How much should you pay a babysitter in Nashville and Middle Tennessee? Start here
Hoping to hire a babysitter in Nashville but not sure how much to pay?
You're not alone. While several factors can determine what a fair wage is for a sitter, we dug into the latest data from care.com, which helps people search for everything from child care to house sitting, to learn more.
Here's what we gathered about the going rate for babysitters around Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
The average starting cost for a babysitter in Nashville is $19.44 per hour, according to 2025 care.com data. The average maximum rate tops out at $29.36 per hour. Those rates are largely on pace with the national average.
However, the data also shows that those averages fluctuate widely across several cities near Nashville. Hendersonville was listed as the lowest average starting rate for sitters at $15.97 per hour, while Mt. Juliet was the highest at $21.03 per hour. Hendersonville was again the lowest average for maximum hourly rates at $24.24, while Thompsons Station topped out at $39.17 per hour.
'It doesn't make sense': Parents say they could spend more than $36K on child care this year
It's important to keep in mind that care.com is just a starting point, and that a fair babysitting rate may also depend on how many children need babysitting, how experienced a sitter is, transportation needs for the children and the sitter, and if the sitter needs to stay overnight.
Find more information on babysitter and other child care costs and services at care.com/cost. Looking for something more in depth? Check out the 2025 Cost of Care Report at care.com/c/cost-of-care-report.
More: At what age can children stay home alone in Tennessee? Here's what law, experts say
Since care.com requires people to be 18 to create a profile as a caregiver, the data is limited to what adults typically make for babysitting. So what about hiring a teenager who lives nearby to babysit?
The short answer: It truly depends on what you and the sitter agree is fair.
As a point of reference, the minimum legal age to work is 14 in Tennessee, and the state's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.
It's also a good idea to consider the teen's experience and certifications when determining pay. For example, some teens may opt to complete a Red Cross certification for babysitting, or child first aid and CPR classes. You should also consider the ages, needs and number of children being watched when deciding how much to pay a sitter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How much to pay a babysitter in Nashville, Middle Tennessee
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Asking Eric: My oldest friend died and I want to know what happened
Dear Eric: Via complete happenstance I have recently become aware of my oldest friend's death about a year ago. Mary and I grew up across the street from one another in the '60s and '70s. I played with her and with her older brother as kids, and our families were close. She had been my friend for about 60 years. I have been desperate to learn the circumstances of her death. I have googled my brains out and followed up every lead. There are no obituaries available online, and no death notices, either. There are no newspaper articles about her death. Her attorney's secretary won't let me talk to him, citing attorney-client confidentiality, even though she is deceased, and he withdrew himself from representing her upon her death. The heir of her estate will not return my calls. I can't even nail down where she died so I can file a Freedom of Information Act request with the appropriate law enforcement agencies. I don't have a claim on her estate. I have no ulterior motive whatsoever. I just want to know what happened to my old friend. I have tried everything I know. I was hoping that you might have some ideas. – Friend in the Dark Dear Friend: You have my sympathies – it can be so difficult to learn of a friend's passing and not have the closure afforded by a service, a conversation or more information. It's possible that Mary's heir and/or her family want to keep the circumstances of her death private. It's also possible that there isn't much to know and, were you to discover it, it wouldn't give you the peace you're seeking. Some of this pursuit is probably motivated by grief. That makes sense. And it's perfectly natural to want to know more details about a loved one's death. But details won't serve you as much as finding a way to commemorate the relationship that you had and the life that she lived. Take some time to focus on her, maybe on a walk in nature or someplace that held special meaning to you both. Thank her for being a part of your life and wish her well on her journey. The 'how' of her death matters, but the details of her life and your relationship matter more and will help sustain you through your grief. Dear Eric: This is in reference to 'Worried in Wisconsin,' from a substance abuse clinician who was concerned about a niece's opioid abuse. Speaking as a physician, make sure everyone in your niece's life has and knows how to use Narcan. Only the niece can decide to pursue treatment, but anyone can provide lifesaving treatment if she overdoses. – Physician Reader Dear Physician: Narcan, a brand name for naloxone, a medication that is used to rapidly reverse opioid overdoses, is an important resource. It is available, in some cases for free and prescription-free, through some state and local agencies and community distribution programs. It comes in multiple forms including a nasal spray. Bystander training can be completed in less than an hour and is available online through organizations like the Red Cross and many states' Department of Health. While naloxone can reverse the effects of opioid overdose, per the National Institute of Drug Abuse, it is still imperative to call 911 immediately so that the individual can receive attention and continued monitoring. Dear Eric: I read the letter from 'Outside Only', who had a guest at a Fourth of July party who said it was too hot outside and spent the evening inside. I know you were answering the host, but you were not empathetic to the guest. There are some people who simply cannot handle heat. I am one of them. Outside summer heat causes me intense physical pain and discomfort and makes it very difficult to even visit with others and enjoy a party. Now that the hostess knows this is a problem, this year she could try to accommodate all of her guests by putting up seating under umbrellas, or in the shade of the house, or setting out fans in a couple of areas. How many people really enjoy being outside in the middle of the hot summer sun for hours? – Nebraska is Hot Dear Nebraska: From the letter, it sounds like the host was actually quite accommodating – no word on umbrellas as it was an evening party, but the letter writer spent the duration of the event inside with the guest even though the fireworks-viewing party was, as they tend to be, outside. However, not to put too fine a point on it, but sometimes guests have to make a decision about whether a particular party is for them. If the gathering is outside and one doesn't want to be outside, one doesn't have to go.
