Just started babysitting and not sure what to charge? Or maybe you’ve been at it for a while and want to know if your rate is fair? In Colobmbia, the average hourly rate requested by babysitters in 2026 is around COP $12.000 per hour, according to Sitly’s recent data based on the rates set by the over 27.000 babysitters registered on the platform across the country.

But this is only an average: the actual pay can vary widely depending on your city, your experience, the number of children you care for, and the type of responsibilities involved. Babysitting rates in Colombia can range from COP $8.000 to more than $25.00 per hour, influenced by key factors such as your age, childcare experience, first-aid certifications, the children’s ages, and especially your location.

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to understand how much to charge as a babysitter, how to calculate your babysitting rate, and when it’s reasonable to ask for a higher wage.

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How Much Does a Babysitter Earn per Hour?

As mentioned earlier, the average hourly rate for a babysitter in Colombia is around COP $12.000 , according to Sitly data. Of course, this is only an average, and your rate may be higher or lower depending on your situation.

A good starting point for calculating your rate is the legal minimum wage set by your province or territory. These minimums give you a concrete reference point to avoid undervaluing your work. Beyond that, several personal and practical factors matter: the city where you work, your skills, the children’s age and number, the time of day (daytime or evening), and the type of work arrangement you have with the family. Let’s look at what the law says.

Minimum wage for nannies

In Colombia, a nanny formally hired — meaning, with an employment contract — is entitled to receive, at minimum, the current legal minimum wage established for domestic work. This rule applies to nannies, caregivers, domestic workers, and anyone performing care duties within a household.

What is the minimum wage for nannies in 2026? As of February 2026, the monthly minimum wage in Colombia is COP $1.750,950, plus a transportation allowance of COP $249,095 if applicable.

If you work by the hour, this amount can be used as a reference: if divided by approximately 240 hours per month, the result is about COP $7,295 per hour. This amount represents the legal minimum, below which payment cannot be made under any circumstances.

The monthly minimum wage only covers the base amount. To this amount, the employer must add the mandatory contributions and social benefits, which represent approximately an additional 35% to 40%. However, actual hourly rates tend to be much higher. This is because many factors come into play: the nanny’s experience, the number of children she cares for, the additional tasks she performs, the hours worked (for example, at night or on weekends), and also the city where she works.

Practical example: how much does a nanny cost in Bogotá

Lucía is 19 years old, has quite a bit of previous experience, and has just started a degree in Early Childhood Education. She also holds a pediatric first aid certificate.

Once a week she works for a family with three children aged 8, 5, and 3. She arrives at 4:00 p.m., picks up the youngest from preschool and then the two older children from school. At home, they have a snack and play; if the weather is good, they go out to the park. Afterward she prepares dinner and makes sure the children eat before the parents arrive at around 7:30 p.m.

What’s a Fair Rate for Lucia? Breakdown of her rate:

  • $10,000/hour = base guideline pay according to the current legal minimum wage and prorated benefits.
  • +$3,000/hour = supplement for caring for three children instead of one.
  • +$2,000/hour = recognition for experience and pediatric first aid certification.

Total: $15,000/hour

For a 3.5-hour shift, the pay would be:
$15,000 × 3.5 = $52,500 COP

Hourly Babysitter Pay in Major Cities

The minimum wage information is useful because it gives you a baseline for understanding what a fair babysitting rate looks like. However, the actual amount you earn is always agreed upon between the family and the babysitter and depends on many different factors.

One of the most important factors is where you work: babysitting rates can vary significantly from city to city. For example, a babysitter in Santa Marta earns on average more than one in Manizales, but of course everything depends on the type of work. If you care for two young children in Manizales or have a lot of experience, you might earn more than a beginner babysitter in Santa Marta.

Take a look at the image below to see how much babysitters earn in different cities in Colombia. This can help you understand where your own rate fits.

