6116 Nannies and au pairs

In short

• ONS unit group 6116, in minor group 611 (Teaching and childcare support occupations) and major group 6 (Caring, leisure and other service occupations).
• Appendix Skilled Occupations (figures as at 3 August 2026, re-checked 26 October 2026): Table 6 and a transitional table: Table 2a, Table 6.
• Going rate as the table prints it:
  • Table 2a, Going rate (SW – option F): £31,300 (£16.05 per hour)

What the ONS says

Description

Nannies and au pairs care for and supervise babies and young children in the homes of the children's families.

Typical entry routes

Entry does not depend upon academic qualifications but a qualification in childcare and/or relevant experience may be useful. NVQs/SVQs in Child Care and Education are available at levels 2 and 3. A minimum age limit of 18 years applies, and a DBS check is mandatory. Nannies are not required to register with Ofsted but can become a part of the Voluntary Ofsted Childcare Register.

Tasks

• cares for children and babies and participates in their daily activities
• assists children to wash and dress
• changes babies’ nappies and clothes as necessary and makes up bottles for feeds
• mends, washes and irons children’s clothes and tidies their rooms
• organises activities and opportunities to socialise with other children
• takes children to school and other appointments
• helps develop child's learning, such as basic social skills

Related job titles

• Au pair
• Nanny

What the Appendix Skilled Occupations says

The Appendix lists this code in the tables below, with the tables’ own caption and the row as printed. Read the full table, and any condition in it, on GOV.UK.

Table 2a: Additional eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates for Skilled Worker applicants granted permission under the rules in place before 4 April 2024

SOC 2020 occupation code

6116 Nannies and au pairs

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

6122

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Au pairs
• Nannies

Going rate (SW – option F)

£31,300 (£16.05 per hour)

70% of going rate (SW – option J)

£25,000 (£12.82 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

No

Table 6: SOC 2020 occupation codes which are not eligible for the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility or Scale-up routes

SOC 2020 occupation code

6116 Nannies and au pairs

Examples of related job titles (non-exhaustive)

• Au pair
• Nanny

Other unit groups in minor group 611

• 6111 Early education and childcare assistants
• 6112 Teaching assistants
• 6113 Educational support assistants
• 6114 Childminders
• 6117 Playworkers

Sources

Occupation text: Office for National Statistics, SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups (file dated 27 August 2026, version V13). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0. Tables: Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK, page updated 3 August 2026; re-checked against the page updated 8 October 2026 on 26 October 2026, tables unchanged.

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