How Much Can I Earn as a Personal Assistant?

If you're considering becoming a Personal Assistant (PA), you may be wondering: how much can I actually earn?

The answer depends on your experience, the type of support you provide and, importantly, who you work for.

Working directly with a private client can offer higher rates and more flexibility than working through a care agency.

Personal Assistant rates at a glance

PA Pool recommends the following starting rates for private PA work:

These are recommended starting rates rather than guaranteed earnings. Your experience, the client's needs and the responsibilities of the role can all affect what you can earn.

Can I earn more on PA Pool than with an agency?

Potentially, yes.

Care agencies set their own rates and pay structures, and some live-in care roles can pay a little as £100 per day. By working directly with a client, you have much more scope to negotiate your own rate.

One of the biggest differences is that there's no agency commission when you work directly with a client. Instead of a percentage of the client's funding going towards agency fees, more of the money can go towards paying the PA.

Some agencies charge clients 30% or more on top of the PA's pay. By cutting out the middleman, a greater proportion of the funding can go directly to the PA, which can allow clients to offer higher daily rates while still managing their budget.

Working privately can therefore mean significantly higher earning potential, particularly if you have experience or specialist skills.

How much can I earn as a live-in PA?

Live-in PA work is generally paid by the day rather than by the hour.

A typical rate of £150–£200 per day works out at:

£1,050–£1,400 for seven days.

Higher-level or complex support at £200–£300 per day could mean £1,400–£2,100 for seven days.

Some live-in arrangements also provide accommodation and meals or a food allowance, which can add significant value to the overall package.

The exact rate depends on how much support the client needs. Someone who needs occasional assistance will have very different requirements from someone who needs regular personal care or complex physical support.

How much can I earn as a live-out PA?

For live-out work, PAs generally agree an hourly rate with their client.

As a starting point, PA Pool recommends:

• £14+ per hour for PAYE employment

• £16+ per hour for genuinely self-employed work

Experienced PAs or those providing specialist support may be able to negotiate higher rates.

Working directly with a client can also mean more control over the hours you work, rather than accepting shifts offered by an agency.

Why do self-employed PAs charge more?

A genuinely self-employed PA is responsible for their own tax, National Insurance, holiday, pension and other business costs.

They don't generally receive employee benefits such as paid holiday or sick pay, so their hourly or daily rate needs to reflect this.

Being self-employed isn't simply a way of getting paid more, though. Your employment status depends on the actual working relationship with your client.

What can increase your earning potential?

You don't necessarily need years of experience to become a PA. However, experience and specialist skills can help you negotiate a higher rate.

Experience with personal care, complex needs, moving and handling, driving or particular disabilities can all be valuable. Flexibility, reliability and finding the right long-term client can be just as important.

More freedom, more choice

One of the biggest advantages of working directly with private clients is having more control over your work.

You can discuss your rate, hours, preferred type of support and working arrangements directly with the person you'll be supporting.

You can also choose clients who are a good match for your personality, interests and experience.

If you're looking for a career where you can make a genuine difference while having more control over how and when you work, becoming a Personal Assistant could be a great option.

Find private PA work with PA Pool

[PA Pool] connects Personal Assistants directly with people looking for private support across the UK.

Create your profile, showcase your experience and skills, and connect with clients looking for a PA.

Ready to get started? Read How to Become a Personal Assistant in the UK or sign up here to create your PA Pool profile.