Annual Salary
£16,000 to £24,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Education or Training or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Education or Training or go back to all job sectors
Nursery workers help babies and children up to 5 years old to develop and learn in a safe and supportive setting.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: between 8am and 6pm; on a rota
There will be
3.8% more Nursery worker jobs in 2029.
As a nursery worker you could:
You may need to wear a uniform.
You could work in a nursery.
Your working environment may be physically active.
You can get into this job through:
You can take a college course before looking for work in a nursery.
Courses include:
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
You could apply to do an Early Years Practitioner Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, or an Early Years Educator Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
These take between 1 and 2 years to complete and combine training on the job and time spent with a learning provider.
Find out more about early years apprenticeships.
You'll usually need:
You can work as a nursery assistant and learn on the job. You'll usually need GCSEs in maths and English to start. Your employer may offer you the opportunity to do formal training like an apprenticeship, as your skills develop.
You can get experience by volunteering at a local nursery group or after school club. This may lead into paid work, where you could do training on the job.
You can apply directly for jobs in a nursery if you've got experience of working with young children and a qualification in childcare.
You'll need to:
A paediatric first aid certificate will be useful but is not essential.
You can find out more about working in childcare from Early Years Careers and the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY).
As an experienced nursery worker you could specialise in working with children who have difficulties with learning, physical disabilities, or need support with their mental health.
With further training, you could:apply to be a room leader or senior nursery worker; move into management as a nursery manager; become an early years teacher
You'll find information on careers and courses in childcare from:
Foundation Years has information about early years education and childcare.
You'll need: