On average, live-in carer pay rates are between £100 and £140 gross per day. This can vary depending on a variety of factor such as experience, the type of care required and if any specific additional languages are required. The salary range is provided as gross pay, this is because as a live-in carer, you may decide that you would prefer to be considered self-employed and therefore will be responsible for paying your tax and National Insurance contributions.

However, if a carer does not want to be responsible for their own tax and National Insurance contributions, then they can be considered employed by the client. This would mean that the client is responsible for paying the carers National Insurance and tax contribution, but the client would be paying a net salary which would most likely be less than that stated earlier.

If you are looking at live-in carer and you require more specialised care due to a disability or an illness that is progressively getting worse, the carer is able to request a higher salary. This is because typically they will be required to have more hands-on experience as a carer as well as experience with the issue that requires speciality care. Especially as a private live-in carer operating within the clients home, it is essential that they have the experience and expertise to properly care for you.

On average, a live-in carer working with a client with specialist care needs is able to ask for up to £160 gross per day, however, it is not unheard of for live-in carers to be paid more than that. Again it depends on the experience and qualifications of the carer as well as the type of care that is required.

The minimum wage of a live-in carer is inline with the National minimum wage or London minimum wage if you are based in London. Minimum wage is only applicable if you are aged between 21 and 25 years old, otherwise, you will qualify for the National living wage which is slightly higher than the minimum wage. Living and minimum wage typically increase each year, but as it stands the minimum wage for the UK is currently £7.70 per hour and the living wage for the UK is currently £8.21 per hour, in London, the living wage is again slightly higher at £10.55 per hour.

Knowing what type of care you require as well as the market rates for such care is essential when considering home care costs and calculations.