SOC 6135 Caring personal service occupations

Care workers and home carers Salary

Median salary £21,487 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £21,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For care workers and home carers, £27,468 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -30% versus the national average. Experienced care workers and home carers (top 25%) earn over £28,556.

About this role

Care workers and home carers provide personal care, practical assistance and emotional support to people who need help with daily living due to age, illness, disability or other circumstances. They work in residential care homes, supported living, domiciliary care or hospital settings.

Key responsibilities

Assisting with personal care including washing, dressing and feeding
Supporting daily living activities and promoting independence
Monitoring wellbeing and reporting changes in condition
Administering medication under supervision where trained
Maintaining accurate care records and contributing to care plans

Qualifications and entry routes

No formal qualifications are always required, but the Care Certificate is expected within 12 weeks of starting. NVQ/Diploma Level 2/3 in Health and Social Care is the progression standard. DBS check is mandatory.

Career outlook

Severe workforce crisis with over 150,000 vacancies sector-wide. Pay improvements and career pathway development are ongoing priorities.

Key skills

Compassion and empathy Communication Patience Physical stamina Observation and reporting

Common industries

Residential care homes
Domiciliary care
NHS
Supported living
Mental health services

Data coverage

SOC code 6135

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 581,000

Median Salary

£21,487

Mean Salary

£21,240

Jobs (000s)

581k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P10: £6kP25: £13kMedian: £21kP75: £29kP90: £35k

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£6,429

0-2 years

Mid Level

£13,341

3-7 years

Senior

£28,556

8-15 years

Leadership

£34,529

15+ years

Potential career growth: +437% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +70.5%Real growth: +23.5%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 19.4%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£21,487

Full-time Only

£27,468

Full-time premium: +£5,981

Care workers and home carers salary: common questions

How much do care workers and home carers earn in the UK?

Care workers and home carers earn a median of £27,468 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £13,341 and £28,556.

Is £27,468 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for care workers and home carers?

Entry-level care workers and home carers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £13,341, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £6,429.

How much do the highest-paid care workers and home carers earn?

The best-paid 10% of care workers and home carers earn over £34,529 a year, and the top 25% over £28,556 (ONS ASHE 2025).

Have care workers and home carers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median care workers and home carers pay has risen from £16,155 to £27,468 — +70% in cash terms, or +23% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for care workers and home carers?

Male care workers and home carers earn a median £25,254 and female care workers and home carers £20,360 — a gap of +19% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).