New Survey Finds Average Amount Paid For Babysitters
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Parents here in North Texas and across the country know the struggle when trying to figure out how much to pay a babysitter.
According to care.com there are a number of factors that should be considered when paying your child's caregiver. The website surveyed more than 1,000 members and collected various data and figures to help determine the latest trends in babysitter pay and hiring.
Looking at the data collected last year, the average babysitter is paid $13.50 per hour. That's up nearly a dollar and 40-cents since 2013 and nearly $3.00 since 2009.
Another factor affecting how deep people are willing to dig in their pockets is if they called the sitter at the last-minute – sixty-four percent said they'd pay more in that circumstance.
The survey also shows parents are willing to pay their babysitter more if they are experienced, trustworthy or if they are a family member. While family ties may be important, twenty-percent of those surveyed said they would steal a sitter from a friend.
People living in major metropolitan areas generally paid more. Care.com found that babysitters are paid the most in San Francisco and the least in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Dallas/Fort Worth area fell in the middle.
Sometimes those payments aren't necessarily reported. Many families said they pay their babysitters under the table. Experts say as long as the person doesn't earn more than $1,900 you'll be fine, but you should file taxes for anything more.
Not surprisingly, the Top 5 times when parents will hire a sitter is Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve, Halloween, St. Patrick's Day and birthdays.
So, we want to know how much you pay your sitter? Click here to let us know by joining the conversation on our Facebook page.
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
