ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC TRADES N.E.C.▲ 65% /10yrBUSINESS, RESEARCH AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS N.E.C.▲ 60% /10yrFINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING TECHNICIANS▲ 55% /10yrASSEMBLERS (VEHICLES AND METAL GOODS)▼ 1% /10yrHIGHER EDUCATION TEACHING PROFESSIONALS▲ 5% /10yrSOFTWARE ENGINEER£55,000▲ 38% /5yrCYBER SECURITY ANALYST£62,000▲ 35% /5yr
SOC 6117Caring personal service occupations
Playworkers Salary
Salary data from ONS ASHE. Some figures may be unavailable due to small sample sizes.
WINDOW: PROFILE
About this role
Playworkers care for and support the development of babies, toddlers and young children. They plan age-appropriate activities, ensure children's safety and wellbeing, and work within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework to support each child's learning and development.
Key responsibilities
- Planning and delivering age-appropriate learning activities
- Ensuring children's safety, health and wellbeing
- Observing and recording children's development and progress
- Communicating with parents and carers about children's needs
- Maintaining a stimulating and inclusive environment
Qualifications and entry routes
Requires a Level 2 or 3 qualification in childcare or early years education (e.g., CACHE, BTEC). DBS check is mandatory. Childminders must register with Ofsted. First aid training is required.
Career outlook
Sector faces significant recruitment and retention challenges, partly due to comparatively low pay. Government childcare expansion is increasing demand for qualified practitioners.
Key skills
Common industries
- Nurseries
- Pre-schools
- Childminding
- Schools
- Out-of-school clubs
Data coverage
SOC code6117
Data sourceONS ASHE
Years available2015–2025
Estimated jobs28,000
WINDOW: DATA
Mean Salary
£7,871
Top 10% Earn
N/A
Jobs (000s)
28k
Data Years
11 years
Salary Range (2025)
P25: £2,969P75: £11,017
Salary Trend (2015-2025)
Nominal growth: +-10.3%Real growth: -19.6%
WINDOW: INSTRUMENTS