Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a babysitter cost in Big Lake, MN in 2026?

In Big Lake, MN, the average babysitter earns about $18.19 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $728/week or $3,153/month. Most Big Lake families pay somewhere in the $11–$22/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$18.19/hr · Big Lake average

These numbers come from 24 live babysitter listings in Big Lake on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$728
$3,153
$37,835

Find babysitters near you

What drives the price

Most Big Lake families pay somewhere in the $11–$22/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)$18.19
2 kids~$19.19
3+ kids~$20.19+

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 Big Lake babysitter rates compare to state and national averages?

Big Lake runs below the U.S. average for babysitter rates — a meaningful budget advantage for families looking here.

Hiring babysitters in Big Lake, MN typically costs about 3% less than the Minnesota average of $19/hour and 6% less than the United States average of $19/hour.

Average hourly babysitters rates compared across Big Lake, MN and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Big Lake, MN
Big Lake, MN$18/hr—
Minnesota$19/hr+3%
United States$19/hr+6%

Where Big Lake, MN fits among nearby cities

10 nearby cities have enough babysitter data to compare, with rates ranging from $17.13/hour in Mankato to $20.40/hour in Maple Grove.

Below: how each compares to the Big Lake, MN average of $18.19/hour.

Nearby cities ranked by babysitter rate

10 cities near Big Lake, MN ranked by average hourly babysitter rate, most to least expensive.
#City$/hrvs. Big Lake, MN
1Maple Grove$20.40+12%
2Minneapolis$20.40+12%
3Lakeville$19.62+8%
4Saint Paul$19.56+8%
5Rochester$19.54+7%
6Woodbury$19.30+6%
7St. Cloud$18.05-1%
8Blaine$17.98-1%
9Duluth$17.72-3%
10Mankato$17.13-6%
● Most expensive nearby: Maple Grove ($20.40)● Least expensive nearby: Mankato ($17.13)

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 Big Lake, MN

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 Big Lake, MN

    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 Big Lake, MN

24 active listings in Big Lake

Katrina H. - Seeking Work in Big Lake

Nanny Katrina

Big Lake, MN
$18/hr
Part-time
Occasional
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

My name is Katrina, I have a full time job as a case manager at a day program for adults with disabilities. I have two kids ages 6 and 10.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Addison D. - Seeking Work in Big Lake

Nanny Addison

Big Lake, MN
$18/hr
Occasional
4 years experience

A little bit about me

My current job is working with kids, I love being outside, I love going for walks, I love kids, I like going hiking, I like shopping

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Alice W. - Seeking Work in Big Lake

Nanny Alice

Big Lake, MN
$20/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

My name is Alice and I love babysitting! I mostly babysit family but I would love to babysit people who I can get to know! I help with VBS at church and I am in honor society
Lilly M. - Seeking Work in Big Lake

Nanny Lilly

Big Lake, MN
$17/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hi! Im Lilly, and I would love to come look after ur little ones! I worked at a childcare center for almost 6 months, i was a core teacher in a toddler 2 classroom! I am certified in first aid and CPR! Right now im currently working at a tanning salon and am trying to find some nanny jobs! A little bit about me, i am a very patient outgoing person, i love to clean, i like to be out on the lake, and spend time with my friends!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Sophia R. - Seeking Work in Big Lake

Nanny Sophia

Big Lake, MN
$21/hr
Part-time
Occasional
2 years experience

A little bit about me

I am a stay at home mom to my 8 month old daughter! Looking for a family that’s letting me bring her along. My first job was at a daycare so I am experienced with multiple kids and ages. I also nannied my three cousin for 4 summers! I love to stay busy and entertained!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Emma B. - Seeking Work in Big Lake

Nanny Emma

Big Lake, MN
$20/hr
Part-time
Occasional
3 years experience

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Ava C. - Seeking Work in Big Lake

Nanny Ava

Big Lake, MN
$15/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
3 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi!! My name is Ava, I am 21 years old. I absolutely love children and being someone they can look up to, I have worked in child care for many years. I own an insured vehicle as well if anybody is needing help with school pick ups. Have a passion for working with kids of all ages, as I am somebody that they look up to and can influence them into being loving humans.

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Vanessa V. - Seeking Work in Big Lake

Nanny Vanessa

Big Lake, MN
$22/hr
Part-time
Occasional
1 year experience

A little bit about me

My name is vanessa in I have two kids both girls and I just graduated with a child development associate degree from Hennepin technical college and I been working with kids at la petite academy been almost 2 year and I love working with children and playing and also reading with them doing art with them and my hobbies are doing hair and cleaning.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Ellie B. - Seeking Work in Big Lake

Nanny Ellie

Big Lake, MN
$18/hr
Full-time
2 years experience

A little bit about me

I worked with young kids in a classroom setting for about 3 seasons over the school-year. Besides that I've babysat frequently for families, and grew up with three little brothers

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
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