Reviewed by the Nanny Lane team · Last updated

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

In Ellensburg, WA, the average babysitter earns about $17.56 per hour. For a typical 40-hour week, that works out to roughly $702/week or $3,044/month. Most Ellensburg families pay somewhere in the $17–$22/hour range, depending on experience, the number of kids, and what's expected on the job.

Average hourly rate$17.56/hr · Ellensburg average

These numbers come from 363 live babysitter listings in Ellensburg on Nanny Lane. We update this page whenever the data moves.

$702
$3,044
$36,525

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What drives the price

Most Ellensburg families pay somewhere in the $17–$22/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 $17.44/hour, while the most experienced (6-10 yrs) charge around $19.06/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
Hourly rate by number of kids
1 kid (baseline)$17.56
2 kids~$18.56
3+ kids~$19.56+

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.

Full-time, part-time, and live-in babysitter rates

ArrangementTypical hoursAverage rate
Full-time35–50 hrs/week$18.21/hr
Part-time10–25 hrs/week$17.66/hr
Live-inSet by family$18.26/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.

Browse babysitters

How do Ellensburg babysitter rates compare to state and national averages?

Ellensburg sits close to the national average for babysitter rates.

Hiring babysitters in Ellensburg, WA typically costs about 12% less than the Washington average of $20/hour and 4% more than the United States average of $17/hour.

Average hourly babysitters rates compared across Ellensburg, WA and reference areas.
AreaAverage hourly ratevs. Ellensburg, WA
Ellensburg, WA$18/hr
Washington$20/hr+13%
United States$17/hr-4%

Where Ellensburg, WA fits among nearby cities

The most expensive city for babysitters near Ellensburg, WA is Seattle at $22.48/hour; the least expensive is Yakima at $17.62/hour.

Below are the 10 most and 10 least expensive cities near Ellensburg, WA and how each compares to Ellensburg, WA's average of $17.56/hour.

Most expensive cities near Ellensburg, WA

Top 10 most expensive cities near Ellensburg, WA for hiring a babysitter, ranked by average hourly rate.
#City$/hrvs. Ellensburg, WA
1Seattle$22.48+28%
2Redmond$22.20+26%
3Bothell$22.02+25%
4Edmonds$21.95+25%
5Kirkland$21.93+25%
6Bellevue$21.92+25%
7Issaquah$21.70+24%
8Snohomish$21.35+22%
9Lynnwood$20.96+19%
10Gig Harbor$20.30+16%

Least expensive cities near Ellensburg, WA

Top 10 least expensive cities near Ellensburg, WA for hiring a babysitter, ranked by average hourly rate.
#City$/hrvs. Ellensburg, WA
1Yakima$17.62
2Spokane Valley$17.97+2%
3Spokane$18.07+3%
4Lacey$18.20+4%
5Richland$18.23+4%
6Vancouver$18.45+5%
7Bremerton$18.45+5%
8Lakewood$18.55+6%
9Port Orchard$18.77+7%
10Tacoma$18.87+7%

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 Ellensburg, 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 Ellensburg, 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 Ellensburg, WA

363 active listings in Ellensburg

Elizabeth K. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Elizabeth

Ellensburg, WA
$16.66/hr
Part-time
Occasional
4 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi, my name’s Ellie! I live in Ellensburg and am currently a student at CWU studying biology. I’m 23 years old and have a lot of experience with kiddos, ranging from toddlers to High Schoolers. But I especially excel at working with middle schoolers! I enjoy doing art, reading, boardgames, collecting Pokémon cards, video games, cooking/baking, cleaning/dish washing and even being outside fishing! I’d say i’m pretty chill, easy going, flexible and fun as the kids say!
Feel free to ask me any questions!

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Kasseus B. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Kasseus

Ellensburg, WA
$16.66/hr
Part-time
Occasional
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

Hello! I am a student at CWU majoring in Theater Performance! I have been CPR certified, First Aid Certified, and I have my Food handlers card.

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Aubrey C. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Aubrey

Ellensburg, WA
$18/hr
Part-time
Occasional
10+ years experience

A little bit about me

Hello, Im Alivia! I’ve babysat for my aunts and uncles since I was young. I worked in a community center where I would help as a teachers assistant, I helped kids with arts and crafts and sentence forming. I know how to cook and clean! I attend Central Washington University, I am a first year student, and I have a some spare time on my hands! I love kids and helping them grow!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Aubrey Jace P. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Aubrey Jace

Ellensburg, WA
$17.72/hr
Part-time
Occasional
1 year experience

A little bit about me

i work with my cousins everyday they are 9 and 11 but i’ve been babysitting them sense they were 5 and 7. i’ve also worked with toddlers and baby’s i’ve worked with a 1 year old and a 3 year old. i’ve never been fired from a job

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Salma L. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Salma

Ellensburg, WA
$17.67/hr
Occasional
< 1 year experience

A little bit about me

I am a student at CWU majoring in law and Justice. I have always taken care of the kids in my family.

Have experience working with

Special Needs
Evelyn G. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Evelyn

Ellensburg, WA
$18/hr
Occasional
2 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi parents! My name is Evelyn and I am a junior in high school! I have grown up my whole life taking care of kids! Including my little brother who is now 10! I’m great at multi tasking, being creative, and im pretty talkative when it comes to kids! I have CPR training including for infants! I have first aid training as well too! I hope to find a job with kids because I have a special spot in my heart for any kid I see! Thank you

Have experience working with

Special Needs

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
Makayla G. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Makayla

Ellensburg, WA
$18/hr
Occasional
6 years experience

A little bit about me

Hi! I’m currently a college student at Central Washington University studying psychology and child development! I have been babysitting all ages for over 6 years! During the summer, I work at a daycare in my home town, so I have a lot of experience handling multiple kiddos at one time! I’m a very type A person, so I love cleaning and organizing! Looking forward to meeting you and looking after your kiddos!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs
Chloe C. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Chloe

Ellensburg, WA
$17/hr
Occasional
1 year experience

A little bit about me

My name is Chloe, and I'm 18 years old and in my third year at Central, pursuing a bachelor's degree in Family Science and Child Development. I have worked in a preschool and babysat for several years. I'm experienced with children ranging from newborns to 10 years old. I am fun and outgoing, and have a passion with working with children
I'm CPR certified, and I have a good amount of availability. I also have reliable transportation. Looking forward to connecting with families and providing a fun and safe environment for your little ones 🙂
Feel free to reach out if you would like references; I can provide them upon request!

Have experience working with

Infants
Special Needs

Certification

CPR
Ashley N. - Seeking Work in Ellensburg

Nanny Ashley

Ellensburg, WA
$17/hr
Part-time
Occasional
1 year experience

A little bit about me

I’m Ashley Neufang I am 21 years old. I love children so fun to be around, I been around kids a lot. I love babysitting I make me get out of the house and keep my busy. I worked at bright Horizon and growing tots daycare and I have experience kids and infants. I love to help out the parents. I have CPR Certification and food safety certification. I took two years of my high school education to learn child development.

Have experience working with

Infants

Certifications

CPR
First Aid
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