Infographic: How Much Babysitters Earn in Colombia

"Map of Colombia showing babysitters' hourly rates by city: Santa Marta $35,000, Barranquilla $26,000, Cartagena $27,000, Bucaramanga $25,000, Medellín $24,000, Cúcuta $25,000, Manizales $23,000, Pereira $26,000, Cali $25,000, and Bogotá $25,000 (COP).

Average hourly nanny rates

CityHourly rate
Santa Marta$35,000
Barranquilla$26,000
Cartagena$27,000
Medellín$24,000
Manizales$23,000
Pereira$26,000
Cali$25,000
Bogotá$25,000
Bucaramanga$25,000
Cúcuta$25,000

Calculating Babysitter Pay

Beyond where you work, there are many other factors that can increase how much you earn as a babysitter: your experience, qualifications, the number of children you look after, and any extra tasks the family asks you to do. All of these influence your final pay and your hourly babysitting rate.

The infographic below helps you calculate a realistic hourly rate based on the work you do for the family.

Infographic: How to Calculate Babysitter Pay

"Babysitting rate infographic: starting rate based on average hourly rate in your area, plus $2,000 per additional child, plus $2,000 for experience and qualifications, plus $2,000 for extra requests like homework help or emergencies, plus $3,000 for small household chores, equals the hourly rate to discuss with the family."

Try Sitly’s 👉nanny rate calculator to instantly see nanny rates in your area. Enter your city, the nanny’s tasks, and the number of children, and get the average rate immediately.


How Much Does an Experienced or Qualified Babysitter Earn

If you’ve been working with children for years or have specific training (such as early childhood education, childcare assistant certifications, or first aid), you can charge more than the basic rates. Families are generally willing to pay higher wages when they see professionalism, confidence, and strong childcare skills.

How Much Does a Babysitter Earn per Hour for Two Children

When you take care of two or more children, your hourly rate can increase by 10–20% compared to your base rate, depending on the level of effort required. Caring for two young siblings, for example, requires more attention and energy than looking after one older child. And if the children have very different ages, managing their needs and finding suitable activities for both can be even more challenging.

Hourly Pay for Babysitters Who Do Light Household Tasks

Tidying up the playroom, preparing a child’s lunch, washing the dishes used by the children, or folding their clothes are considered part of your babysitting duties.
However, if the family asks you to help with additional household tasks (such as folding the family’s laundry, dusting, or vacuuming), these are extra responsibilities that should be paid separately.

A pay increase of between COP $2,000 and $4,000 per hour is reasonable when you take on this kind of extra responsibility.

How Much Does a Babysitter Earn in the Evening or Overnight

Nighttime nanny work usually pays a bit more, since it involves less convenient hours or even staying overnight at the house.

In general, you can charge between 10% and 20% more than your daytime rate. For example, if you normally charge COP $12,000 per hour, you can ask for between COP $13,000 and $14,500 for night shifts, especially if you stay late or sleep over at the family’s home.

However, this also depends on the type of work:

  • If the children have already had dinner and go to bed shortly after, you can accept a slightly lower rate.
  • But if it involves babies or children who wake up frequently, it’s fair to ask for a higher rate.

Tip: Always agree in advance with the parents on safety arrangements for getting home at night. Will they drive you home? Will they pay for a taxi? Or walk you to your car? Your safety must always come first — and it should be a shared responsibility between you and the parents.

Example: Mariana, occasional nighttime nanny6 years old) – 2 Children, Weekend Evenings

Mariana is 19 years old and a university student. She has been working as a nanny for two years now, first with relatives and later with other families in the neighbourhood.

On weekends, she works occasionally in the evenings. When she arrives at 7:30 p.m., the children have already had dinner. She only has to put them to bed around 8:30 p.m. She stays until 11:30 p.m. and, at the end, the parents accompany her home. During the evening, the only additional task she’s asked to do is empty the dishwasher; the rest of the time she can relax while the children sleep.

How much does Mariana charge?

They agreed on a payment of $15,000 per hour, a figure that reflects the low level of effort required that night.

