How Much Does a Babysitter Earn? Check the Updated Rates

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? According to recent data from Sitly,  a babysitter can earn anywhere between RM 15 and RM 30 per hour, depending on what you do and where you live. But this is only an average: the actual pay can vary widely based on your city, experience level, number of children, and the type of work involved. There are also general pay guidelines and common expectations that can help you understand how much you can earn as a babysitter in Malaysia.

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know to figure out how much to charge as a babysitter, how to calculate your hourly rate, and when it makes sense to ask for a higher wage. For more tips, check out our article on how to become the perfect babysitter.

How Much Does a Babysitter Earn per Hour?

If you work as a babysitter in Malaysia, your rate can vary a lot depending on your experience, the family’s needs, and where you live. Here’s what you can usually expect:

• Professional nanny – If you work full-time or part-time on a fixed schedule — especially if you have childcare training or look after infants — you can typically earn RM 25 to RM 35 per hour, or even a monthly salary between RM 2,500 and RM 4,500, depending on your duties and the city.

• Student or part-time babysitter – If you’re a university student or a 16–18-year-old who babysits occasionally, your rate is usually lower, around RM 15 to RM 18 per hour, particularly in smaller towns or suburban areas.

When setting your rate, remember: it’s not just about the hours you spend — it’s about the responsibility you take on. Caring for a baby, helping with homework, managing bedtime for three kids, or preparing meals all require extra effort and experience. These are valid reasons to ask for a higher rate, as long as you discuss it clearly with the parents before starting.

Minimum Wage and Babysitter Rates in Malaysia

If you work as a babysitter in Malaysia, you might wonder whether there’s a legal minimum wage for your job. The short answer is no — the national minimum wage doesn’t apply to babysitters.

This might surprise you, but it’s good to know this upfront. Under current regulations, domestic workers — including babysitters and nannies hired directly by families — are excluded from the Minimum Wages Order (MWO). That means there’s no fixed legal hourly rate for part-time or full-time babysitting jobs in private homes. So, what does that mean for you?  It means your rate depends entirely on the market — what parents are willing to pay and what babysitters like you expect to earn. Because of that, babysitting pay can vary a lot across Malaysia: rates in Kuala Lumpur or Penang are usually higher than in smaller towns.

In the next sections, we’ll explore the main factors that affect how much you can charge as a babysitter — including your experience, location, working hours, the number of children, and extra responsibilities you take on. All these details matter when setting a fair and realistic rate for your work.

Babysitter Hourly Pay in Major Malaysian Cities

The average babysitting rate can change a lot depending on where you work. Just like in other countries, urban areas tend to pay more, while smaller towns usually offer lower hourly rates.

For example, babysitters in Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam ask for an hourly rate around RM 35 per hour, among the highest in the country. While the babysitter hourly rate in Kuala Lumpur is around RM 18–20 per hour.

As you can see, location makes a real difference. But remember: your rate should also reflect your skills, experience, and responsibilities. Even if you live in a city with lower averages, you can still earn more if you have special qualifications or take on extra duties such as meal preparation or caring for infants.

Hourly Babysitting Rates by City in Malaysia

Average hourly babysitting rates in Malaysia

How to Calculate Your Babysitting Pay

Besides where you work, there are several 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 you handle — all of these can affect your final hourly rate.

When calculating your babysitting pay, it’s important to look at the whole picture: not just the time you spend, but also the level of care and responsibility your job requires. The infographic below shows how to estimate your hourly babysitting rate realistically, based on your experience and the type of work you do for each family.

Infographic: Babysitter Pay Calculation

How Much Does an Experienced Babysitter Earn?

If you’ve been working with children for several years or have formal childcare training — for example, in early childhood education, nursing, or preschool assistance — you can confidently ask for a higher rate than the average. Families are usually willing to pay more when they see professionalism, reliability, and strong childcare skills.

Experienced babysitters in Malaysia often charge RM 25–35 per hour, especially in large cities or when caring for infants.

Babysitting Two or More Children

When you look after two or more children, it’s completely fair to charge more — usually 10–20% above your base rate, depending on the level of effort required. Caring for two young siblings, for example, takes much more attention than looking after one older child. And if the children are different ages, finding activities suitable for everyone can be even more demanding.

So if you normally charge RM 20 per hour, you could ask for around RM 25 per hour when caring for two kids, or more if the job involves extra coordination or physical effort.

