Caregiver Jobs in Sri Lanka 2026
Home care, elder care and hospital care jobs, what they pay, the NVQ certificate employers ask for, and the routes to caregiver work abroad
What do caregiver jobs in Sri Lanka pay in 2026?
Full-time caregiver jobs in Sri Lanka pay about LKR 35,000 to 70,000 a month in 2026, by our estimate. Agency home caregivers and hospital care assistants earn LKR 35,000 to 55,000, live-in elder caregivers LKR 40,000 to 70,000 with food and a room, and senior caregivers up to LKR 80,000. The legal floor is LKR 30,000.
How we checked this
- We checked the 2026 national minimum wage against the amendment act and Labour Department statements.
- We read the University of Colombo Faculty of Nursing page for its TVEC-accredited NVQ caregiving courses and fees.
- Israel and Japan figures come from our own country guides, which cite SLBFE and official wage sources. All checked in October 2026.
- Local pay ranges are SalaryLK editorial estimates from adverts; no agency publishes a pay scale.
Which caregiver jobs are available in Sri Lanka?
We sorted the caregiver adverts we read into six kinds of job. Pay is gross monthly pay for full-time work, before EPF. Night shifts and live-in posts usually sit at the top of each range.
| Caregiver job | LKR / month (est.) | Typical employer |
|---|---|---|
| Home caregiver through an agency (day or night shift) | 35,000 - 55,000 | Home care agencies, Colombo and suburbs |
| Live-in elder caregiver (private family) | 40,000 - 70,000 | Private families; food and room included |
| Hospital care assistant / nursing assistant | 35,000 - 55,000 | Private hospitals and channel centres |
| Elders home or care home caregiver | 32,000 - 50,000 | Private elders homes and charities |
| Child or special needs carer | 35,000 - 60,000 | Families, day-care centres, special schools |
| Senior caregiver or care supervisor (NVQ Level 4) | 50,000 - 80,000 | Agencies, care homes, private hospitals |
These ranges line up with our caregiver salary guide, which breaks pay down by years of experience. If you are weighing care work against nursing, our private hospital nurse salary page shows how much more a registered nurse earns, and our factory nurse jobs guide covers sick room assistant posts that also hire trained caregivers.
What does a caregiver actually do?
The title covers a wide range of work. In a home care job you help an older or bedridden person wash, dress, eat and move safely, give medicines on time as prescribed, check basic signs such as blood pressure or blood sugar if trained to, and keep notes for the family or the visiting doctor.
In a private hospital, a care assistant or nursing assistant works under registered nurses: turning and feeding patients, changing linen, escorting patients and helping with hygiene. Care homes mix both kinds of work, usually with more residents per carer.
Childcare and special needs care is a related path with similar pay. Our child care worker salary guide covers it in detail.
Do you need an NVQ caregiver certificate?
Not always for a private family job, but it helps a great deal. Agencies, hospitals and every overseas route we checked ask for training, and the standard local qualification is an NVQ caregiver certificate accredited by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC).
| Example course | Length | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| NVQ Level 3 caregiving, University of Colombo Faculty of Nursing | 4.5 months, part time | LKR 95,000 |
| NVQ Level 4 caregiving, same faculty | 6 months part time + 3 months on-the-job | LKR 120,000 |
That faculty asks for completed A/L subjects and a credit pass in O/L English, plus a LKR 5,000 application fee. Private institutes offer NVQ Level 3 courses too, with different entry rules and fees. Before paying anyone, we would check that the course leads to a TVEC-issued NVQ certificate, not just a private certificate.
Where do you find caregiver vacancies?
- Home care agencies: the biggest source of private caregiver jobs in Colombo, Kandy and Gampaha. They place you with families and take a fee from the family.
- Private hospitals: recruit care and nursing assistants through careers pages and walk-in interviews.
- Elders homes: private homes and charities hire carers for day and night shifts.
- Job sites and Facebook groups: families post live-in and day caregiver jobs directly.
- Your training institute: many NVQ course providers pass on job openings to students.
A real agency charges the family, not you. Be wary of anyone who asks a caregiver for a large registration fee before placing them, and get your pay, hours and days off in writing.
How much do caregivers take home?
If an agency, hospital or care home employs you, 8% EPF comes off your pay and the employer adds 12% EPF and 3% ETF. At these pay levels no income tax (APIT) is due. The table below shows the take-home figure at the middle of each range. Our EPF and ETF calculator works out your own numbers.
