Care workers and home carers salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£21,487
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 64% of Care workers work full-time
- 5% are self-employed
- 94% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Care workers and home carers pay in the UK
The typical care workers and home carers in the UK earns a median salary of £21,487 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of care workers and home carers earnings fall between £13,341 and £28,556 a year. That is a wide range, a sign that pay climbs steeply with experience, specialism and employer, so the median is a starting point rather than a ceiling.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Only 64% work full-time, so part-time and flexible roles are common in this field.
Where you work changes the picture: care workers and home carers pay ranges from £20,001 in West Midlands up to £22,622 in Wales, a difference of £2,621 (13%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see care workers and home carers pay in Wales or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
Wales is the highest-paying region for care workers and home carers at £22,622 — 5% above the UK median. West Midlands is lowest at £20,001.
UK median £21,487
| Region | Median payUK median £21,487 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | £22,622 | £22,622 | £22,038 | +5% |
| South East | £22,584 | £22,584 | £21,659 | +5% |
| East of England | £22,390 | £22,390 | £21,871 | +4% |
| Scotland | £21,997 | £21,997 | £22,212 | +2% |
| South West | £21,975 | £21,975 | £21,210 | +2% |
| North East | £21,256 | £21,256 | £20,506 | -1% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £21,001 | £21,001 | £21,235 | -2% |
| East Midlands | £20,806 | £20,806 | £20,444 | -3% |
| London | £20,635 | £20,635 | £20,850 | -4% |
| North West | £20,439 | £20,439 | £20,512 | -5% |
| West Midlands | £20,001 | £20,001 | £20,040 | -7% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Wales £22,622 | £22,622Mean £22,038 | +5% |
| South East £22,584 | £22,584Mean £21,659 | +5% |
| East of England £22,390 | £22,390Mean £21,871 | +4% |
| Scotland £21,997 | £21,997Mean £22,212 | +2% |
| South West £21,975 | £21,975Mean £21,210 | +2% |
| North East £21,256 | £21,256Mean £20,506 | -1% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £21,001 | £21,001Mean £21,235 | -2% |
| East Midlands £20,806 | £20,806Mean £20,444 | -3% |
| London £20,635 | £20,635Mean £20,850 | -4% |
| North West £20,439 | £20,439Mean £20,512 | -5% |
| West Midlands £20,001 | £20,001Mean £20,040 | -7% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£21,487); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local care workers and home carers pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow care workers and home carers pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for care workers and home carers by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
Related roles in Caring Personal Services
Other published roles in this occupation group. View category overview →