Childminders: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time childminders in the UK earned a median £24,278 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 38% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
It is in the lowest-paid third of the 382 occupations (16th from the bottom).
A full-time median is published for women only; the sample of men is too small.
From £390.10 in 2021, the median is up 24.6%, close to the 25.7% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 42,900 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30th percentile | – | – | – | £12.21* |
| 40th percentile | – | – | – | £12.48 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £24,278 | £486.00 | £13.97 | £13.00 |
| 60th percentile | – | – | – | £13.40 |
| Mean | £24,827* | £513.10 | £13.83 | £13.36 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | – | £390.10 | £9.40 | – | – | – |
| 2023 revised | £21,346 | £396.60 | £11.13 | £17,845* | £356.00* | 6* |
| 2024 revised | £20,179 | £498.40 | £13.70 | £19,004* | – | – |
| 2025 provisional | £24,278 | £486.00 | £13.97 | – | – | – |
Childminders by region
UK: 42,900 (± 8,000), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What childminders do
Childminders provide day-to-day care of children in their own homes, and supervise and participate in their play, educational and other activities. (ONS SOC 2020, 6114)
Also covers: baby sitter, childminder, mother’s help, nurse maid, child carer, child minder, children's nurse and mother's help.
- Changes babies’ nappies and clothes as necessary and makes up bottles for feeds
- Plans, prepares and serves children’s meals and supervises children during meals
- Provides, supervises and participates in children’s indoor and outdoor play activities to promote their development
- Takes children to participate in play groups or on appropriate outings
- Takes older children to and from school
- Maintains appropriate records of children’s development
Entry may not depend upon academic qualifications, although employers may expect a candidate to possess a qualification accredited by the Council for Awards in Children’s Care or other qualifications. Childminders must be registered with OFSTED to care for children under the age of 8 years. NVQs/SVQs in Child Care and Education are available at levels 2 and 3. A minimum age limit of 18 years applies, and a DBS check is mandatory.
Related
Teaching and childcare support occupations (median £21,920) · Educational support assistants · Teaching assistants · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026