Answers · UK 2025/26

What is the take-home pay for a self-employed childminder in the UK?

Pay for a self-employed childminder in the UK varies widely: roughly £18,000-£20,000 for a childminder with one or two children up to £30,000 or more for a childminder running at full capacity with several children across different age groups. On a representative self-employed profit of £22,000 in 2026/27, take-home pay after Income Tax (£1,886.00) and Class 4 National Insurance (£565.80) is £19,548.20 a year, or about £1,629.02 a month -- before any pension contributions.

Last updated: 3 July 2026Last reviewed: 3 July 2026How we verify

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Pay for a self-employed childminder in the UK ranges roughly £18,000-£20,000 for a childminder with one or two children up to £30,000 or more for a childminder running at full capacity with several children across different age groups, depending on experience, location, and how established the business is. Taking a representative self-employed profit of £22,000 for 2026/27: taxable income after the £12,570 Personal Allowance is £9,430, all within the 20% basic rate band, giving £1,886.00 Income Tax. Class 4 National Insurance is charged at 6% on profit between £12,570 and £50,270, coming to £565.80. Combined deductions of £2,451.80 leave £19,548.20 take-home pay a year, around £1,629.02 a month. Most childminders are self-employed and register with Ofsted (or the equivalent regulator in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland), so they pay Income Tax and Class 4 National Insurance on profit rather than PAYE. Allowable expenses include a proportion of household running costs, food, toys, outings and training, all of which reduce taxable profit below gross fee income. Many childminders also receive funded hours payments for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds, which count as business income. Use the Self-Employed Tax calculator to model your own exact self-employed profit and deductions.