How Much Should I Pay My Personal Assistant?

If you're thinking about hiring a Personal Assistant (PA), one of the first questions you'll probably have is: how much should I pay my Personal Assistant?

There is no set Personal Assistant hourly rate in the UK. The right rate depends on the PA's experience, the level of support you need, your location and whether they are employed through PAYE or genuinely self-employed.

Personal Assistant rates at a glance

These are PA Pool's recommended starting rates, not statutory rates. The appropriate rate will depend on the individual role.

How much should I pay based on experience?

As a rough guide, you could consider:

£14–£16 per hour: A PA who is relatively new to the role, where you can provide training and the position involves straightforward support such as companionship, errands, household tasks or social activities.

£16–£20 per hour: An experienced PA with previous relevant experience, particularly where the role involves personal care, mobility support, driving, medication or supporting someone with a particular disability.

£20+ per hour: Specialist or complex support, significant responsibility, extensive experience or roles that are difficult to recruit for.

These aren't fixed bands. Someone new to PA work can be an excellent choice, while an experienced PA may expect more depending on the role.

The UK's National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is currently £12.71 per hour. (GOV.UK – National Minimum Wage) PA Pool's recommended rates are above the legal minimum because recruiting and retaining a good PA is about more than simply meeting minimum wage requirements.

PAYE vs self-employed PA rates

Whether your PA is employed through PAYE or genuinely self-employed makes a difference to the rate you should expect to pay.

A PAYE PA is your employee, so you will generally have additional employer costs and responsibilities. They are entitled to employment benefits such as paid holiday, and eligible employees may also receive statutory sick pay.

Most workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks' paid holiday per year. (GOV.UK – Holiday entitlement)

A genuinely self-employed PA is responsible for their own tax, National Insurance, holiday, pension and other business costs. They therefore generally charge a higher hourly rate.

Don't choose self-employment simply because it seems cheaper. Whether someone is employed or self-employed depends on the actual working relationship.

If you're considering employing your own PA, see Is Employing Your Own PA Right for You?.

How much does a live-in Personal Assistant cost?

Live-in PA work is usually better priced using a daily rate rather than an hourly rate.

The amount can vary significantly depending on the level of assistance required.

For example, someone who is largely independent but wants a PA available to provide occasional assistance will have very different needs from someone who requires regular personal care, transfers, specialist equipment or significant support throughout the day.

When agreeing a live-in rate, be clear about what is expected. Discuss working hours, breaks, overnight arrangements, days off, meals, travel and what happens if additional hours are needed.

A live-in daily rate shouldn't simply mean that someone is expected to be available 24 hours a day.

What about travel costs?

If your PA uses their own vehicle for work-related journeys during their working time, you should agree how their mileage and other reasonable travel expenses will be covered.

For 2026/27, HMRC's approved mileage rate for employees using their own car or van for business travel is 45p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles, then 25p per mile. Motorcycles are 24p and bicycles 20p. (GOV.UK – Mileage Allowance Payments)

You are not generally required to reimburse your PA's normal travel to and from their place of work or live-in placement. This is usually treated as their commute rather than a work-related journey.

For a live-in PA, for example, you may choose to cover or contribute towards their journey to and from your home, particularly if you're recruiting someone from a long distance away, but this is something to agree as part of the overall arrangement rather than an automatic entitlement.

Food and accommodation for live-in PAs

Because a live-in PA is staying in your home, food and accommodation should be discussed as part of the overall arrangement.

Many live-in roles provide meals as part of the arrangement. Another common option is to provide a weekly food allowance, particularly if the PA prefers to buy and prepare their own food. Current live-in care roles commonly advertise allowances of around £40–£50 per week.

You could, for example:

• Include the PA in your normal household food shopping and meals

• Agree that you will provide basic food for the PA

• Provide a weekly food allowance so they can buy their own food

Whatever you choose, agree it in advance. A PA shouldn't be expected to pay for their own food simply because they are living in your home while working.

The PA should also have suitable private accommodation within the home.

Food, accommodation and the PA's daily rate are separate parts of the overall arrangement, so make sure everyone understands exactly what is included before the role begins.

What if I use a Direct Payment?

If you're using a Direct Payment to employ a PA, your local authority may have its own rates and rules.

These vary considerably between councils, and the amount allocated may be intended to cover not just your PA's wages but also employment costs.

Before agreeing a rate, check what your Personal Budget is intended to cover, including wages, holiday pay, National Insurance, pension contributions and other costs.

For more information, see What Are Direct Payments? A Simple Guide and How Can You Pay for a Personal Assistant?.

How do I decide what to offer?

When setting your PA's rate, consider:

• Experience: How much previous experience do you need?

• Responsibilities: Does the role involve personal care, complex needs or specialist skills?

• Hours: Are you offering regular, guaranteed hours?

• Working times: Will the PA need to work evenings, weekends or bank holidays?

• Travel: Will they need to drive or travel as part of the role?

• Location: What are similar PA roles paying in your area?

• Employment type: Are you offering PAYE employment or genuinely self-employed work?

• Your budget: Can you sustain the rate long-term?

A good PA is worth investing in. A competitive rate can make it easier to attract someone who is reliable, experienced and a good fit for your needs.

If you're ready to start looking, PA Pool allows you to search for Personal Assistants directly.

For more help with the recruitment process, see The Complete Guide to Hiring a Personal Assistant in the UK.