Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated
How much does a babysitter cost in New York, NY in 2026?
In New York, NY, the average babysitter earns about $24.21 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $968/week or $4,196/month. Most New York 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$24.21/hr · New York average
These numbers come from 4,529 live babysitter listings in New York on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.
- Weekly
(40 hrs) - $968
- Monthly
- $4,196
- Annual
- $50,357
Find babysitters near you
What drives the price
Most New York 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
More experienced babysitters command higher rates. Entry-level (0-2 yrs) average $23.11/hour, while the most experienced (6-10 yrs) charge around $27.43/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
| 1 kid (baseline) | $24.21 |
|---|---|
| 2 kids | ~$25.21 |
| 3+ kids | ~$26.21+ |
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
| 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
| Arrangement | Typical hours | Average rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 35–50 hrs/week | $25.84/hr | |
| Part-time | 10–25 hrs/week | $24.60/hr | |
| Occasional | 5–15 hrs/week | $24.41/hr | |
| Live-in | Set by family | $25/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.
How do New York babysitter rates compare to state and national averages?
New York is one of the more expensive babysitter markets in the country.
Hiring babysitters in New York, NY typically costs about 11% more than the New York average of $22/hour and 26% more than the United States average of $19/hour.
| Area | Average hourly rate | vs. New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $24/hr | — |
| New York | $22/hr | -10% |
| United States | $19/hr | -21% |
Where New York, NY fits among nearby cities
10 nearby cities have enough babysitter data to compare, with rates ranging from $18.89/hour in Syracuse to $24.21/hour in New York.
Below: how each compares to the New York, NY average of $24.21/hour — New York, NY is highlighted at its true rank.
Nearby cities ranked by babysitter rate
| # | City | $/hr | vs. New York, NY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $24.21 | — | |
| 2 | Flushing | $23.20 | -4% | |
| 3 | Brooklyn | $22.82 | -6% | |
| 4 | Queens | $21.16 | -13% | |
| 5 | The Bronx | $20.91 | -14% | |
| 6 | Staten Island | $20.51 | -15% | |
| 7 | Albany | $19.80 | -18% | |
| 8 | Rochester | $19.24 | -21% | |
| 9 | Buffalo | $19.13 | -21% | |
| 10 | Syracuse | $18.89 | -22% |
● Most expensive nearby: New York ($24.21)● Least expensive nearby: Syracuse ($18.89)
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.
and enjoy flexible child care.
How families use Nanny Lane to find a babysitter in New York, 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:
- 01
Browse babysitter profiles in New York, NY
Filter by hourly rate, experience, languages, and availability.
- 02
Message the ones who look like a fit
Reach out to the babysitters whose experience and rate match what you're looking for.
- 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.
- 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 New York, NY
4,529 active listings in New York
Nanny Ryan
Nanny Ryan
New York, NY
$18 - $22/hr
Part-time
Occasional
< 1 year experience
A little bit about me
My name is Ana I’m 18 and adore kids I know how to clean and cook I did home care for my grandmother
Have experience working with
Special Needs
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Nanny Lauren
Nanny Lauren
New York, NY
$25/hr
Occasional
5 years experience
A little bit about me
Hi! I am a current student at Northeastern NYC as well as a dancer! I've been working with children in New Jersey and NYC for 5 years.
Nanny Anabella
Nanny Anabella
New York, NY
$18 - $25/hr
Part-time
Occasional
5 years experience
A little bit about me
I’m a hardworking, caring, and dependable person looking for an opportunity to work with a loving family. I’ve always enjoyed being around little kids and have plenty of experience caring for children, including helping raise my younger siblings. I’m patient, responsible, flexible with my schedule, and open to discussing a pay rate that works for both the family and me.
Have experience working with
Special Needs
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Nanny Morgan
Nanny Morgan
New York, NY
$20 - $24/hr
Part-time
Occasional
3 years experience
A little bit about me
Hi! I’m a caring, patient, and responsible person who genuinely loves being around children. I enjoy creating a warm, safe, and fun environment where kids can feel comfortable being themselves. I love playing with children, helping them learn and explore, and being there to support them throughout their day.
I’m excited to meet a wonderful family and create a positive, loving relationship with both the children and parents!
