Early years and nursery pay 2026: statutory rates and what affects salary
From 1 April 2026 the legal minimum for early years staff aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour, the National Living Wage. Staff aged 18 to 20 earn at least £10.85. Apprentices under 19, and apprentices aged 19 or over in their first year, earn at least £8. An apprentice aged 19 or over who has finished the first year earns the minimum for their age, so a 21-year-old past year one gets the National Living Wage. Pay above these statutory floors is set by the employer and varies by setting, qualification level, experience, role, region and setting type. The most common step that changes pay is holding the Level 3 qualification, because EYFS ratio rules require a Level 3 educator in the group.
Career guideLast reviewed 7 min readBy Dr Sarah Mitchell
From 1 April 2026 the legal minimum for early years staff aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour, the National Living Wage. Staff aged 18 to 20 earn at least £10.85. Apprentices under 19, and apprentices aged 19 or over in their first year, earn at least £8. An apprentice aged 19 or over who has finished the first year earns the minimum for their age, so a 21-year-old past year one gets the National Living Wage. Pay above these statutory floors is set by the employer and varies by setting, qualification level, experience, role, region and setting type. The most common step that changes pay is holding the Level 3 qualification, because EYFS ratio rules require a Level 3 educator in the group.
Answer first: From 1 April 2026 the legal minimum for early years staff aged 21 and over is £12.71 an hour, the National Living Wage. Staff aged 18 to 20 earn at least £10.85. Apprentices under 19, and apprentices aged 19 or over in their first year, earn at least £8. An apprentice aged 19 or over who has finished the first year earns the minimum for their age, so a 21-year-old past year one gets the National Living Wage. Pay above these statutory floors is set by the employer and varies by setting, qualification level, experience, role, region and setting type. The most common step that changes pay is holding the Level 3 qualification, because EYFS ratio rules require a Level 3 educator in the group.
Statutory minimum rates from April 2026
Statutory minimum rates from April 2026
Rate
Who
Hourly
National Living Wage
Aged 21 and over
£12.71
National Minimum Wage
Aged 18 to 20
£10.85
Under-18 rate
Under 18
£8
Apprentice rate
Under 19, or aged 19+ in first year
£8
An apprentice aged 19 or over who has completed the first year receives the minimum wage for their age. A 21-year-old apprentice in year two earns at least £12.71 an hour.
Because the entry band for unqualified nursery assistants typically tracks the National Living Wage, nursery pay rises each April by at least the NLW increase.
What affects early years pay above the legal minimum
Common role titles
How pay compares with similar roles
See the Level 3 Early Years Educator course
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nursery practitioner earn in the UK?
The legal minimum for a practitioner aged 21 or over is £12.71 an hour from April 2026. Employers pay more based on qualification level, role, experience and setting type.
What is a nursery manager's salary?
Nursery managers are paid above the National Living Wage. The amount depends on the size of the setting, the region, and whether the manager holds Level 5 or a degree. Pay is set by the employer.
How much do nursery workers get paid per hour?
The legal floor is £12.71 an hour for staff aged 21 and over from April 2026. Staff aged 18 to 20 earn at least £10.85. Apprentices under 19, or in their first year if aged 19 or over, earn at least £8.
What is the salary for a Level 3 early years educator?
A Level 3 educator aged 21 or over earns at least £12.71 an hour. Employers usually pay more for Level 3 holders than for Level 2 staff or unqualified assistants because EYFS ratio rules require a Level 3 person in each group.
Do early years teachers earn more than nursery practitioners?
Yes. Early years teachers with EYTS or QTS in school nurseries are paid on the school teachers' pay range, which starts higher than most nursery practitioner pay.
Does a Level 3 qualification increase pay?
Level 3 is the point where most employers pay above the National Living Wage. It also opens room-leader and senior roles.
