Just starting out as a babysitter and not sure what rate to charge? Or maybe you already have experience and want to check whether your rate is still competitive? In Romania, the average hourly rate babysitters charge in 2026 generally ranges between 25 and 45 lei per hour, depending on the situation. However, these figures are only a guideline, since actual pay can vary considerably depending on the city, experience, the number of children you’re caring for, and the responsibilities involved.

In major cities like București, Cluj-Napoca, or Timișoara, babysitters frequently charge between 35 and 55 lei per hour, especially for flexible schedules or last-minute requests. In medium-sized cities, rates are usually between 25 and 40 lei per hour, while in small towns or rural areas, they generally range between 18 and 30 lei per hour.

What Influences a Babysitter’s Rate?

Age, experience in childcare, having a first aid certificate, the age of the children (for example, caring for babies often comes with a higher rate), and any additional responsibilities, such as preparing meals or helping with homework, can significantly influence the rate you can charge.

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know to decide how much to charge as a babysitter in Romania, how to calculate your hourly rate, and when it’s justified to ask for higher pay.

On Sitly, you can easily create your profile, explore babysitting opportunities in your area, and choose an hourly rate that reflects your experience and availability. It’s a simple way to connect with families nearby and find jobs that fit your schedule and expectations.

How Much Does a Babysitter Earn per Hour in Romania?

As mentioned earlier, the average hourly rate for babysitting in Romania in 2026 generally ranges between 25 and 45 lei per hour. Of course, this is only a guideline figure. Your rate could be higher or lower depending on your particular situation.

A useful starting point when setting your rate is to compare it with the national gross minimum wage, calculated on an hourly basis, which offers a legal benchmark for pay. Even though babysitting arrangements are often agreed directly between the family and the babysitter, knowing this threshold can help you avoid undervaluing your work and responsibilities.

Beyond this benchmark, several personal and practical factors influence the rate you can charge: the city you work in, your experience and any certifications (such as first aid courses), the age and number of children, the time of day (daytime, evening, or night), as well as the type of arrangement — occasional or regular.

Next, we’ll take a closer look at how these factors influence babysitting rates in Romania.

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Babysitting Rates and the Minimum Wage in Romania

If you work regularly as a babysitter in Romania, it’s important to understand how the national gross minimum wage applies to your situation.

In 2026, the gross monthly minimum wage in Romania is 4,050 lei, which corresponds to a rate of approximately 24.50 lei per hour for a full-time schedule (8 hours a day, 5 days a week).
(Source: Guvernul României / Ministerul Muncii – 2026 update, mmuncii.gov.ro)

You’re very likely entitled to at least the legal minimum wage if:

  • You work regular or fixed hours for a family
  • You work under an employment contract
  • You receive a payslip or pay taxes
  • You are legally employed under Romanian labour law

If your babysitting work is part of a regular childcare routine — for example, you work weekly on a set schedule and are officially employed — you’re legally entitled to receive at least the equivalent of the minimum wage.

However, many babysitting arrangements in Romania are informal, especially when:

  • You only work occasionally (for example, a few hours in the evening)
  • You’re a teenager helping out a family nearby
  • The arrangement is short-term or flexible

In these situations, the arrangement isn’t always strictly regulated by labour law. Even so, it’s important to set a fair hourly rate that reflects your time, responsibilities, and experience.

Knowing the reference minimum wage (approximately 24.50 lei per hour) can help you assess whether your rate is fair, especially for regular, structured arrangements.

Example: Babysitter (age 18) – 3 children + preparing dinner

Simona is 18 years old and has relevant babysitting experience. She recently started a training course for working with children and holds a paediatric first aid certificate. Once a week, she works for a family with three children aged 8, 5, and 3. She arrives at 1:00 PM, picks up the older children and the youngest from school and kindergarten, and brings them home for a snack and playtime. The parents also appreciate that Simona prepares dinner, so the family can eat together when they get home, around 6:00 PM.

