Report: Male babysitters make more money

MILTON — Male babysitters tend to make more money than their female counterparts, according to Camp Fire Gulf Wind Council.

“Girls will get more jobs; however, when a family wants a male sitter they are more willing and able to pay more,” Tammy Byrer, Santa Rosa district director for Camp Fire, said.

According to a Priceonomics study that analyzed more than 175,000 babysitter profiles from the largest cities in the United States, the median price for a babysitter is $14.50 per hour, but ranges from $12 to $17.50 across the country. Approximately 78 percent of babysitters are 30 years old or younger, and 89 percent are 40 or younger.

The study said 97.1 percent of babysitters are female and 2.9 percent are male. However, the average rate of pay for male babysitters is $15 per hour, 50 cents higher than females.

Babysitters with degrees are paid more, according to Priceonomics; those with graduate degrees can charge $4.50 more per hour than those with just high school diplomas. College graduates charge $2.50 more than high school graduates.

The study found that babysitters certified in CPR charge $1 more and those with First Aid training charge 50 cents more than those without any medical training.

Natalie of Milton, who asked that her last name not be mentioned, said that when making any decision, especially one for her children, she considers statistics and risk factors.

“I would not choose a male caregiver for my children based on the fact the numbers of male sex offenders far outweigh female sex offenders,” Natalie said. “Yes, a female caregiver could make decisions that negatively impact my child but my risk factor of abuse is much higher with a male.”

Darlene Grant Mosely of Milton said she hired a male caregiver when her children were younger and had no issues.

Stephen Pearce of Milton said he and his three brothers were all hired to babysit for close friends when they were younger.

“We were in our late teens and the parents were usually attending banquet-type functions out of town and they'd be home late in the evening,” Pearce said. “Times were different.”

Camp Fire, a non-profit youth development organization in Santa Rosa County, offers a self-reliance course called “I’m Taking Care.” 

The course includes six 90-minute sessions that prepare students to be babysitters and helps develop and refine their babysitting skills.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Report: Male babysitters make more money