Total for the night
$15,000 × 4 hours = $60,000
Lia is very happy with this arrangement: it’s a quiet evening, she feels trusted, and the rate reflects the light responsibilities.

Babysitter Pay: Hourly Rate or Flat Fee?

Is it better to get paid by the hour or with a flat fee? It depends on the type of work you do for each family. For occasional jobs or when schedules change frequently, it’s better to agree on an hourly babysitting rate — you get paid only for the hours you actually work.

If instead you work regularly for one family, a fixed monthly fee can be convenient. In that case, it’s important to clearly define what is included in that monthly amount. For example:

  • If the family doesn’t need you one day, do you still get paid?
  • If something unexpected happens and they ask you to stay two extra hours, will those hours be paid separately?
  • And what happens if you normally work on Tuesdays but there are five Tuesdays in a month?

Tip: Clarify these details in advance to avoid misunderstandings and maintain a calm, professional relationship with the family.

Last-Minute Babysitter Rate for Emergencies

What if the family calls you at the last minute because of an emergency? Maybe early in the morning because their child woke up with a fever. In most cases, you can ask for a higher rate (10–20% more) for last-minute requests.

It’s best to agree ahead of time on an “emergency rate” that applies whenever you’re asked to step in unexpectedly. This keeps everything clear and ensures your flexibility is fairly compensated.

Example: Marta, emergency backup nanny

Marta has an arrangement with a family to act as a backup nanny in urgent situations. One morning, Sergio’s mother calls her at 7:00 a.m. because the boy has a fever and can’t go to preschool, but she has to attend an important meeting. Marta arrives at 8:00 a.m. and stays until 1:00 p.m., when the grandmother arrives.

How much does Marta charge?

$12,000/hour = reference for the 2025 hourly minimum wage (domestic workers).
+20% emergency surcharge ≈ +$2,400/hour.
Total: $14,400/hour

For a 5-hour shift: $14,400 × 5 = $72,000

Many families, to reward immediate availability, would round up to $73,000 or $75,000. This way Marta feels recognized, and the parents have the peace of mind of being able to count on her in emergencies.d transparent agreement for both sides.

How Much Does a Babysitter Earn per Month

A nanny’s monthly income can vary quite a bit depending on the hours worked and level of experience. A part-time nanny, working around 20 hours a week, can earn between COP $900,000 and $1,200,000 per month. If you work full-time and have training or experience with babies or children with special needs, your salary can exceed COP $2,000,000 per month.

Some professional nannies with greater responsibilities, or who live in the family’s home (live-in nannies), can earn even more, although in these cases it involves formal employment, with a contract and regular legal contributions.

How Much Does a Babysitter Earn per Day

If you work as a nanny only on certain days, for example during school holidays or when parents are away for work, you can agree on a daily rate instead of an hourly rate. The calculation is simple: your hourly rate is multiplied by the effective hours worked. An 8-hour day is usually paid between COP $100,000 and $160,000, but the amount can increase if you’re caring for babies, preparing meals, or staying until night.

Tip: agree with the family from the start on your schedule, your tasks, and the payment terms in case they ask you to stay longer than planned.

How to Set Your Babysitting Rate

To determine your hourly rate, you need to consider several factors:

  • your qualifications and experience
  • the number and ages of the children
  • the average rate in your area
  • the time of day you work (daytime or evening)
  • the responsibilities the family expects you to take on

Once you’ve identified the rate that feels right for you, the next step is to discuss it openly with the family. It might feel a little awkward at first, but being clear about pay from the beginning is the best way to avoid misunderstandings and start the working relationship on the right foot.

A good approach is to come prepared: research the rates in your area and explain calmly during the conversation why your rate makes sense — for example based on the children’s ages, the schedule, or any extra tasks. You can also ask the family what amount they had in mind. This makes the discussion more open and transparent, making it easier to reach a fair agreement that works for both sides. Need more tips? Read our blog on how to become a great babysitter.