Texas · 2026
Babysitting rates in Texas
What families pay nationally, how Texas wages compare, and the pay rules that apply in the state.
Short answer
Expect the lower end of the national range of $20–$26 an hour for one child. Childcare workers in Texas earn a median of $13.73/hr, about 18% lower than the U.S. median of $16.82/hr.
Texas childcare wages at a glance
- Median, Texas
- $13.73/hr
- Compared with the U.S.
- −18%
- Middle half earn
- $11.23–$15.35
- Rank among 50 states and D.C.
- 41 of 51
Areas in Texas
Childcare wages run from $10.72/hr in Brownsville-Harlingen to $14.96/hr in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington. In the higher-wage areas, expect babysitting rates toward the top of the national range.
| Area | Median, per hour | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-ArlingtonMetro area | $14.96 | −11% |
| MidlandMetro area | $14.43 | −14% |
| Houston-Pasadena-The WoodlandsMetro area | $14.20 | −16% |
| San Antonio-New BraunfelsMetro area | $14.15 | −16% |
| Austin-Round Rock-San MarcosMetro area | $13.69 | −19% |
| Border Region of Texas (nonmetro area)Rural (nonmetro) area | $13.35 | −21% |
| College Station-BryanMetro area | $13.10 | −22% |
| AmarilloMetro area | $13.09 | −22% |
| Corpus ChristiMetro area | $13.08 | −22% |
| OdessaMetro area | $13.08 | −22% |
| AbileneMetro area | $12.89 | −23% |
| San AngeloMetro area | $12.87 | −23% |
| WacoMetro area | $12.87 | −23% |
| LubbockMetro area | $12.81 | −24% |
| Sherman-DenisonMetro area | $12.69 | −25% |
| TylerMetro area | $12.52 | −26% |
| Killeen-TempleMetro area | $12.48 | −26% |
| TexarkanaMetro area · TX–AR | $11.87 | −29% |
| Wichita FallsMetro area | $11.59 | −31% |
| Hill Country Region of Texas (nonmetro area)Rural (nonmetro) area | $11.38 | −32% |
| El PasoMetro area | $11.26 | −33% |
| LongviewMetro area | $11.25 | −33% |
| VictoriaMetro area | $11.19 | −33% |
| Beaumont-Port ArthurMetro area | $11.03 | −34% |
| North Region of Texas (nonmetro area)Rural (nonmetro) area | $11.00 | −35% |
| Northwestern Region of Texas (nonmetro area)Rural (nonmetro) area | $10.84 | −36% |
| Eagle PassMetro area | $10.81 | −36% |
| Eastern Region of Texas (nonmetro area)Rural (nonmetro) area | $10.81 | −36% |
| Coastal Plains Region of Texas (nonmetro area)Rural (nonmetro) area | $10.79 | −36% |
| LaredoMetro area | $10.74 | −36% |
| McAllen-Edinburg-MissionMetro area | $10.73 | −36% |
| Brownsville-HarlingenMetro area | $10.72 | −36% |
Pay rules in Texas
Minimum wage. Texas's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, the same as the federal minimum.
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 $7.25/hr for every hour, plus overtime at 1.5× after 40 hours in a week unless they live in your home.
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.
- Babysitter taxes in 2026When household-employer taxes apply.
Compare with other states
- KentuckyNext higher median: $13.90/hr (about 17% lower than the U.S.)
- ArkansasNext lower median: $13.68/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.
SitterRate for iPhone
Texas areas, in the app
SitterRate's Rate Guide includes all 32 Texas 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
Texas: common questions
How much do babysitters charge in Texas?
No source publishes a babysitting rate for Texas that we can show. Nationally, families pay about $20 to $26 an hour for one child in 2026. Childcare workers in Texas earn a median of $13.73/hr, about 18% 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 Texas?
Texas's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, the same as the federal minimum. 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.
Do nannies in Texas 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
- 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.