The nationwide average rate per hour for a babysitter is almost $16. Up almost a dollar an hour from these 2015 numbers. Of course, childcare cost more in larger cities, which is where most of the survey respondents live. But, I would have never guessed it was that high. Denver reported one of the lowest rates in the online survey I found… and that was still over $11.50 per hour. I’m suddenly feeling like I cheat our sitter by paying her $9 per hour to watch our grade school aged children. What ever happened to the days of $2, $3, maybe even $5 per hour? I don’t know about you, but that’s what I made as a teenager.

Signed,

“Cheapskate” – a.k.a Amber Lee