Rate calculation
28 lei/hour → Base rate for a young, experienced babysitter
8 lei/hour → For caring for two additional children
6 lei/hour → For certifications and extra responsibilities (preparing dinner)
Total = 42 lei/hour

She works 5 hours, so the payment is:
42 lei × 5 hours = 210 leiresponsibilities.

Babysitter Pay in Romania

The pay for a nanny employed on a regular schedule is generally higher than that of an occasional babysitter. While babysitting is often part-time or occasional, a nanny usually works to a fixed schedule, has broader responsibilities, and helps children throughout the day with meals, daily routines, school or kindergarten pick-up, and educational activities.

For this reason, a professional nanny in Romania (with qualifications, a set schedule, and sometimes the option of living with the family) can typically charge between 35 and 60 lei per hour, depending on the city and responsibilities. Alternatively, she may receive a monthly salary of between 4,500 and 8,500 lei, depending on experience, duties, and location.

How to Calculate Your Babysitting Rate

Besides the location where you work, there are many other factors that can affect your income as a babysitter: your experience, qualifications, the number of children you’re caring for, and any extra tasks the family asks of you. All of these factors help determine your final rate and how much you can charge per hour.

For example, caring for multiple children, looking after babies, preparing meals, helping with homework, or being available for a flexible schedule can justify a higher rate than the base average (25–45 lei per hour, depending on the city).

The chart below helps you calculate a realistic hourly rate, tailored to the responsibilities and type of arrangement you have with the family.

Infographic: How to Calculate Your Babysitting Rate

Babysitter rates in Romania: 4–8 lei starting hourly rate, 4 lei per additional child, 3–6 lei for extra requests and 3–6 lei for small household chores.

Babysitting Hourly Rates in Romania’s Major Cities

The minimum wage offers a useful benchmark for understanding what counts as a fair babysitting rate. However, the actual amount is always agreed between the babysitter and the family and depends on several factors.

One of the most important factors is location. Babysitting rates can vary considerably across Romania.

For example:

  • In București, babysitters frequently earn between 35 and 55 lei per hour, reflecting the higher cost of living and strong demand for flexible childcare services.
  • In major cities such as Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, or Iași, rates are usually between 30 and 45 lei per hour.
  • In medium-sized cities, rates generally range between 25 and 40 lei per hour.
  • In small towns or rural areas, the average is often between 18 and 30 lei per hour.

However, location isn’t the only deciding factor. If you’re caring for several young children in a smaller city, or you have solid experience and relevant qualifications, you can earn more than an inexperienced nanny or babysitter in a big city.

In short, your hourly rate should reflect your experience, your responsibilities, and the specific needs of the family you’re working with.

How Much Does an Experienced or Qualified Babysitter Earn

If you’ve worked with children for several years or have specific training (early childhood education studies, childcare qualification courses, or a paediatric first aid certificate), you can charge above the base rate. Families are generally willing to pay more when they get professionalism, trust, and solid childcare skills in return.

In Romania, an experienced or qualified babysitter can frequently charge between 35 and 55 lei per hour, and even more in major cities, depending on responsibilities and schedule.

How Much Does a Babysitter Earn per Hour for Two Children

When you’re caring for two or more children, your hourly rate can increase by around 20–30% compared to your base rate, depending on the level of involvement required. For example, caring for two young siblings requires more attention and energy than looking after one older child on your own. And if the children are different ages, managing their individual needs and organising activities suited to each of them can be even more demanding.

In practice, this can mean an extra 5–10 lei per hour for each additional child, depending on the situation and the city.

Rates for Babysitters Who Also Do Light Housework

Tidying up toys, preparing the child’s lunch, washing dishes the child used, or folding the child’s clothes are generally considered part of a babysitter’s normal duties.

However, if the family asks you to take on extra tasks (such as folding laundry for the whole family, dusting, or vacuuming), these count as additional responsibilities and should be paid separately. As a rule, such tasks can justify an extra 5–10 lei per hour, depending on the volume and frequency.