I’m excited to meet a wonderful family and create a positive, loving relationship with both the children and parents!
Have experience working with
Infants
Special Needs
Nanny Charlee
Nanny Charlee
New York, NY
$20 - $30/hr
Part-time
Occasional
4 years experience
A little bit about me
Hi, my name is Charlee Beth! I’m an actress living in New York City for the past 7 years! The last 4 of my years were spent as the primary nanny for a wonderful family with 2 young kids. When I’m not singing or dancing, I love crafting. Mostly crochet, needlepoint, and quilting, I always have a craft on hand! Family is so important I would love the opportunity to support your family in any way I can!
Have experience working with
Infants
Special Needs
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Nanny Kayleigh
Nanny Kayleigh
New York, NY
$20 - $27/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
7 years experience
A little bit about me
My name is Kayleigh, and I have several years of experience working with children as a babysitter and as a gymnastics coach! I am organized, reliable, caring, and patient, and I'd love to be someone your family can rely on to care for your kids and keep them happy and safe!
Have experience working with
Special Needs
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Nanny Veolla
Nanny Veolla
New York, NY
$25/hr
Part-time
Occasional
8 years experience
A little bit about me
Hello,
my name is Veolla. I am 18, I just moved from Philadelphia to New York. I got to school at The New School and I study psychology. I have been babysitting pretty much my whole life. I am very big on interactive and personal activities to do with the kids, and I am not big on screens. I have a very big family, I’ve watch cousins, siblings, neighbors, teachers kids, and I would do homework with them, pick them up from school, keep them active, and I can cook.
I look forward to working with you and your kiddies!
Thank you
my name is Veolla. I am 18, I just moved from Philadelphia to New York. I got to school at The New School and I study psychology. I have been babysitting pretty much my whole life. I am very big on interactive and personal activities to do with the kids, and I am not big on screens. I have a very big family, I’ve watch cousins, siblings, neighbors, teachers kids, and I would do homework with them, pick them up from school, keep them active, and I can cook.
I look forward to working with you and your kiddies!
Thank you
Have experience working with
Infants
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Recent reference
"Veolla has become such an important part of my kids lives. I was a mentor to Veolla and knew her and her family well. My kids became shining stars because of her. They were so intrigued and curious about things. She pushed them to be their best selves.
I appreciate Veolla’s support to my kids and my whole family. She really takes notice of things and tries her hardest to support the whole family. She attended most of my kids kindergarten graduations, dance recitals, and musical performances. I have 4 kids and she has been such a rock for us. Me and my husband work so much and she has provided more help than I could have imagined.
I’m excited for her to be able to help others kids as well.
I recommended Veolla to many friends and family members of mine, who have been very pleased with her skills.
She is young, but she is emotionally mature, intuitive, and most of all, she is kind. She was such a bright light everytime she entered the doors of my house."
- Violetta Shehu
Nanny Clairef
Nanny Clairef
New York, NY
$25/hr
Occasional
1 year experience
A little bit about me
My name is Claire, and I work at Mount Sinai as a Patient Care Coordinator. I have a degree in Health Services Administration with a minor in Psychology. I speak English and Spanish fluently and am currently looking to earn some extra income so I can enroll in school to study nutrition.
I’m 26 years old and love practicing yoga, reading, and running.
I’m 26 years old and love practicing yoga, reading, and running.
Nanny Kudi
Nanny Kudi
New York, NY
$28 - $32/hr
Part-time
Occasional
9 years experience
A little bit about me
Hi!
I’m a caring, easygoing, and dependable babysitter with years of experience caring for kids of all ages, from babies to school-aged children. I genuinely enjoy spending time with kids, whether we’re playing, doing homework, or just winding down for the evening. I’m CPR certified, attentive, comfortable with pets, and always happy to help wherever needed. Most importantly, I want both the kids and parents to feel comfortable and at ease with me!
I’m a caring, easygoing, and dependable babysitter with years of experience caring for kids of all ages, from babies to school-aged children. I genuinely enjoy spending time with kids, whether we’re playing, doing homework, or just winding down for the evening. I’m CPR certified, attentive, comfortable with pets, and always happy to help wherever needed. Most importantly, I want both the kids and parents to feel comfortable and at ease with me!
Have experience working with
Special Needs
Certifications
CPR
First Aid