Part-time
Occasional
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

Hola, me llamo Galaxia y soy Licenciada en Educación Especial, he trabajado con niños por más de 18 años.
Tengo experiencia en cuidados, orientación, Educación y estrategias de aprendizaje, así como también en estimulacion temprana. Será un placer poder interactuar con los padres y niños, compartiendo mis conocimientos.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Madison L. - Seeking Work in Lynden

Nanny Madison

Lynden, WA
$16.66/hr
Occasional
2 years experience

A little bit about me

I live on a dairy farm, am active in LC FFA and am one of the Whatcom County dairy Ambassadors! I am all for hard work and have two younger sisters. I love working with kids and “keeping house”.

Certification

First Aid
Selah G. - Seeking Work in Lynden

Nanny Selah

Lynden, WA
$16.66/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

I am 12 years old I do a lot of volunteer work with kids mostly pre-K and K but have a 7 year old and 1 year old brothers

Have experience working with

Special Needs
Jenny E. - Seeking Work in Lynden

Nanny Jenny

Lynden, WA
$17/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience

Have experience working with

Special Needs
Alexys S. - Seeking Work in Lynden

Nanny Alexys

Lynden, WA
$17 - $28/hr
Full-time
Part-time
3 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! My name is Lexy, and I’m 19 years old. I’m a caring, energetic, and dependable person with a true passion for working with children. Family and faith are very important to me, and I strive to be a positive role model for every child I care for.

People describe me as kind, loving, encouraging, and fun. I believe every child deserves to feel supported, valued, and happy. My goal is to create a safe, positive, and engaging environment where children can learn, grow, and simply enjoy being kids.

For me, caring for children is more than just a job—it’s an opportunity to make a difference, build confidence, and encourage children to always be themselves.

Have experience working with

Special Needs
Pearl E. - Seeking Work in Lynden

Nanny Pearl

Lynden, WA
$20/hr
Part-time
4 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! My name is Pearl Ellis and I am 21 years old. I am currently going into my last year of college online, while starting my esthetician business 2 days a week. For the past years in college my part-time job was nannying! I have been babysitting for 4 years now, whether it's been after school, weekends, or my full-time job in the summer. I absolutely love to make connections with kids and interacting with them! I am looking for a job for the other days of the week that I am not in the salon! I can't wait to meet you!

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Hadassah W. - Seeking Work in Lynden

Nanny Hadassah

Lynden, WA
$23 - $28/hr
Part-time
9 years experience

A little bit about me

My name is Hadassah, and I've lived in Lynden. WA for a little over a year! I'm happily looking for a family I can help through childcare, part-time or occasionally .

In summer 2022 I spent 5 months (spring/summer) in Africa with a family where I watched over their 5 children(ages 4 months, 2, 4, 5, and 6). We did a lot of play time, naps, lunch, imaginary pay, books, and watched older sisters play, basically spent 18 hours a day with them.
In summer 2023, I nannied another family that had 5 kids (ages 3, 4 (x2), 7, & 10). We often did crafts, coloring, walks on their farm, went to parks/playground and did some light housekeeping and made lunches. I enjoyed that but it was just for the summer!
And then most recently, from June 2024 to November, I nannied a 20 month old. I stopped to be near family but I loved it! We we went to toddler programs (dancing, art classes), strolled to parks and different places, did lunches, naps, and read lots of books and playtime.

Have experience working with

Infants

Certification

CPR
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