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Boston Globe
Letter writer can't get answers about friend's death
I have been desperate to learn the circumstances of her death. I have googled my brains out and followed up every lead. There are no obituaries available online, and no death notices, either. There are no newspaper articles about her death. Her attorney's secretary won't let me talk to him, citing attorney-client confidentiality, even though she is deceased, and he withdrew himself from representing her upon her death. The heir of her estate will not return my calls. I can't even nail down where she died so I can file a Freedom of Information Act request with the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Get Love Letters: The Newsletter A weekly dispatch with all the best relationship content and commentary – plus exclusive content for fans of Love Letters, Dinner With Cupid, weddings, therapy talk, and more. Enter Email Sign Up I don't have a claim on her estate. I have no ulterior motive whatsoever. I just want to know what happened to my old friend. I have tried everything I know. I was hoping that you might have some ideas. Advertisement FRIEND IN THE DARK A. You have my sympathies — it can be so difficult to learn of a friend's passing and not have the closure afforded by a service, a conversation, or more information. It's possible that Mary's heir and/or her family want to keep the circumstances of her death private. It's also possible that there isn't much to know and, were you to discover it, it wouldn't give you the peace you're seeking. Advertisement Some of this pursuit is probably motivated by grief. That makes sense. And it's perfectly natural to want to know more details about a loved one's death. But details won't serve you as much as finding a way to commemorate the relationship that you had and the life that she lived. Take some time to focus on her, maybe on a walk in nature or someplace that held special meaning to you both. Thank her for being a part of your life and wish her well on her journey. The 'how' of her death matters, but the details of her life and your relationship matter more and will help sustain you through your grief. Q. This is in reference to 'Worried in Wisconsin,' from a substance abuse clinician who was concerned about a niece's opioid abuse. Speaking as a physician, make sure everyone in your niece's life has and knows how to use Narcan. Only the niece can decide to pursue treatment, but anyone can provide lifesaving treatment if she overdoses. PHYSICIAN READER A. Narcan, a brand name for naloxone, a medication that is used to rapidly reverse opioid overdoses, is an important resource. It is available, in some cases for free and prescription-free, through some state and local agencies and community distribution programs. It comes in multiple forms including a nasal spray. Bystander training can be completed in less than an hour and is available online through organizations like the Red Cross and many states' Department of Health. While naloxone can reverse the effects of opioid overdose, per the National Institute of Drug Abuse, it is still imperative to call 911 immediately so that the individual can receive attention and continued monitoring. Advertisement Q. I read the letter from 'Outside Only,' who had a guest at a Fourth of July party who said it was too hot outside and spent the evening inside. I know you were answering the host, but you were not empathetic to the guest. There are some people who simply cannot handle heat. I am one of them. Outside summer heat causes me intense physical pain and discomfort and makes it very difficult to even visit with others and enjoy a party. Now that the hostess knows this is a problem, this year she could try to accommodate all of her guests by putting up seating under umbrellas, or in the shade of the house, or setting out fans in a couple of areas. How many people really enjoy being outside in the middle of the hot summer sun for hours? NEBRASKA IS HOT A. From the letter, it sounds like the host was actually quite accommodating — no word on umbrellas as it was an evening party, but the letter writer spent the duration of the event inside with the guest even though the fireworks-viewing party was, as they tend to be, outside. However, not to put too fine a point on it, but sometimes guests have to make a decision about whether a particular party is for them. If the gathering is outside and one doesn't want to be outside, one doesn't have to go. R. Eric Thomas can be reached at .
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Red Cross helps six after fire breaks out in Lancaster
LANCASTER, Pa. (WHTM) — The American Red Cross responded to a fire in Lancaster Saturday. The American Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania Region told abc27 that they helped six people after a fire broke out on South Broad Street in Lancaster County. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The Red Cross said that after disasters such as home fires, they provide safe shelter, food, emergency relief supplies, emotional support, health services, and financial assistance to those in need. This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
