What is the average babysitting rate in Australia?

You’re almost there, you’ve found a trustworthy babysitter who’s going to come babysit for the first time soon. You only need to decide the hourly rate for babysitting, but how much are you going to offer them? What is the average cost for babysitting in Australia? And how do you determine what the babysitting rate should be? Don’t panic, we’ve created this thorough, and simple guide to help you!

• What is the average babysitting rate in Australia?
• How much should I pay a babysitter?
• What is the average babysitting rate worldwide?

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What is the average babysitting rate in Australia?

According to data from thousands of babysitters registered on our platform, the average babysitting rate in Australia in 2026 is $28.31 per hour.

Average babysitting rates in the main cities

As mentioned above, babysitters in Australia charge an average of $28.31 per hour. There is also a difference depending on the city. Below, we’ve listed the average babysitting rate in the 6 main cities in Australia.

Babysitting rate Sydney $29.31

Childcare costs in Sydney are slightly above the average childcare costs across Australia. Specifically, the average babysitting rate in Sydney is $29.31 per hour. This is higher than the average of babysitting rate across the country.

Babysitting rate Melbourne $28.50

Wondering how much a babysitter costs in Melbourne? Babysitters in Melbourne are paid on average slightly less than those in Sydney. The average babysitting rate in Melbourne is $28.50, still above the country wide average.

Babysitting rate Brisbane $28.24

And, what do you pay a babysitter per hour in Brisbane? Here, the average babysitting rates are $28.24, below the average.

Babysitting rate Perth $28.06

In Perth, the average cost for an hour of babysitting is $28.06, slightly below the country-wide average.

Babysitting rate Adelaide $27.57

Adelaide babysitters usually charge around $27.57 per hour.

Babysitting rate Canberra $28.11

Babysitting in Australia's capitol, Canberra, costs around $28.11per hour.

Babysitting costs per state/territory in Australia

The average hourly cost for babysitting differs in each state/territory:

• New South Wales: $28.81
• Queensland: $28.55
• Northern Territory: $28.67
• South Australia: $27.53
• West Australia: $27.92
• Tasmania: $27.77
• ACT: $28.00
• Victoria: $28.13

Take a look at the map below to find out what your region’s average babysitting rate is.

Childcare and Babysitting cost statistics Australia - Previous years

View the infographic for average costs of babysitting from previous years here:

• Babysitting rates au 2021
• Babysitting rates au 2022
• Babysitting rates au 2023
• Babysitting rates au 2024
• Babysitting rates australia 2025

Do keep in mind that this is simply the average babysitting rate. Other factors such as the number of children, additional tasks, and amount of experience also have an impact on how much a babysitter may cost. Want to learn more about how exactly these factors can impact the babysitting rate? Read more about determining how much to pay the babysitter below!

How much should I pay a babysitter?

As mentioned above, babysitters charge an average of $28.31 per hour. However, this amount may vary depending on the babysitter and the situation. Factors such as qualifications, experience, number of children, and additional tasks can influence the final price.

Minimum wage

The national minimum wage can be used as guidance when determining a fair rate. As of 1 July 2025, the National Minimum Wage in Australia is $24.95 per hour.. This is an hourly and weekly amount and should only serve as a reference, as other factors such as qualifications and experience also affect the final price.

Qualifications and experience

As a parent, you are responsible for making your own decisions and choosing whether to hire someone with more experience or someone who loves children but has less experience. Qualifications and experience are not always related to age.

In the end, it depends on the parents’ choice. You may choose to hire a less experienced babysitter and pay less per hour, or pay more for someone with several years of experience or relevant certifications such as first-aid training.

What are the duties and responsibilities of a babysitter?

In addition to ensuring that children are safe and well cared for, babysitters may also have additional tasks. Babysitters and families can agree on what these tasks are, and they can significantly influence the babysitting rate.

Household tasks

Sometimes parents ask babysitters to carry out household tasks while caring for the children, such as vacuuming, cooking, or tidying up. If the babysitter agrees, it is reasonable to expect a higher hourly rate.

Homework help

If the babysitter is good at subjects like maths or history, they may help children with homework and explain school material.

Picking up or dropping off children

Families may ask babysitters to pick up or drop off children at school or activities. Not all babysitters offer this flexibility, so this may result in a slightly higher rate.

Pet sitting

As of 2025, nearly 75% of Australian homes have at least one pet. So, in many households, babysitters may also need to deal with pets. Pet care is an additional responsibility and may include walking a dog, cleaning a litter box, grooming, or feeding animals.

Working hours

The babysitting rate may vary depending on the time of day. Families often pay more for daytime babysitting than evening babysitting, as children may already be asleep at night. Babysitters who work late at night or stay overnight often receive a higher rate due to availability.

Multiple children

If the babysitter is caring for more than one child, this increases responsibility and workload, which can influence the rate.

Children’s ages

Younger children usually require more supervision, so babysitting rates are often higher than for older, more independent children.
The infographic below provides an overview of all the factors that contribute to determining the hourly rate.

The hourly babysitting rate is something that is negotiated between parents and the babysitter. Take all the factors mentioned into account to arrive at a fair rate for both parties.

What is the average babysitting rate worldwide?

Some babysitters choose to work abroad, either temporarily during their studies, as au pairs, or as a permanent relocation. Likewise, families may look for babysitters when travelling or moving to another country.

Through Babysits, it is possible to find babysitting jobs and babysitters in 120+ countries. When comparing average babysitting rates worldwide, it becomes clear that rates vary significantly by country.

Countries with the highest average babysitting rates include Australia, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Denmark, and the USA. These differences are partly due to variations in the cost of living and wage levels.

Now that you know how much the average babysitter is paid in Australia, it's time to get started! Find the perfect babysitting job or babysitter near you. We also have fantastic nannies at Babysits, so be sure to use our nanny search function to find nanny services today.

Or find babysitters in Australia’s main cities:
* Babysitter in Sydney
* Babysitter in Melbourne
* Babysitter in Brisbane
* All babysitters in Australia