A Babysitter’s Rate When Using Her Own Car

Many babysitters pick children up from school, take them to activities like swimming or dance, and bring them back home. If you use your own car for these trips, it’s a good idea to agree with the family on a weekly or monthly reimbursement amount to cover fuel costs and wear on the car.

This arrangement should be discussed clearly from the outset, separately from your hourly babysitting rate.

How Much Does a Babysitter Earn in the Evening or Overnight

Evening babysitting is usually paid a bit more, since the schedule involves less convenient hours. In general, for evening or overnight babysitting you can charge 10–20% more than your daytime rate.

For example, if you normally earn 35 lei per hour, you can reasonably ask for between 38 and 42 lei per hour for evening hours, especially if you’re staying overnight or working past 10:00 PM.

That said, the level of responsibility matters a great deal. If you arrive after the children have already had dinner, they go to bed shortly after, and they sleep soundly through the night, you might accept a slightly lower rate. On the other hand, if they’re very young, wake up frequently, or need constant attention during the night, it’s fair to ask for a higher rate.

Tip: Agree in advance with the parents on the details of your safety when heading home in the evening. Will they drive you? Will they pay for a taxi? Will they walk you to your car? Your safety should always be a priority, and parents should be just as involved in making sure of it.

Example: Babysitter (age 16) – 2 children, weekend evenings

Liana is 16 years old. She has two years of babysitting experience, mainly with her younger brother and cousins. Occasionally, she looks after two children on weekend evenings. When she arrives at 7:30 PM, the children are already asleep. She stays until 11:30 PM, and the parents drive her home afterwards. She also offers them snacks and drinks and is asked to unload the dishes from the dishwasher during the evening.

What’s a reasonable rate for Liana?

  • 22 lei/hour → Recommended rate for a teenage babysitter with light duties
  • 6 lei/hour → For looking after an additional child
    Total = 28 lei/hour

However, since the children are already asleep and active care isn’t needed, Liana and the parents agree on a flat rate of 24 lei/hour.
Total payment: 24 lei × 4 hours = 96 lei

Liana is very happy with this arrangement: the evenings are quiet, she feels the parents see her as trustworthy, and the rate reflects the light responsibilities involved.

How Much Does a Babysitter Earn per Month?

A babysitter’s monthly income in Romania can vary significantly depending on the number of hours worked, experience, and city.

A part-time babysitter working around 20 hours a week can earn, on average, between 2,200 and 3,600 lei per month, depending on the hourly rate and location.

If you work close to full-time and have qualifications, such as a paediatric first aid course, or experience with babies or children with special needs, your monthly income can exceed 4,500–6,500 lei.

Professional nannies with broader responsibilities or a full-time schedule (and who may live with the family) can earn between 4,500 and 8,500 lei per month, depending on the city and duties. In these cases, the arrangement is usually a formal one, based on an employment contract, and may include tax contributions and other legal rights.

How Much Does a Babysitter Earn per Day?

If you only work on certain days, for example during school holidays, on days off, or when the parents are away on a business trip, you can agree on a daily rate instead of an hourly one. The calculation is simple: multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours worked.

For example, for an 8-hour day in Romania you can generally earn between 200 and 400 lei, depending on experience and city. The amount can be higher if you’re caring for babies, looking after multiple children, preparing meals, helping with homework, or staying late into the evening.

Tip: Agree clearly with the family on the schedule, your daytime responsibilities, and how any extra hours will be paid. Discussing these details in advance prevents misunderstandings and ensures you’re paid fairly for your time and responsibilities.

How to Set Your Babysitting Rate

To determine the right hourly rate, you need to take several factors into account:

  • your qualifications and experience
  • the number and age of the children
  • the average rates in your area
  • the time of day you’re working (day or evening)
  • the responsibilities the family expects you to take on

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

A good approach is to prepare beforehand: find out about rates in your area and calmly explain why the amount you’re asking for is justified, for example, based on the children’s age, the schedule, or extra tasks.

You can also ask the family what budget they have in mind. This makes the conversation more open and transparent, making it easier to reach a fair agreement that works well for both sides.

Want more tips? Read our article on how to become a great babysitter.