Childcare assistant Salary in Denmark 2026: What Do Childcare assistants Earn?
Childcare assistants (pædagogmedhjælpere) support pedagogues in kindergartens and nurseries — a common entry route into Danish childcare work without a degree requirement. Figures are official standardised earnings.
What does a childcare assistant earn in Denmark in 2026?
The official number (incl. pension and supplements, full-time equivalent): The standardised monthly earnings average 31,481 DKK/month (DISCO 5311, 43,289 full-time employees, all sectors, 2024 — pulled directly from Statistics Denmark). Source: Statistics Denmark, LONS20 — direct table extract.
The real salary spread — quartiles straight from Statistics Denmark
Averages get pulled up by top earners. The quartiles show where pay actually sits for childcare assistants (standardised hourly earnings, all sectors, 2024):
| Quartile | Hourly earnings (DST) | Monthly equivalent* |
|---|---|---|
| Lower quartile (25% earn less) | 171.89 DKK | approx. 27,559 DKK |
| Median (the middle salary) | 198.89 DKK | approx. 31,888 DKK |
| Upper quartile (25% earn more) | 220.62 DKK | approx. 35,372 DKK |
Half of all childcare assistants earn between approx. 27,559 and 35,372 DKK/month. Hourly figures are DST's raw numbers — *monthly figures are OUR calculation (hourly earnings × 160.33, DST's standard month). Source: Statistics Denmark, LONS20 — direct table extract. Last fact-checked 16 July 2026.
What makes up the salary?
The standardised hourly earnings in this trade (196.35 DKK/hour, 2024) break down like this:
| Component | DKK per hour (DST) | Share* |
|---|---|---|
| Base pay | 173.07 DKK | 88.1% |
| Pension incl. ATP | 20.14 DKK | 10.3% |
| Shift/inconvenience supplements | 0.86 DKK | 0.4% |
| Irregular payments (bonus etc.) | 2.26 DKK | 1.2% |
| Employee benefits | 0.02 DKK | 0.0% |
Hourly figures are DST's raw component numbers — *shares are OUR calculation. Source: Statistics Denmark, LONS20 — direct table extract. Last fact-checked 16 July 2026.
What moves the pay in this trade?
The FOA agreement sets the base, and seniority plus the PAU education (pedagogical assistant degree) are the realistic pay levers. Many use the role as a paid pathway toward the pedagogue bachelor — municipalities often support the transition.
How to read the numbers
The figures are standardised monthly earnings: everything the employer pays (base pay, pension, supplements, holiday pay) converted to full time. That is usually higher than the base salary on a payslip — but it is the honest number for comparing trades. Part-timers are converted to full-time equivalents. All figures are before tax.
Applying for jobs in Denmark?
Danish employers expect a specific application style — shorter, warmer and less formal than most countries. Learn how to write one that works.
The Danish cover letter guide →Related reading
Average salary in Denmark · Trades careers in Denmark · Working in Denmark guide