Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated
How much does a babysitter cost in Rochester, NY in 2026?
In Rochester, NY, the average babysitter earns about $19.37 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $775/week or $3,357/month. Most Rochester 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$19.37/hr · Rochester average
These numbers come from 472 live babysitter listings in Rochester on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.
- Weekly
(40 hrs) - $775
- Monthly
- $3,357
- Annual
- $40,290
Find babysitters near you
What drives the price
Most Rochester 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 $19.03/hour, while the most experienced (6-10 yrs) charge around $21.13/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) | $19.37 |
|---|---|
| 2 kids | ~$20.37 |
| 3+ kids | ~$21.37+ |
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 | $20.38/hr | |
| Part-time | 10–25 hrs/week | $19.44/hr | |
| Occasional | 5–15 hrs/week | $19.79/hr | |
| Live-in | Set by family | $18.81/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 arrangements look cheaper per hour because room and board are part of the package. The trade-off is space — you'll need a private bedroom and ideally a separate bathroom for the babysitter.
How do Rochester babysitter rates compare to state and national averages?
Rochester sits close to the national average for babysitter rates.
Hiring babysitters in Rochester, NY typically costs about 12% less than the New York average of $22/hour and the same as the United States average of $19/hour.
| Area | Average hourly rate | vs. Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Rochester, NY | $19/hr | — |
| New York | $22/hr | +13% |
| United States | $19/hr | 0% |
Where Rochester, NY fits among nearby cities
10 nearby cities have enough babysitter data to compare, with rates ranging from $19.07/hour in Syracuse to $24.29/hour in New York.
Below: how each compares to the Rochester, NY average of $19.37/hour — Rochester, NY is highlighted at its true rank.
Nearby cities ranked by babysitter rate
| # | City | $/hr | vs. Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $24.29 | +25% | |
| 2 | Flushing | $23.54 | +22% | |
| 3 | Brooklyn | $22.90 | +18% | |
| 4 | Queens | $21.11 | +9% | |
| 5 | The Bronx | $20.99 | +8% | |
| 6 | Staten Island | $20.38 | +5% | |
| 7 | Albany | $19.79 | +2% | |
| 8 | Rochester | $19.37 | — | |
| 9 | Buffalo | $19.29 | — | |
| 10 | Syracuse | $19.07 | -2% |
● Most expensive nearby: New York ($24.29)● Least expensive nearby: Syracuse ($19.07)
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 Rochester, 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 Rochester, 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 Rochester, NY
472 active listings in Rochester
Nanny Ellie
Nanny Ellie
Rochester, NY
$18 - $22/hr
Occasional
3 years experience
A little bit about me
I am a student athlete at St. John Fisher University, majoring in political science. I am looking for a flexible babysitting job that fits within my practice and game schedule playing a winter sport (will have more flexibility and availability in the spring). I am a hockey camp counselor/coach during the summers, so I am familiar with child care responsibilities, and am first aid and CPR certified.
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Nanny Kendall
Nanny Kendall
Rochester, NY
$16 - $20/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience
A little bit about me
I am a third year medical student, studying at LECOM and doing clinical rotations at Rochester General Hospital. I am interested in pediatrics and have a lot of experience with children! I am CPR and first-aid certified.
Have experience working with
Special Needs
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Nanny Kiana
Nanny Kiana
Rochester, NY
$19/hr
Part-time
Occasional
5 years experience
A little bit about me
Hello! I’m a fourth year college student majoring in social media marketing with five years of experience as a camp counselor and four years of experience as a nanny and babysitter, working with kids ranging from toddlers to tweens and teens. I truly love being a sitter because I’m a patient, caring, and active person who finds so much joy in keeping kids engaged through sports, arts and crafts, and fun educational games. My experience includes running toddler playgroups, managing diaper changes, and supporting toilet training, as well as providing after-school homework help, light cleaning, and home-cooked meals. When I’m not caring for children, I’m working on starting my own business and learning how to sew! I have a reliable vehicle for safe transportation, and I am available on weekends as well as weekday afternoons and evenings to support your family’s routine.
Have experience working with
Special Needs
Nanny Mariska
Nanny Mariska
Rochester, NY
$20/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
< 1 year experience
A little bit about me
Hi my name is mariska and I have 7 siblings age range is [phone number hidden] and I love little kids and cooking and horsing around with the kids
Have experience working with
Special Needs
Nanny Chelsea
Nanny Chelsea
Rochester, NY
$20/hr
Part-time
Occasional
10+ years experience
A little bit about me
I’m Chelsea, a caring, dependable, and patient mom with plenty of hands-on experience caring for children of different ages. I’m looking for a part-time nanny position and would love to help a family who needs someone reliable and trustworthy. I’m attentive, responsible, and enjoy creating a safe, comfortable, and fun environment for children. As a mom myself, I understand how important it is to have someone you can feel completely comfortable leaving your children with.
Have experience working with
Special Needs
Certification
CPR
Nanny Nevaeh
Nanny Nevaeh
Rochester, NY
$20/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience
A little bit about me
Hi my name is Nevaeh i’m 19 years old. I’m Puerto Rican. I was born and raised in Rochester New York. I’m a student at REOC and also I am a very well-known nail artist in Rochester, New York. My business name is nveenailshop I’ve been doing nails for 6 1/2 years now I started when I was 12 and before nails I was actually doing babysitting to help fund my business so I’ve always had an interest in childcare as well. I grew up with a mother as a nurse and caregiver also a hairstylist so that’s who I got got my interest in beauty service providing, and I’m also dipping back into my interest in childcare and just care for other people. I genuinely enjoy making people happy comfortable and safe. I have three siblings, I’m the middle child I’ve taken care of my younger siblings and my mom was a single mom so I always helped her out with the kids I also am a CPR instructor for my sister‘s business as well and I have instructed all types of CPR classes so I’m very well trained
Have experience working with
Infants
Special Needs
Certifications
CPR
First Aid
Recent reference
"Nevaeh is still currently on our team as a CPR instructor and has been a pleasure to have. She loves what she does and is very passionate, she also is very hands on when it comes to helping out with the children in our child care programs, and always is one of the first ones to vouch to volunteer for any event we host. I recommend her as a nanny as she does well with kids and they love her and she is able to adapt and has experience working with kids with special needs as well."
- Maryleslie
Nanny Alexandra
Nanny Alexandra
Rochester, NY
$17 - $30/hr
Occasional
1 year experience
A little bit about me
Hi, I'm Lexi. I'm 17, and I love playing games and hanging out, but having fun and being safe are among my top priorities when babysitting kiddos of any age. I do have school on weekdays, but I'd certainly be able to help on date nights and other similar activities.
Have experience working with
Special Needs
Nanny Alina
Nanny Alina
Rochester, NY
$18 - $20/hr
Full-time
Part-time
Occasional
5 years experience
A little bit about me
Hi! I’m Alina. I started babysitting my four younger cousins when I was 12, and caring for kids has always been something I enjoy. I love cooking, playing soccer and volleyball, and I have a year of housekeeping experience. I graduated high school a year early and I am currently in college. I also have a little coffee cart business the I started.
Have experience working with
Infants
Special Needs
Nanny Keli
Nanny Keli
Rochester, NY
$19/hr
Part-time
Occasional
3 years experience
A little bit about me
For the past 3 years, I’ve had the joy of working with children, creating a safe, fun, and nurturing environment where they can learn and grow. I love caring for little ones, teaching them new skills, and being a positive part of their lives as they reach new milestones.
Have experience working with
Infants
Certifications
CPR
First Aid