How much to pay sitter(s)?

[grniys]

I'm going out with some friends tomorrow night (yay for moms night out! ) and posted on my facebook looking for a sitter. A good friend of mine said her daughters were interested.

So, we hashed out the details and her 13 year old and 15 year old will come over to my house (my friend is driving them) and watch my 15 month old and almost 3 year old for a couple hours while I go out.

So... how much should I pay them? I asked my friend what they charged and she said for me to decide since they don't know the going rates and trust me. I've had someone watch my oldest before at her house for $7.50 an hour, but the going rate here seems to be $10-15 an hour. I'm thinking $12.50 an hour and they can split it... so if I'm gone 4 hours that'll be $50 for the evening. What do you think? Not enough? Thoughts, opinions?

[AAK]

That sounds good to me. We live in a less expensive area but I have done the survey and it seems that sitters get around 7/hr here. The range is 5-10 depending on various factors. But, you are in San Diego--I think 12.50 for the two girls should be good. While you are at the mom's night out--survey them.

amy

[ParisApril]

I think $10/hour would be fine unless you specifically asked for two sitters you should only be paying for one. If they both want to do it then they should split the money, IMO.

OT - I think that my DD needs to get into babysitting! $50 for 4 hours out. I guess that explains why DH and I like to have people over here, have the grandparents sit or go out separately!

[VisionaryMom]

We pay $8-10 an hour (more on holidays or if they have to make dinner etc.). I actually dislike when sitters won't give a rate (as well as designers, but that's a professional concern ). I understand if they don't know the going rate, but they should know what they'd like to make. It puts me in a weird spot.

[greenbeanmama]

Wow. When I started babysitting, I was making a dollar per hour per child. Granted, that was eighteen years ago, but still....