Find a Child Care Job in Santa Cruz, CA

Q: How much does it cost for child care providers to use Sittercity?

Child care providers can create detailed profiles, search and apply to jobs, message with families, and book interviews for free on Sittercity. Providers have the option to pay for background checks to run on themselves to stand out to families. However, families can also offer to pay for background checks on providers as well.

Q: How much do in-home child care providers make?

According to the latest Sittercity data, nannies in the US typically charge $19.00 an hour and babysitters $17.50 an hour. But your hourly rate can vary significantly depending on the cost of living in your area, the duties and responsibilities in the job description, and your state’s minimum wage laws. There’s no perfect calculator to determine your rate, but it’s important to factor in everything you have to offer a family.

Q: Why are in-home child care taxes important?

There are a lot of risk factors with getting paid “off the books,” but there are also a lot of benefits to getting paid “on the books.” Those benefits include verifiable income, a legal employment history, unemployment benefits, social security and medicare benefits, and worker’s compensation.

Q: What career opportunities do I have as an in-home child care provider?

A nanny is a child care provider who has a regular work schedule with a family. There is a wide range of possibilities in the specifics of a nanny position and career. You could work part-time or full-time, live-in or out, temporary or ongoing for an extended amount of time. You could be an au pair, overnight nanny, or newborn care specialist. You could provide care through before-school or after-school activities or you could be a travel nanny. A babysitter is a child care provider who doesn’t have a regular work schedule with a family. There is a wide range of possibilities in the specifics of a babysitter position and career. Because your work with each family is part-time, you can work with multiple families at the same time. You could provide care through before-school or after-school activities or for nights or weekends when the family needs care.

Q: When do child care providers work?

Depending on the job responsibilities and schedules negotiated with the family, child care providers could work at any time. This includes in the morning, afternoon, evening, or at night. And on weekdays or on the weekend.

Q: How do child care providers find jobs?

On Sittercity, child care providers can browse jobs based on their zip code. They can craft their online resume by creating a detailed profile. They can apply to jobs, message with interested parents, and schedule interviews. Many providers will also negotiate a contract with families to make sure the details of the job are clear on both sides.

Q: What are things child care providers do with kids?

There are a lot of fun things that child care providers do with kids. Both indoor and outdoor activities, including arts and crafts projects, baking, sports, and field trips.

Q: How can child care providers make extra money?

There are a few ways that both nannies and babysitters can make some extra income. Nannies can be available for one-time sittings outside of their normal schedule for when families have date nights or meetings. They can also help to coordinate a nanny share with other families. In a nanny share, a nanny typically receives two-thirds of their hourly rate from each family, thereby increasing how much they make per hour. Babysitters can create relationships with more families to increase their opportunities to get hired for a sitting. Babysitters can also offer to care for kids on holidays so that the parents can celebrate on their own. Like on Valentine’s day.

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$28–37/hr
Santa Cruz, CA • Less than a mile

Babysitter for 1-2 toddlers M-F afternoons

2 children

Babysitting

Weekly

3:00pm - 5:00pm

We are looking for someone to care for 1-2 toddlers every weekday afternoon M-F, starting on November 3, 2025 on the lower west side. It's possible we could add a third kid if you're up for it!

The nanny would typically come by our house around 3:00 and get supplies (wagon, snacks, etc.), then walk... More

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Child Care FAQ

How much does it cost for child care providers to use Sittercity?

How much do in-home child care providers make?

Why are in-home child care taxes important?

What career opportunities do I have as an in-home child care provider?

When do child care providers work?

How do child care providers find jobs?

What are things child care providers do with kids?

How can child care providers make extra money?

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