Early education and childcare assistants salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£19,165
Typical Annual pay range
Understanding Early education and childcare assistants pay in the UK
The typical early education and childcare assistants in the UK earns a median salary of £19,165 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 assistants earnings fall between £13,133 and £25,628 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 assistants pay ranges from £13,489 in East of England up to £23,802 in Scotland, a difference of £10,313 (76%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see early education and childcare assistants 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 assistants at £23,802 — 24% above the UK median. East of England is lowest at £13,489.
UK median £19,165
| Region | Median payUK median £19,165 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | £23,802 | £23,802 | £22,197 | +24% |
| London | £23,104 | £23,104 | £21,137 | +21% |
| North West | £21,714 | £21,714 | £20,960 | +13% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £20,044 | £20,044 | £19,650 | +5% |
| West Midlands | £19,523 | £19,523 | £20,099 | +2% |
| South East | £19,191 | £19,191 | £18,617 | ±0% |
| North East | £18,185 | £18,185 | £18,784 | -5% |
| East Midlands | £15,496 | £15,496 | £14,736 | -19% |
| Wales | £15,220 | £15,220 | £17,055 | -21% |
| South West | £14,128 | £14,128 | £14,137 | -26% |
| East of England | £13,489 | £13,489 | £13,524 | -30% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland £23,802 | £23,802Mean £22,197 | +24% |
| London £23,104 | £23,104Mean £21,137 | +21% |
| North West £21,714 | £21,714Mean £20,960 | +13% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £20,044 | £20,044Mean £19,650 | +5% |
| West Midlands £19,523 | £19,523Mean £20,099 | +2% |
| South East £19,191 | £19,191Mean £18,617 | ±0% |
| North East £18,185 | £18,185Mean £18,784 | -5% |
| East Midlands £15,496 | £15,496Mean £14,736 | -19% |
| Wales £15,220 | £15,220Mean £17,055 | -21% |
| South West £14,128 | £14,128Mean £14,137 | -26% |
| East of England £13,489 | £13,489Mean £13,524 | -30% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£19,165); ‘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 assistants pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow early education and childcare assistants pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for early education and childcare assistants by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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