California · 2026
Babysitting rates in California
What families pay nationally, how California wages compare, and the pay rules that apply in the state.
Short answer
Expect the top of the national range of $20–$26 an hour for one child. Childcare workers in California earn a median of $19.24/hr, about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $16.82/hr.
California childcare wages at a glance
- Median, California
- $19.24/hr
- Compared with the U.S.
- +14%
- Middle half earn
- $18.08–$22.27
- Rank among 50 states and D.C.
- 5 of 51
Areas in California
Childcare wages run from $17.40/hr in Bakersfield-Delano to $21.98/hr in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara. In the higher-wage areas, expect babysitting rates toward the top of the national range.
| Area | Median, per hour | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa ClaraMetro area | $21.98 | +31% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-FremontMetro area | $21.41 | +27% |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California (nonmetro area)Rural (nonmetro) area | $20.69 | +23% |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso RoblesMetro area | $20.60 | +22% |
| ModestoMetro area | $20.16 | +20% |
| NapaMetro area | $19.98 | +19% |
| Santa Rosa-PetalumaMetro area | $19.84 | +18% |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-OntarioMetro area | $19.33 | +15% |
| Stockton-LodiMetro area | $19.24 | +14% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-AnaheimMetro area | $19.18 | +14% |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California (nonmetro area)Rural (nonmetro) area | $19.18 | +14% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-CarlsbadMetro area | $19.14 | +14% |
| North Coast Region of California (nonmetro area)Rural (nonmetro) area | $19.08 | +13% |
| SalinasMetro area | $19.00 | +13% |
| VallejoMetro area | $18.68 | +11% |
| Sacramento-Roseville-FolsomMetro area | $18.46 | +10% |
| Santa Maria-Santa BarbaraMetro area | $18.46 | +10% |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-VenturaMetro area | $18.43 | +10% |
| El CentroMetro area | $18.37 | +9% |
| Santa Cruz-WatsonvilleMetro area | $18.29 | +9% |
| ReddingMetro area | $18.18 | +8% |
| Yuba CityMetro area | $18.05 | +7% |
| VisaliaMetro area | $17.88 | +6% |
| Hanford-CorcoranMetro area | $17.74 | +5% |
| ChicoMetro area | $17.63 | +5% |
| MercedMetro area | $17.59 | +5% |
| FresnoMetro area | $17.54 | +4% |
| Bakersfield-DelanoMetro area | $17.40 | +3% |
Pay rules in California
Minimum wage. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour, in effect since January 1, 2026. Babysitters under 18 and the employer's parent, spouse or child are excluded from California's minimum wage for domestic work. Some cities set higher local rates.
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 $16.90/hr for every hour under California 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.
California Domestic Worker Bill of Rights
- A nanny whose work is mainly supervising, feeding and dressing children (a “personal attendant”) earns overtime after 9 hours in a day or 45 hours in a week.
- Other household workers follow Wage Order 15: overtime after 8 hours a day or 40 a week for live-out workers, with separate live-in rules.
- Babysitters under 18 and casual babysitters are excluded from the bill of rights; casual sitters 18 and older still earn at least minimum wage.
Use it tonight
Pick a rate, then work out exactly what you owe, including past-midnight endings, extra kids and a tip.
- Babysitter pay calculatorStart and end time, rate, kids and tip.
- Rates for two or more kids$29.87/hr nationally for two children.
- Nanny pay calculatorWeekly gross pay with overtime, including California rules.
- Babysitter taxes in 2026When household-employer taxes apply.
Compare with other states
- ColoradoNext higher median: $19.59/hr (about 16% higher than the U.S.)
- OregonNext lower median: $18.58/hr (about 10% higher 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.
SitterRate for iPhone
California areas, in the app
SitterRate's Rate Guide includes all 28 California areas listed here alongside the national benchmarks, works offline, and never asks for your location.
- Pick your area once; the app remembers it
- Use a rate in the calculator with one tap
- Save each sitter's agreed rate and see what you paid last time
- Keep a simple paid/unpaid history
Get SitterRateFree on the App Store · iPhoneFree download. Pro is a one-time in-app purchase, with no subscription. What’s in the app
California: common questions
How much do babysitters charge in California?
No source publishes a babysitting rate for California that we can show. Nationally, families pay about $20 to $26 an hour for one child in 2026. Childcare workers in California earn a median of $19.24/hr, about 14% higher than the U.S. median, which points toward the top of the national range.
What is the minimum wage for a babysitter in California?
California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour, in effect since January 1, 2026. 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. Babysitters under 18 and the employer's parent, spouse or child are excluded from California's minimum wage for domestic work. Some cities set higher local rates.
Do nannies in California get overtime?
Yes. A nanny whose work is mainly supervising, feeding and dressing children (a “personal attendant”) earns overtime after 9 hours in a day or 45 hours in a week. Federal law also requires 1.5× pay after 40 hours a week for nannies who don't live in the home.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.Childcare Workers (SOC 39-9011), state and area wage percentiles.
- U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026)Checked against state sources on October 1, 2026.
- 29 CFR Part 552: domestic service, including casual babysitting
- UrbanSitter, “Babysitting Rates by City (2026),” last updated January 2026.
- Sittercity, “Average Babysitter & Nanny Pay Rates by US City,” Sittercity provider data, May 2026.
- Care.com, “How much does a babysitter cost?” updated February 12, 2026.