Going Rate for Mother's Helper

A mother's helper is usually an older child/younger teen who is not quite ready to baby-sit 100% on her (or his) own. In my area, a mother's helper would be between 10 and 13 years old and would earn about $5 an hour.

Anyone older than that, who can get paid to baby-sit, is not going to work for "mother's helper" pay. In my area, one would expect to pay a college student at least $10 an hour, and that rate goes up the close you get to the city (I'm in the suburbs).

Around here (well to do suburban area in Nor Cal) at least $10/hour for what you describe.

My idea of a Mother's Helper is a young teen around 11-12 and the going rate around here is $5-$7 an hour.

When you mention a college aged person and the amount of time that changes things.

A good sitter around here gets a minimum of $10 an hour and that is on the low end. My 18 yr old daughter babysits regularly on weekends and in 1 night will easily bring home $100... averages $12-$15 an hour. She does not set a rate to be paid, that is just how the pay is around here in the Northern Dallas burb areas.

I'd make sure you have all the details of the pay and expectation worked out ahead of time and agreed upon by all parties so there are no surprises and no one ends up angry.

Like the other posters, a mothers helper around here would be a young teenager, someone who couldn't stay home alone with a small child but who could help play and entertain while the Mom was in another room. If you're looking for a college student for that many hours - it will probably be that person's main job. I'd expect to pay between $10 - 15/hour. The pay wouldn't really go down just because you are home; their time is still worth the same amount.

I have been paying $10-15 per hours for college student to take care of my 5 years old. If she needs to drive as well, it will be a little more.