Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

How much does a babysitter cost in Hershey, PA in 2026?

In Hershey, PA, the average babysitter earns about $18.08 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $723/week or $3,134/month. Most Hershey families pay somewhere in the $10–$25/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$18.08/hr · Hershey average

These numbers come from 30 live babysitter listings in Hershey on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$723
$3,134
$37,606

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What drives the price

Most Hershey families pay somewhere in the $10–$25/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)$18.08
2 kids~$19.08
3+ kids~$20.08+

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 Hershey babysitter rates compare to state and national averages?

Hershey sits close to the national average for babysitter rates.

Hiring babysitters in Hershey, PA typically costs about 2% more than the Pennsylvania average of $18/hour and 5% less than the United States average of $19/hour.

Average hourly babysitters rates compared across Hershey, PA and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Hershey, PA
Hershey, PA$18/hr
Pennsylvania$18/hr-2%
United States$19/hr+5%

Where Hershey, PA fits among nearby cities

10 nearby cities have enough babysitter data to compare, with rates ranging from $16.08/hour in Erie to $20.35/hour in West Chester.

Below: how each compares to the Hershey, PA average of $18.08/hour.

Nearby cities ranked by babysitter rate

10 cities near Hershey, PA ranked by average hourly babysitter rate, most to least expensive.
#City$/hrvs. Hershey, PA
1West Chester$20.35+13%
2Philadelphia$19.45+8%
3Pittsburgh$19.08+6%
4State College$17.73-2%
5Lancaster$17.45-3%
6Allentown$16.94-6%
7Harrisburg$16.58-8%
8Reading$16.38-9%
9York$16.29-10%
10Erie$16.08-11%
Most expensive nearby: West Chester ($20.35) Least expensive nearby: Erie ($16.08)

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 Hershey, PA

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 Hershey, PA

    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 Hershey, PA

30 active listings in Hershey

Nicole H. - Seeking Work in Hershey

Nanny Nicole

Hershey, PA
$20 - $30/hr
Part-time
Occasional
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

Hi there! My name is Nicole, and I am actually licensed in the state of Pennsylvania as a licensed professional counselor and currently work as a trained licensed therapist. I’ve always had passion to work with kids and worked with kids for years in therapeutic settings, I do primarily work with adults now in my career. My passion for working with children came back and I am really excited to nanny again!

I worked in graduate school at a daycare for my graduate assistantship. I’m excited to work with new families and build new connections, while forming a great rapport with the family system! I hope I get to meet you and develop an amazing connection with you and your children!

I believe a balance is super important and having that separation of different identities of working in my daytime hours as a therapist and being able to turn that identity off and working as a nanny is a true strength of mine and I’m able to separate those identities in a healthy way! 🤗

Have experience working with

Infants
Greta B. - Seeking Work in Hershey

Nanny Greta

Hershey, PA
$18/hr
Part-time
Occasional
3 years experience

A little bit about me

I’m a current student at the University of Delaware majoring in molecular biology. I run on the club cross country team and love the fall foliage. I have a fraternal twin sister who also babysits. I hope to have a pet corgi when I’m older and I look forward to travelling in the future. I have been CPR certified in the past and used to be a boy scout. I currently nanny a two yr old and 3 month old!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Angela G. - Seeking Work in Hershey

Nanny Angela

Hershey, PA
$18/hr
Part-time
Occasional
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

I am an older mom with two children. My daughter is 27 and my son is 17. I recently babysat Friday & Saturday nights for a family with 10 & 16 year-old sons & their special-needs older sister was also there. I babysat for a few summers for a family with young children in Palmyra for three years & we did lots of day trips & activities. I currently work at an elementary school in the early learners autistic support classroom. I was a summer camp counselor from 2017 to 2019. I have experience working with children and adults with disabilities as well. I love arts & crafts, painting, being outdoors, exploring, hiking, playing games and enjoy watching Disney movies with the kids. I also try to help out people in the community when I can. I have all my clearances and background checks done and good references.

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Carly W. - Seeking Work in Hershey

Nanny Carly

Hershey, PA
$18/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hi! My name is Carly and I am currently in my senior year as a Penn State nursing student! I have always enjoyed working with children and would love the opportunity to help out your family if I can!

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Samira M. - Seeking Work in Hershey

Nanny Samira

Hershey, PA
$20/hr
Occasional
5 years experience

A little bit about me

Daycare manager with years of experience working with children of all ages. I help manage the day to day operations of the center, support teachers, and make sure everything runs smoothly. Outside of work, I enjoy staying active, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Marissa G. - Seeking Work in Hershey

Nanny Marissa

Hershey, PA
$15/hr
Occasional
6 years experience

A little bit about me

My name is Marissa and I am a third year nursing student who will be living in the Hershey area for the school year and I am looking for a babysitting job to occasionally do on the side in my free time away from working in the hospital!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Ella S. - Seeking Work in Hershey

Nanny Ella

Hershey, PA
$12/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hi i am Ella. I absolutely love kids and have lots of experience with kids! I also have years of experience with kids with special needs. References apon request.

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Sonam L. - Seeking Work in Hershey

Nanny Sonam

Hershey, PA
$25/hr
Part-time
Occasional
1 year experience

A little bit about me

I'm Sonam and I am currently a PhD student at Penn State College of Medicine. I love children and have experience babysitting toddlers to middle school age students. I enjoy spending time and doing activities with kids. I'm looking for a work shift on either Saturday or Sunday.

Have experience working with

Special Needs
Catherine W. - Seeking Work in Hershey

Nanny Catherine

Hershey, PA
$18/hr
Part-time
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

Hello,
I am a stay at home mother with 4 kids. They are all in school all day so I am looking for a part time job while they are gone. I have years of experience with every age child.

Have experience working with

Infants

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
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