Early education and childcare practitioners salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£19,516
Typical Annual pay range
Understanding Early education and childcare practitioners pay in the UK
The typical early education and childcare practitioners in the UK earns a median salary of £19,516 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 early education and childcare practitioners earnings fall between £13,622 and £24,510 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.
Where you work changes the picture: early education and childcare practitioners pay ranges from £13,680 in Yorkshire and the Humber up to £22,949 in Scotland, a difference of £9,269 (68%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see early education and childcare practitioners pay in Scotland or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
Scotland is the highest-paying region for early education and childcare practitioners at £22,949 — 18% above the UK median. Yorkshire and the Humber is lowest at £13,680.
UK median £19,516
| Region | Median payUK median £19,516 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | £22,949 | £22,949 | £23,055 | +18% |
| North East | £21,371 | £21,371 | £19,935 | +10% |
| North West | £20,249 | £20,249 | £19,144 | +4% |
| South East | £19,270 | £19,270 | £18,405 | -1% |
| London | £18,799 | £18,799 | £20,164 | -4% |
| Wales | £18,402 | £18,402 | £20,791 | -6% |
| West Midlands | £18,397 | £18,397 | £17,997 | -6% |
| South West | £17,817 | £17,817 | £18,821 | -9% |
| East Midlands | £16,458 | £16,458 | £18,008 | -16% |
| East of England | £16,048 | £16,048 | £17,530 | -18% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £13,680 | £13,680 | £14,872 | -30% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland £22,949 | £22,949Mean £23,055 | +18% |
| North East £21,371 | £21,371Mean £19,935 | +10% |
| North West £20,249 | £20,249Mean £19,144 | +4% |
| South East £19,270 | £19,270Mean £18,405 | -1% |
| London £18,799 | £18,799Mean £20,164 | -4% |
| Wales £18,402 | £18,402Mean £20,791 | -6% |
| West Midlands £18,397 | £18,397Mean £17,997 | -6% |
| South West £17,817 | £17,817Mean £18,821 | -9% |
| East Midlands £16,458 | £16,458Mean £18,008 | -16% |
| East of England £16,048 | £16,048Mean £17,530 | -18% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £13,680 | £13,680Mean £14,872 | -30% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£19,516); ‘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 early education and childcare practitioners pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow early education and childcare practitioners pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for early education and childcare practitioners by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table