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Arkansas · 2026

Babysitting rates in Arkansas

What families pay nationally, how Arkansas wages compare, and the pay rules that apply in the state.

Updated October 1, 2026

Short answer

Expect the lower end of the national range of $20–$26 an hour for one child. Childcare workers in Arkansas earn a median of $13.68/hr, about 19% lower than the U.S. median of $16.82/hr.

Arkansas childcare wages at a glance

Median, Arkansas
$13.68/hr
Compared with the U.S.
−19%
Middle half earn
$12.86–$14.65
Rank among 50 states and D.C.
42 of 51

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: hourly wages of employed childcare workers in all settings. The survey excludes private-household and self-employed workers, so private babysitters usually charge more than these figures.

Areas in Arkansas

Childcare wages run from $11.87/hr in Texarkana to $14.52/hr in Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers. In the higher-wage areas, expect babysitting rates toward the top of the national range.

AreaMedian, per hourvs. U.S.
Fayetteville-Springdale-RogersMetro area$14.52−14%
Hot SpringsMetro area$14.11−16%
MemphisMetro area · TN–MS–AR$13.88−17%
Little Rock-North Little Rock-ConwayMetro area$13.85−18%
JonesboroMetro area$13.73−18%
Fort SmithMetro area · AR–OK$13.43−20%
East Arkansas (nonmetro area)Rural (nonmetro) area$13.14−22%
South Arkansas (nonmetro area)Rural (nonmetro) area$13.10−22%
West Arkansas (nonmetro area)Rural (nonmetro) area$13.10−22%
North Arkansas (nonmetro area)Rural (nonmetro) area$13.06−22%
TexarkanaMetro area · TX–AR$11.87−29%

Pay rules in Arkansas

Minimum wage. Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 an hour, in effect since January 1, 2021. Arkansas's rate applies to employers with four or more employees, so a family employing one sitter is usually outside it; federal rules still cover non-casual domestic workers.

Casual babysitting (irregular or occasional, usually 20 hours a week or less, and not the sitter’s vocation) is exempt from the federal minimum wage and overtime. Nannies and regular sitters are covered: at least $11/hr for every hour under Arkansas law where it applies, and never less than the federal $7.25, plus overtime at 1.5× after 40 hours in a week unless they live in your home.

This is general information, not legal advice. Local cities and counties can set higher minimum wages.

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Compare with other states

  • TexasNext higher median: $13.73/hr (about 18% lower than the U.S.)
  • IowaNext lower median: $13.66/hr (about 19% lower than the U.S.)
  • All statesChildcare wages and minimum wages for the 50 states and D.C.
  • National babysitting rates 2026Care.com, Sittercity and UrbanSitter, side by side.

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Arkansas areas, in the app

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SitterRate Rate Guide on iPhone: a typical U.S. babysitting rate of $20 to $26 an hour, with each source and date listed.SitterRate history on iPhone listing saved sessions, paid and unpaid, with the unpaid total.

Arkansas: common questions

How much do babysitters charge in Arkansas?

No source publishes a babysitting rate for Arkansas that we can show. Nationally, families pay about $20 to $26 an hour for one child in 2026. Childcare workers in Arkansas earn a median of $13.68/hr, about 19% lower than the U.S. median, which points toward the lower end of the national range.

What is the minimum wage for a babysitter in Arkansas?

Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 an hour, in effect since January 1, 2021. Under federal law, babysitters working on a casual basis (irregular, usually 20 hours a week or less, and not their vocation) are exempt from minimum wage and overtime; regular sitters and nannies are not. Arkansas's rate applies to employers with four or more employees, so a family employing one sitter is usually outside it; federal rules still cover non-casual domestic workers.

Do nannies in Arkansas get overtime?

Under federal law, nannies who don't live in the employer's home earn 1.5× their regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. Live-in nannies are exempt from federal overtime but must still be paid at least minimum wage for every hour worked.

Sources

  1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.Childcare Workers (SOC 39-9011), state and area wage percentiles.
  2. U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026)Checked against state sources on October 1, 2026.
  3. 29 CFR Part 552: domestic service, including casual babysitting
  4. UrbanSitter, “Babysitting Rates by City (2026),” last updated January 2026.
  5. Sittercity, “Average Babysitter & Nanny Pay Rates by US City,” Sittercity provider data, May 2026.
  6. Care.com, “How much does a babysitter cost?” updated February 12, 2026.