UK care worker pay 2026/27 · Updated October 2026
Care worker take-home pay calculator
Enter your hourly rate and hours to see your take-home pay after income tax, National Insurance, pension and student loan, with weekend premiums, sleep-ins, overtime and mileage.
Estimates only. Your payslip may differ because of your tax code, pay period, how your employer runs its pension, or local arrangements. Sources: GOV.UK minimum wage rates, Scottish Government, Skills for Care.
How to use the care worker pay calculator
- 1Choose your nation and ageMinimum pay depends on your age, and Scotland and Wales have higher minimums for care work.
- 2Enter your rate and hoursPick a common rate or enter your own, then add your average paid hours a week.
- 3Add extra payInclude weekend or night premiums, sleep-ins, overtime and mileage if you get them.
- 4Check your deductionsSet your workplace pension and any student loan to see your monthly take-home pay.
Average care worker salary and take-home pay (UK 2026/27)
Most care workers are paid by the hour, so annual salary depends on how many hours you work. This table shows gross salary and monthly take-home pay in England at common hourly rates, for full-time (37.5 hours) and part-time (30 hours) work.
| Hourly rate | Benchmark | Salary, 37.5 hrs | Take-home a month | Salary, 30 hrs | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £12.71 | National Living Wage (legal minimum, 21+) | £24,853 | £1,722 | £19,882 | £1,441 |
| £13.00 | London median care worker, Dec 2025 | £25,420 | £1,755 | £20,336 | £1,466 |
| £13.45 | Real Living Wage, Scotland and Wales care minimum | £26,300 | £1,804 | £21,040 | £1,506 |
| £14.80 | London Living Wage | £28,939 | £1,954 | £23,151 | £1,626 |
Take-home figures assume tax code 1257L, a 5% workplace pension and no student loan.
Care worker minimum pay by nation
The National Living Wage applies to workers aged 21 and over. The rate is £10.85 for 18 to 20-year-olds, and £8.00 for 16 to 17-year-olds and apprentices in their first year.
What affects a care worker’s pay
Where you work
London pays the most. Scotland and Wales set higher minimums for care work than England and Northern Ireland.
Your role
Senior care workers, team leaders and nurses in care homes earn more than care assistants.
Type of care
Home care workers often have travel time and mileage, while care homes and supported living may offer sleep-ins and nights.
Unsocial hours
Some employers pay more for weekends, nights and bank holidays. This is not a legal requirement, so check your contract.
Qualifications
Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in adult care can lead to senior roles and higher rates of pay.
Hours and contract
Your annual pay depends on your paid hours. Zero-hours and part-time contracts can mean pay changes from month to month.
Your pay rights as a care worker
- Travel time: time travelling between visits is working time and counts towards minimum wage.
- Training: time spent on training your employer requires counts as working time.
- Deductions: charges for uniforms, DBS checks or equipment must not take your pay below the minimum wage.
- Holiday pay: you are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday a year, pro rata if you work part time.
- Sick pay: Statutory Sick Pay is paid from the first day of sickness from April 2026.
Assumptions behind the calculator
- Tax code 1257L, National Insurance category A, worked out over a full tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027).
- Scottish income tax rates apply only when Scotland is selected. All other nations use rest-of-UK rates.
- Your hours are paid every week of the year, including paid holiday (52.143 weeks).
- Workplace pension is 5% of qualifying earnings between £6,240 and £50,270, taken after tax with 20% tax relief added by your pension provider. Your employer adds 3%.
- Overtime, premiums and sleep-in pay are taxed as normal pay.
- Mileage up to 45p a mile is tax-free and is shown separately from pay.
- Student loan repayments are based on gross pay at 2026/27 thresholds.
- No salary sacrifice, benefits in kind or other allowances are included.
Frequently asked questions about care worker pay
What is the average care worker salary in the UK in 2026/27?
Skills for Care put the median care worker rate in England’s independent sector at £12.60 an hour in December 2025. The legal minimum rose to £12.71 on 1 April 2026, so most care workers now earn at least £12.71. Full time at 37.5 hours a week, that is about £24,853 a year before tax.
How much does a care worker take home a month?
At £12.71 an hour for 37.5 hours a week, a care worker in England takes home about £1,722 a month after income tax, National Insurance and a 5% workplace pension. At £13.45 an hour it is about £1,804 a month.
What is the minimum wage for care workers in 2026?
The National Living Wage is £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over from 1 April 2026. It is £10.85 for 18 to 20-year-olds and £8.00 for 16 to 17-year-olds and apprentices in their first year. In Scotland, adult social care workers in commissioned services must be paid at least £13.45.
Do care workers get paid more in Scotland and Wales?
Usually, yes. Scotland sets a minimum of £13.45 an hour for adult social care workers in commissioned services from April 2026. The Welsh Government funds the Real Living Wage for registered care workers and personal assistants paid by direct payments.
Should I be paid for travel time between visits?
Yes. Time spent travelling between care visits counts as working time for the minimum wage. If you are not paid for it, your average pay for all hours worked must still be at least the legal minimum.
How are sleep-in shifts paid?
Sleep-in shifts where you are allowed to sleep are usually paid a flat rate. Minimum wage only applies to the time you are awake and working. Check your contract for your sleep-in rate.
Is mileage taxed for care workers?
Mileage payments of up to 45p a mile for the first 10,000 business miles in a tax year are tax-free. If your employer pays less than 45p, you can claim tax relief on the difference from HMRC.
Do care workers get a workplace pension?
Yes, if you are aged 22 or over and earn more than £10,000 a year with one employer, you are automatically enrolled. The minimum is 8% of qualifying earnings: usually 5% from you, including tax relief, and 3% from your employer.
What is the Fair Pay Agreement for care workers?
The UK Government is setting up a Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care in England. It will negotiate minimum pay and terms for the sector, and is expected to take effect from 2028.