Salary by profession · UK · 2026
Care worker salary in the UK
What is the average care worker salary in the UK?
The average UK care worker earns about £24,500 (ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2025), typically £22,000–£28,000. That's around £1,763 a month take-home, and places the typical care worker in roughly the 11th percentile of all UK earners — £14,539 below the national median.
Verified 12 August 2026
Care worker pay and take-home
| Gross salary | Take-home (year) | Take-home (month) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry / lower | £22,000 | £19,360 | £1,613 |
| Typical (median) | £24,500 | £21,160 | £1,763 |
| Experienced / senior | £28,000 | £23,680 | £1,973 |
How care workers compare
The UK median full-time salary is £39,039. At £24,500, the typical care worker is earning £14,539 less than the national median — around the 11th percentile of all earners. One of the lower-paid major occupations; sleep-ins and unsocial hours can add to base pay.
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