What does a babysitter earn? Discover the 2026 rates

Are you a babysitter and want to know what your babysitting rate should be in 2026? In this guide you’ll find the current rates by age, region, and type of work. In the Netherlands, the average hourly rate for a babysitter in 2026 is around €10.10, according to internal Sitly data based on thousands of babysitter and childminder profiles across the country. This average applies mainly to teenagers and students offering informal childcare in their spare time. Rates can vary considerably though — from less than €6.00 to more than €12.00 per hour — depending on age, experience, responsibilities, and the type of work you do.

One important factor is where you work. In larger cities, rates tend to be higher: the babysitting rate in Amsterdam averages between €11 and €12 per hour, while in smaller towns it’s often closer to €9 per hour.

In short, rates differ depending on your age, experience, and the region you live in. This blog gives you a clear picture of what you can earn as a babysitter, so you can set the right rate for your situation.

Are you a parent looking to find out what to pay a babysitter? Check out our parent guide on babysitting rates.

The legal minimum wage for babysitting work

The starting point for calculating your own rate is the legal minimum (youth) wage, which serves as a concrete reference point to make sure you don’t undervalue your work.

As of 1 January 2026, the following minimum hourly wages apply in the Netherlands:

Age	Minimum wage per hour
15	€4.41
16	€5.07
17	€5.81
18	€7.36
19	€8.83
20	€11.77
21 and over	€14.71

What does a babysitter earn per hour?

As mentioned above, the average babysitting rate in the Netherlands is around €10.10 per hour according to Sitly data. Of course, this is just an average — your rate may be higher or lower depending on your situation.

According to Nibud, babysitters between 15 and 18 years old earn on average between €4.41 and €7.36 per hour. These amounts are based on the minimum youth wage. You’re not required to use this for individual babysitting jobs, but it’s a useful reference point for knowing what’s reasonable to charge. The type of babysitting work you do also has a significant impact on what you earn.

If you work as a professional nanny, you can usually charge more because you bring more experience and responsibility. But if you’re a 16-year-old student who occasionally babysits in the evenings, you’ll typically earn a little less.

Personal and practical factors also play a big role: the city where you work, your experience and skills, the age and number of children, the time of day (daytime or evening), and the type of arrangement you have with the family. But how do you actually calculate your own hourly rate?

Babysitting rate at 16

As a 16-year-old babysitter, your rate in 2026 will typically fall between €5.50 and €7.00 per hour. The legal minimum hourly wage for a 16-year-old is €5.07 — this is the legal floor that applies in formal work situations. In practice, most 16-year-old babysitters charge a little more, and that’s perfectly reasonable. The minimum wage is exactly that: a minimum.

What you can charge depends on the number of children, the tasks you carry out, your experience, and the region where you live. In larger cities like Amsterdam or Utrecht, rates are consistently higher than in smaller towns.

Babysitting rate at 17

As a 17-year-old babysitter, you can charge on average between €6.00 and €7.50 per hour in 2026. At this age you’re in a strong position: you’re more mature than a younger babysitter, but still very affordable for families. Have you already got a year or two of experience? Factor that into your rate.

The more children you look after at once, the more tasks you take on, and the more reliable you are — the higher your rate can be.

Babysitting rate at 18

At 18 you’re an adult, and in 2026 you can charge between €7.50 and €10.00 per hour. From this age, the full legal minimum wage of €7.36 applies as the floor, and in practice rates for 18-year-old babysitters are often above that.

Qualifications really make a difference at this age: a first aid certificate, a course in education or childcare, or experience with babies or children with special needs can all justify charging towards the higher end of the range — especially in cities like Amsterdam, Utrecht, or Rotterdam.

Hourly rates for babysitters in the largest Dutch cities

The minimum hourly wage gives you an idea of what fair pay looks like for babysitting work. The actual rate, however, is agreed directly between the family and the babysitter.

As mentioned, one of the most important factors is where you work: hourly rates for babysitters can vary significantly from city to city. For example, a babysitter in Amsterdam earns more on average than one in Emmen. This also depends, of course, on the type of work involved. If you look after two young children in Emmen or have a lot of experience, you could earn more than a first-time babysitter in Amsterdam.

The image below shows the average hourly rates for babysitters in Amsterdam and other cities across the Netherlands. This can help you set your own rate.

Map showing hourly rates for babysitters in the largest cities

Based on the requested rates of babysitters registered on Sitly. Database of more than 58,400 babysitters.

Calculating a babysitter’s salary

In addition to where you work, there are many other factors that can determine how much you earn as a babysitter: your experience, qualifications, the number of children you look after, and any additional tasks. All of these elements influence your final hourly rate. The infographic below helps you calculate a realistic hourly rate for babysitting based on the work you do for the family.