Babysitting rate with Light Household Tasks

Tidying up the play area, washing the dishes used by the children, or preparing their meals are part of normal babysitting duties. However, if parents ask you to help with extra household chores — such as doing family laundry, vacuuming, or general cleaning — these tasks go beyond typical childcare work and should be paid separately. A RM 10 per hour increase is reasonable when you take on these additional responsibilities.

Babysitting rates with Driving or Pick-Ups

Many babysitters in Malaysia also handle school pick-ups or activity drop-offs. If you use your own car for these trips, you should agree on a transport allowance or fuel reimbursement, either weekly or monthly. This ensures you’re fairly compensated for petrol costs and time spent driving.

Evening or Overnight Babysitting rates

Evening babysitting is often paid a bit more because it involves less convenient hours and, sometimes, staying late or overnight. In general, you can ask for 10–20% more than your daytime rate when working after 10 p.m. or sleeping over. For instance, if your normal rate is RM 20 per hour, you can charge RM 22–24 for evening shifts — especially if you stay overnight or need to stay awake in case the children wake up.

However, if the children are already asleep and don’t need much attention, it’s fine to agree on a slightly lower rate for those hours. The key is to discuss expectations clearly before the job starts.

Safety Tip. If you finish work late at night, make sure to discuss your safety and transport home with the parents. Will they drive you back, pay for a Grab ride, or accompany you to your car? Your safety should always come first — and it’s something both you and the parents should agree on from the beginning.

Babysitter Pay: Hourly or Fixed Rate — Which Is Better?

Should you charge by the hour or agree on a fixed monthly amount? It really depends on the type of work you do for each family. If you babysit occasionally or your hours change often, it’s best to charge an hourly rate — this way, you’re paid only for the exact hours you work. Hourly pay is fair, transparent, and works well when your schedule isn’t regular.

But if you work regularly with the same family, a fixed monthly or weekly rate can be more convenient for both sides. It gives you a predictable income and makes budgeting easier for the parents. If you agree on a fixed rate, be sure to define clearly what’s included:

• Will you still be paid if the family doesn’t need you one week?
  
• What happens if they ask you to stay longer than planned?
  
• How do you handle extra days in a longer month?
  

Discussing these details early helps avoid misunderstandings and keeps your relationship with the family professional and positive.

Last-Minute Babysitting or Emergency Calls

What if the family calls you at the last minute — for example, early in the morning because their child woke up sick? In these cases, it’s reasonable to ask for a slightly higher rate (10–20% more) to recognise your flexibility and short-notice availability.

It’s a good idea to agree in advance on a “last-minute rate”, so both you and the parents know what to expect when urgent situations come up.
This keeps things clear and ensures that your time and flexibility are fairly rewarded.

How Much Does a Babysitter Earn per Month?

Your monthly earnings as a babysitter in Malaysia depend on how many hours you work and your level of experience. A part-time babysitter working around 20 hours per week can typically earn between RM 1,200 and RM 2,000 per month.

If you work full-time and have childcare qualifications or experience caring for infants or children with special needs, your salary can reach RM 3,000–4,000 per month, or more in major cities. Some professional nannies who live with the family (live-in nannies) or take on wider household responsibilities can earn RM 4,500 and above, but those positions are usually formal employment arrangements with written contracts and regular contributions.

How Much Does a Babysitter Earn per Day?

If you babysit 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 one.

The calculation is simple: multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work.
A full 8-hour day is usually worth RM 160–250, depending on your experience, the children’s ages, and the tasks involved. The amount can increase if you care for infants, prepare meals, or work into the evening.

Tip: Always discuss with the family in advance what your working hours, responsibilities, and overtime rules will be. If you’re asked to stay longer than planned, it’s best to have an agreed rate for those extra hours.

How can I calculate my babysitting rate fairly?

When deciding your rate, consider several key factors:

• Your experience and qualifications;
  
• The number and age of the children;
  
• The average rate in your area;
  
• The time of day you work (daytime, evening, or overnight);
  
• Any extra responsibilities like cooking, driving, or cleaning.
  

Once you’ve figured out what feels like a fair hourly rate, the next step is to discuss it openly with the parents. It can feel a little awkward at first, but being clear about pay from the start is the best way to avoid misunderstandings and build a good working relationship.

A good approach is to come prepared and informed: check what other babysitters in your area charge, and explain your rate calmly by mentioning your experience, working hours, or any extra duties.
You can also ask the family what rate they had in mind — that way, the conversation becomes an open, respectful discussion, making it easier to agree on a rate that feels fair to both sides.