Salary guide · Childcare & Early Years
Childcare & Early Years: what the jobs pay
11 jobs, lowest paid first. Yearly ranges seen in real UK adverts in 2026, and the hourly rate on a 40 hour week.
| Job | A year | An hour, 40 hour week | Tickets or qualifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Childminder | Self employed, by the hour | varies | Ofsted registration, paediatric first aid |
| Forest school leader | £24,800 to £28,000 | about £11.92 to £13.46 | Level 3 Forest School Leader qualification, outdoor first aid |
| Nursery practitioner | £24,800 to £27,500 | about £11.92 to £13.22 | Level 2 or 3 in early years, enhanced DBS, paediatric first aid |
| Nursery room leader | £24,800 to £28,500 | about £11.92 to £13.70 | Level 3 early years educator qualification, paediatric first aid |
| Playworker | £24,800 to £26,500 | about £11.92 to £12.74 | Enhanced DBS |
| Preschool leader | £25,000 to £30,000 | about £12.02 to £14.42 | Level 3 early years educator, paediatric first aid |
| Early years teacher | £28,000 to £38,000 | about £13.46 to £18.27 | Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) or QTS |
| Nanny | £28,000 to £40,000 | about £13.46 to £19.23 | Enhanced DBS, paediatric first aid, Ofsted registration helps |
| Nanny housekeeper | £30,000 to £42,000 | about £14.42 to £20.19 | Paediatric first aid, driving licence often needed |
| Nursery manager | £30,000 to £40,000 | about £14.42 to £19.23 | Level 3 or above in early years, Ofsted experience |
| Nursery area manager | £40,000 to £50,000 | about £19.23 to £24.04 | Level 3 early years plus management experience, Level 5 helpful |
Advertised ranges, not a survey of take home pay, and the same job pays differently by region. The National Living Wage for anybody 21 and over is £12.71 an hour. Wrong for your area? Tell us.
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