Annual Salary
£19,000 to £25,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Medical or Therapy or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Medical or Therapy or go back to all job sectors
Care workers support vulnerable people with their daily activities and help them to live as independently as possible.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends; on shifts
There will be
5.4% more Care worker jobs in 2027.
Daily tasks will differ depending on whether you work with a client in their own home or in a care setting.
You could:
You may need to wear a uniform.
You could work at an adult care home, at a client's home or stay overnight at people's homes.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.
You can get into this job through:
You could take a college course, which may help you when looking for work.
Courses include:
You could apply to do an apprenticeship with a care organisation or the NHS.
Apprenticeship options include:
These can take between 1 and 2 years to complete and combine workplace training with study in the classroom.
There are no set entry requirements but it may help you to get in if you have:
You can volunteer with an organisation that supports vulnerable people, like a care home, charity, hospital or hospice. This can help you when applying for paid work.
You can find volunteering opportunities through:
You can apply for care worker jobs directly. If you get the role, you'll be given on-the-job training by your employer.
It's important to be kind, caring and have a respectful attitude towards people who need care and support.
Some employers might want you to have GCSEs in English and maths at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent. However, many will offer training to applicants who have the right personal qualities.
You'll need to:
Time spent caring for someone you know also counts as having experience in a caring role.
You can find out more about careers in care from:Think Care Careers; Department of Health and Social Care
While employed as a care worker you can develop your skills by training in specific areas, such as:autism awareness; supporting people with dementia; communication skills, like Makaton or Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
With experience, you can become a senior care worker, or palliative care assistant.
You can also move into care team supervision or care services management, if you get further qualifications.
You'll need: