Early education and childcare services managers: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time early education and childcare services managers in the UK earned a median £30,140 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 23% 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 (110th from the bottom).
The middle half of full-time jobs paid between £25,935 and £36,539.
Median full-time pay: women £30,484 a year, men £29,521 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 26,000 employee jobs, 81% full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 28.2% (from £23,510), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 27,400 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, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | – | £423.90 | £13.38 | – | £255.90* | £13.30 |
| 20th percentile | £23,414 | £494.20 | £14.13 | £18,536* | £370.50* | £13.72 |
| 25th percentile | £25,935 | £526.90 | £14.47 | £20,927* | £399.00* | £14.17 |
| 30th percentile | £27,305 | £554.80 | £14.86 | £21,901* | £440.70 | £14.50 |
| 40th percentile | £28,929 | £592.60 | £15.33 | £26,171 | £528.50 | £15.21 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £30,140 | £635.60 | £15.90 | £28,511 | £577.20 | £15.72 |
| 60th percentile | £32,333 | £659.90 | £16.45 | £30,198 | £637.30 | £16.44 |
| 70th percentile | £35,259 | £690.30 | £17.89 | £33,131 | £669.70 | £17.89 |
| 75th percentile | £36,539* | £730.00 | £18.48 | £34,490* | £686.30 | £18.80* |
| 80th percentile | – | £763.90* | £20.07* | – | £731.60 | £20.26* |
| Mean | £31,346 | £638.00 | £17.06 | £27,940 | £563.50 | £17.02 |
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 | £23,510 | £472.60 | £12.07 | £20,769 | £433.20 | 27 |
| 2022 revised | £24,126 | £490.00 | £12.93 | £22,474 | £460.00 | 26* |
| 2023 revised | £25,978 | £539.20 | £14.03 | £24,381 | £487.30 | 25* |
| 2024 revised | £28,276 | £577.10 | £15.43 | £26,297 | £538.60 | 22* |
| 2025 provisional | £30,140 | £635.60 | £15.90 | £28,511 | £577.20 | 26 |
Early education and childcare services managers by region
UK: 27,400 (± 6,400), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What early education and childcare services managers do
Early education and childcare services managers plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the administration, support systems and activities that facilitate the effective running of nurseries and early education centres. (ONS SOC 2020, 2324)
Also covers: after school club manager, childcare manager (day nursery), nursery manager (day nursery), pre-school manager, childcare manager, creche manager, nursery manager, playgroup manager, after school manager, base room manager, child care manager, early years manager, nursery school manager, play group manager and out of school club manager.
- Directs and co-ordinates the day-to-day activities of nurseries and early years education centres
- Helps create a friendly, secure atmosphere to encourage the development of social and language skills and other learning
- Determines staffing, financial, material and other short- and long-term requirements and ensures facility meets health, safety, Ofsted and other standards
- Writes reports on children’s development and maintains awareness of health and safety issues
- Communicates with parents and colleagues on children’s development and well-being
Entrants will usually have a degree or level 3 qualification in childcare and significant relevant experience. Early years teacher status may be required. An additional management qualification may also be required by some employers. Entry is possible with a variety of academic qualifications, professional qualifications and/or relevant experience. A DBS check is mandatory.
Related
Other educational professionals (median £49,164) · Education advisers and school inspectors · Education managers · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026