Childminder Salary & Earnings Guide (2026): How Much Can You Make?
Wondering how much a childminder earns? Discover average rates, regional differences, and project your own income.
⚡Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): 2026 Salary Summary
- •Average Annual Salary: UK childminders typically earn between £18,000 and £35,000+ per year (gross), with highly active, full-capacity settings in high-demand areas reaching £45,000+.
- •Hourly Rates: Typical hourly rates range from £5.50 to £10.00+ per hour, per child, heavily influenced by regional cost differences.
- •Earnings Formula: Unlike standard employment, your hourly rate is multiplied by the number of minded children. For example, caring for 3 children at £6.50/hour yields a gross business income of £19.50 per hour.
- •HMRC Tax Relief: Actual take-home profit is optimized by deducting HMRC allowable expenses (e.g. food, home utility apportionment, mileage at 55p/mile).
If you are considering leaving your current job to start a childcare business from home, you likely have one massive question on your mind: "Exactly how much does a childminder earn?"
Unlike a traditional nursery worker on a fixed salary, your childminder wage is entirely up to you. Your income depends on where you live in the UK, how many hours you choose to work, and how many children you care for at once.
In this 2026 earnings guide, we break down average hourly rates, full-time versus part-time income potential, and provide a free calculator to help you project your exact business revenue.
What is the Average Childminder Salary Per Hour?
Unlike a standard job, your hourly rate is multiplied by the number of children in your care.
In 2026, the average childminder salary per hour ranges between £5.50 and £8.50 per child. However, location plays a massive role in what you can realistically charge parents.
Here is a detailed breakdown of average hourly rates and typical gross income projections across UK regions:
| Region | Avg. Hourly Rate (Per Child) | Weekly Gross (3 Kids, 40 hrs) | Annual Gross (48 Weeks) |
|---|---|---|---|
| London & South East | £7.50 – £10.00+ | £900 – £1,200+ | £43,200 – £57,600+ |
| East of England & South West | £6.00 – £7.50 | £720 – £900 | £34,560 – £43,200 |
| Midlands & Yorkshire | £5.50 – £7.00 | £660 – £840 | £31,680 – £40,320 |
| North East & North West | £5.00 – £6.50 | £600 – £780 | £28,800 – £37,440 |
| Wales & Scotland | £5.00 – £6.50 | £600 – £780 | £28,800 – £37,440 |
💡Earnings Multiplier
Remember: If you are caring for three early-years children at £6.00 an hour, your actual business revenue is
£18.00 per hour.
Full-Time vs. Part-Time Childminder Wage
One of the biggest perks of childminding is flexibility. Let's look at two realistic earning scenarios using an average rate of £6.00 per hour.
1. The Full-Time Childminder (Maximum Capacity)
If you care for 3 children under five years old (the standard EYFS ratio limit) for 40 hours a week:
- 3 children x £6.00 = £18.00 per hour
- £18.00 x 40 hours = £720.00 per week
Estimated Gross Income: £34,500+ per year.
(Note: You can significantly increase this by offering before and after-school wrap-around care for older children!)
2. The Part-Time Childminder (Working Around Your Own Kids)
If you have your own young child at home, they take up one of your ratio spaces. If you take on 2 additional minded children for just 3 days a week (24 hours):
- 2 children x £6.00 = £12.00 per hour
- £12.00 x 24 hours = £288.00 per week
Estimated Gross Income: £13,800+ per year.
Don't Forget About Allowable Expenses!
The numbers above represent your gross income (total revenue). However, because you are running a business, you will have expenses like food, toys, heating, and insurance.
HMRC allows you to deduct these costs from your total income, meaning you only pay tax on your actual profit.
👉 Read our Ultimate 2026 Childminder Allowable Expenses Checklist here to see what you can claim.
Interactive Tool: Calculate Your Custom Income
Stop guessing your potential childminder wage. Use our free 2026 Business Income Calculator below to map out your exact weekly and monthly revenue based on your local rates and expected hours!
🧮Income Projection
Weekly Gross Income
£840.00
Estimated Annual Income
£40,320
*Based on 48 working weeks per year
This is a rough projection using gross revenue. Actual earnings will vary based on funding rates, vouchers, and consumables.
Take the Stress Out of Your Childminding Finances
Calculating your potential income is the fun part. Chasing parents for late invoices and tracking funded hours? Not so much.
That is exactly why we built KinderStart.
KinderStart is the all-in-one app that puts your setting's finances on autopilot. With our built-in "Bank" dashboard, you can instantly see your expected income, automatically reconcile government funded hours, and send professional digital invoices straight to parents' phones.
KinderStart strives for accuracy. Competitor features and pricing comparisons are based on publicly available information as of May 2026. Details are subject to change by respective providers.