Use the Sitly calculator to instantly see babysitting rates in your area. Enter your location, the babysitter’s tasks, and the number of children, and you’ll immediately see the average rate.

Infographic to calculate the babysitting rate based on tasks

What does an experienced and qualified babysitter earn?

If you’ve been working with children for years or have completed a relevant qualification (such as a pedagogical support worker, childcare assistant, or teaching assistant course), you can charge more than the minimum. Families often pay more when they see professionalism, reliability, and educational skills.

How much does a babysitter earn per hour for two children?

When you look after two or more children, the hourly rate can increase by 10–20% compared to the base rate, depending on the workload. Looking after two young siblings at the same time, for example, requires more attention and energy than looking after one older child. And if the children are far apart in age, it becomes even more of a challenge to find activities that suit them both.

Hourly rate for a babysitter with light household tasks

Tidying up the toys you played with together, putting the glasses you used in the dishwasher, or preparing a snack are often considered standard babysitting tasks. But if you’re also asked to cook, do laundry, or vacuum, those tasks should be compensated separately. You can add an amount to your hourly rate to cover these.

Babysitting rate when using your own car

Many babysitters pick children up from school, take them to sports or music lessons, and then drive them back home. If you use your own car for this, you can agree a weekly or monthly allowance with the family to cover fuel costs.

What does a babysitter earn in the evening or overnight?

What a babysitter earns in the evening depends on the type of work involved. Babysitters often charge less when the children are already in bed and sleeping soundly. But if you know in advance that the young children wake up frequently and you need to stay alert, it’s fair to charge a higher rate.

If you’re working after 10pm, or the parents come home so late that it makes more sense for you to stay over, you can agree on a rate for that too. Night shifts are compensated at a higher rate in regular employment, and babysitting is work just like any other.

Some babysitters choose to charge the same evening rate as they would during the day. Even when the children are asleep, you’re still responsible for them. Others are happy to earn a little less, since they can watch a film or get on with their homework.

Tip: Agree with the parents in advance how they’ll handle getting you home safely at night. Will they drive you? Pay for a taxi? Or walk you to your car? Your safety always comes first and should be a shared responsibility with the parents.

Babysitting pay: hourly or a fixed monthly amount?

Is it better to be paid by the hour or to agree on a fixed monthly amount? It depends on the type of work you do for the family. For occasional babysitting or when working hours change frequently, an hourly rate is more practical — you’re only paid for the hours you actually work.

If you work regularly for one family, however, a fixed monthly amount can be convenient. In that case, it’s important to agree clearly on exactly what’s included. For example: do you get paid if the family doesn’t need you one day? Are extra hours compensated if they unexpectedly ask you to stay longer? And what happens if you only work on Tuesdays but there are five Tuesdays in a given month?

Tip: Always discuss these things in advance to avoid misunderstandings and to maintain a good, professional relationship with the family.

Last-minute babysitting rate for emergencies

What if the family calls you at the last minute due to an emergency — early in the morning because a child is ill, for example? In such cases, you can usually charge 10–20% more than your normal rate. It’s a good idea to agree on an “emergency rate” in advance that applies to situations where you’re asked to step in unexpectedly. That way everything is clear upfront and your flexibility is fairly rewarded.

What does a babysitter earn per month?

A babysitter’s monthly income depends largely on the number of hours worked and experience level. A part-time babysitter working around 20 hours a week earns on average between €850 and €1,000 per month. If you work full-time and have qualifications or experience with babies or children with special needs, income can rise to more than €1,600 per month. Some nannies with greater responsibility or who live with the family can earn even more — in that case it becomes a formal job with an employment contract and social contributions.

What does a babysitter earn per day?

If you only work on certain days — during school holidays or when parents are away for work, for example — you can agree on a daily rate instead of an hourly one. The calculation is straightforward: multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours worked. An eight-hour day typically brings in between €90 and €120, though the amount can be higher if you’re caring for young children, preparing meals, or staying into the evening.

Tip: Agree clearly with the family on your working hours, exactly what you’re expected to do, and how extra hours will be compensated if you’re unexpectedly asked to stay longer.

How to set your babysitting rate

To work out your hourly rate, you need to take several factors into account: your experience and qualifications, the number and age of the children, the average rate in your region, the time of day you work (daytime or evening), and the responsibilities you take on.

Once you’ve settled on a rate that feels right for you, the next step is to discuss pay openly with the family. That can feel a little awkward at first, but being clear about your rate from the start is the best way to avoid misunderstandings and get things off to a good start.

A good approach is to come prepared: research rates in your area and calmly explain during the conversation why you’re asking for that amount — for example because of the children’s ages, the working hours, or additional tasks. You can also start by asking what amount the family had in mind. That way it becomes an open conversation and you can reach a fair agreement together. Also read our article on how to become a good babysitter.