SOC 6136 Caring personal service occupations

Senior care workers Salary

Median salary £27,417 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £27,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For senior care workers, £29,381 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -25% versus the national average. Experienced senior care workers (top 25%) earn over £32,059.

About this role

Senior care workers 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 6136

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 101,000

Median Salary

£27,417

Mean Salary

£26,603

Jobs (000s)

101k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P10: £14kP25: £21kMedian: £27kP75: £32kP90: £38k

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£13,987

0-2 years

Mid Level

£21,440

3-7 years

Senior

£32,059

8-15 years

Leadership

£37,644

15+ years

Potential career growth: +169% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +79.2%Real growth: +29.9%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 14.5%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£27,417

Full-time Only

£29,381

Full-time premium: +£1,964

Senior care workers salary: common questions

How much do senior care workers earn in the UK?

Senior care workers earn a median of £29,381 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £21,440 and £32,059.

Is £29,381 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for senior care workers?

Entry-level senior care workers typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £21,440, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £13,987.

How much do the highest-paid senior care workers earn?

The best-paid 10% of senior care workers earn over £37,644 a year, and the top 25% over £32,059 (ONS ASHE 2025).

Have senior care workers salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median senior care workers pay has risen from £17,509 to £29,381 — +68% in cash terms, or +22% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for senior care workers?

Male senior care workers earn a median £30,554 and female senior care workers £26,114 — a gap of +15% in 2025.

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