You are entitled to the minimum wage

Working as an au pair in the United Kingdom

The UK is unusually clear about this: GOV.UK names au pairs directly and says you get the National Minimum Wage.

This is a guide, not legal or immigration advice.

Rules change, vary by region and depend on your exact arrangement and nationality. Everything here was researched from official sources and dated, but figures go out of date — check the official links on this page before you rely on any of it, and get proper advice on your own visa position.

Where you stand

There is no "cultural exchange" status in the UK. Since Brexit there is no au pair visa either. If you are working set hours in someone's home, you are a worker, and the minimum wage applies to you like anyone else. GOV.UK puts au pairs explicitly in the list of people who are entitled to it.

What makes the United Kingdom different: If you live in, your accommodation counts towards the minimum wage — but only up to a capped daily amount, and only for the room. Food, bills and travel cannot be counted.

The numbers

Minimum wage

£12.71 an hour at 21+

£10.85 at 18–20, from 1 April 2026

Live-in offset

£11.10 a day

accommodation only — £77.70 a week

Overtime

No statutory premium

extra hours are a matter of contract

Mileage

55p a mile

HMRC approved rate, first 10,000 miles

Can you go?

You can work as an au pair if you are a UK or Irish national, an EU national with settled or pre-settled status, or you hold a Youth Mobility Scheme visa.

You cannot be hired as an au pair on a visitor visa, or if you are visiting for six months or less. If none of the routes above apply to you, your own visa conditions decide it — check them before you accept a placement.

Three things worth doing

The offset is for the room only

A family can count your accommodation towards the minimum wage, but not your meals, bills or travel. If someone tells you free food covers part of your wage, that is not how the rule works.

There is no extra rate for extra hours

The UK has no statutory overtime premium. What matters is that your average pay across the pay period clears the minimum for your age. So more hours at the same money means a lower effective rate — worth checking.

Keeping records is the employer's job, but do it anyway

GOV.UK says it is the employer's responsibility to keep records proving the minimum wage is being paid. If they do not, yours is the only record that exists.

Check it yourself

Every figure on this page came from these. Rules change — if something matters to you, read it at the source.

NMW rates → Who gets the minimum wage → Accommodation offset →

Keep your own record

Whatever the rules say where you are, they only help you if you can show what you actually worked. NannyTank counts your hours as you work them, works out overtime at the legal rate where there is one, and turns the month into a claim your employer approves in one tap.

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Other countries

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Researched from official sources and last reviewed 2 September 2026. Employing an au pair instead? See the rules for host families in the United Kingdom.