Illinois · 2026
Babysitting rates in Illinois
What families pay nationally, how Illinois wages compare, and the pay rules that apply in the state.
Short answer
Expect the middle of the national range of $20–$26 an hour for one child. Childcare workers in Illinois earn a median of $17.23/hr, about 2% higher than the U.S. median of $16.82/hr.
Illinois childcare wages at a glance
- Median, Illinois
- $17.23/hr
- Compared with the U.S.
- +2%
- Middle half earn
- $15.63–$18.26
- Rank among 50 states and D.C.
- 17 of 51
Areas in Illinois
Childcare wages run from $12.89/hr in Paducah to $17.60/hr in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin. In the higher-wage areas, expect babysitting rates toward the top of the national range.
| Area | Median, per hour | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-ElginMetro area · IL–IN | $17.60 | +5% |
| SpringfieldMetro area | $16.91 | +1% |
| Champaign-UrbanaMetro area | $16.82 | Even |
| DecaturMetro area | $16.70 | −1% |
| East Central Illinois (nonmetro area)Rural (nonmetro) area | $16.30 | −3% |
| RockfordMetro area | $16.14 | −4% |
| PeoriaMetro area | $16.03 | −5% |
| St. LouisMetro area · MO–IL | $16.02 | −5% |
| BloomingtonMetro area | $15.93 | −5% |
| KankakeeMetro area | $15.78 | −6% |
| South Illinois (nonmetro area)Rural (nonmetro) area | $15.60 | −7% |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock IslandMetro area · IA–IL | $15.53 | −8% |
| West Central Illinois (nonmetro area)Rural (nonmetro) area | $15.27 | −9% |
| Northwest Illinois (nonmetro area)Rural (nonmetro) area | $15.20 | −10% |
| Cape GirardeauMetro area · MO–IL | $14.04 | −17% |
| PaducahMetro area · KY–IL | $12.89 | −23% |
Pay rules in Illinois
Minimum wage. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour, in effect since January 1, 2025. Illinois covers domestic workers even when a household employs only one worker. The youth rate for workers under 18 is lower.
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 $15/hr for every hour under Illinois 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.
Illinois Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights
- Domestic workers are covered by the Illinois Minimum Wage Law even when a household employs only one worker.
- Overtime at 1.5× after 40 hours a week, with no separate live-in exemption.
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 Illinois rules.
- Babysitter taxes in 2026When household-employer taxes apply.
Compare with other states
- MarylandNext higher median: $17.32/hr (about 3% higher than the U.S.)
- New MexicoNext lower median: $17.23/hr (about 2% 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
Illinois areas, in the app
SitterRate's Rate Guide includes all 16 Illinois 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
Illinois: common questions
How much do babysitters charge in Illinois?
No source publishes a babysitting rate for Illinois that we can show. Nationally, families pay about $20 to $26 an hour for one child in 2026. Childcare workers in Illinois earn a median of $17.23/hr, about 2% higher than the U.S. median, which points toward the middle of the national range.
What is the minimum wage for a babysitter in Illinois?
Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour, in effect since January 1, 2025. 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. Illinois covers domestic workers even when a household employs only one worker. The youth rate for workers under 18 is lower.
Do nannies in Illinois get overtime?
Yes. Domestic workers are covered by the Illinois Minimum Wage Law even when a household employs only one worker. 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.