A caregiver paid in cash by a family usually has no EPF at all. That can mean slightly more money now and nothing saved for later, which is one more reason we prefer agency or hospital jobs for long-term work.
Caregiver: take-home pay after EPF and tax
Monthly figures at the middle of each range above, using the 2025/26 and 2026/27 APIT rates (first LKR 150,000 a month tax-free) and the 8% employee EPF deduction. At these salary levels no APIT is due, so take-home pay is gross pay minus EPF. The employer also pays 12% EPF and 3% ETF on top, so a LKR 65,000 salary costs the employer about LKR 74,750 a month.
| Level | Gross | EPF 8% | APIT | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agency or hospital caregiver | LKR 45,000 | LKR 3,600 | LKR 0 | LKR 41,400 |
| Live-in elder caregiver | LKR 55,000 | LKR 4,400 | LKR 0 | LKR 50,600 |
| Senior caregiver / supervisor | LKR 65,000 | LKR 5,200 | LKR 0 | LKR 59,800 |
Estimate for a resident with one employer. Work out your own figure with the salary tax calculator.
Which overseas caregiver jobs are open to Sri Lankans?
Overseas care work pays many times more than local work, which is why demand for NVQ caregiver courses is high. These are the two government routes we have covered in depth:
| Country | Pay | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Israel | At least NIS 6,443.85 a month (minimum wage from 1 April 2026) | SLBFE government route; NVQ Level 3 caregiving or nursing experience, English course |
| Japan (SSW nursing care) | JPY 180,000 - 240,000 a month (est.) | JFT-Basic or JLPT N4, care skills test and care Japanese test |
Both routes run through the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) or registered channels. Fees, ages and intakes change, so read the country guides above and confirm on slbfe.lk before you pay anything.
Our take: get the NVQ first, then choose local or abroad
If you are serious about care work, we would do the NVQ Level 3 course before anything else. It lifts local pay, it is the entry ticket for Israel, and it makes agency and hospital jobs much easier to get.
For your first job, we would pick an agency or private hospital over a cash job with a family, even at a slightly lower salary. You get EPF, a written contract and someone to call if the job goes wrong. One or two years of documented experience is also what overseas recruiters ask for.
Watch for live-in jobs with no fixed day off. Care work is tiring, and burnout is the most common reason carers leave. Agree on rest days before you start.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find caregiver jobs in Sri Lanka?
Most caregiver jobs in Sri Lanka come through home care agencies, private hospitals hiring care or nursing assistants, private elders homes and direct family referrals. Agencies and hospitals advertise on job sites, in weekend newspapers and on Facebook. Families often hire through word of mouth. An NVQ Level 3 caregiver certificate makes you far easier to place and usually means better pay.
What is the private caregiver jobs in Sri Lanka salary?
Our estimate for a full-time private caregiver is LKR 35,000 to 70,000 a month in 2026. Agency home caregivers usually earn LKR 35,000 to 55,000, live-in elder caregivers LKR 40,000 to 70,000 with food and a room, and senior or supervising caregivers LKR 50,000 to 80,000. These are SalaryLK editorial estimates, not survey figures.
Is there a minimum salary for caregivers in Sri Lanka?
Yes. Caregivers employed in the private sector are covered by the national minimum wage, which is LKR 30,000 a month or LKR 1,200 a day from 1 January 2026. A caregiver paid by the day should get at least LKR 1,200 for a full day. Most agency and hospital caregiver posts we reviewed pay above the minimum.
What qualification do I need for a caregiver job in Sri Lanka?
Many employers ask for an NVQ Level 3 caregiver certificate accredited by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC). The University of Colombo Faculty of Nursing, for example, runs NVQ Level 3 (4.5 months part time) and Level 4 caregiving courses. Some families hire without a certificate, but pay is usually lower and overseas routes require one.
How much does a caregiver course cost in Sri Lanka?
Fees vary by institute. The University of Colombo Faculty of Nursing lists LKR 95,000 for its NVQ Level 3 caregiving course and LKR 120,000 for Level 4, plus a LKR 5,000 application fee, with instalments available. Private institutes charge different amounts, so compare TVEC accreditation, practical training hours and fees before you pay.
Do caregivers get EPF and ETF in Sri Lanka?
If you are employed by an agency, hospital or care home, you are a private-sector employee, so EPF and ETF apply: 8% deducted from your pay and 12% EPF plus 3% ETF paid by the employer. Caregivers paid privately by a family are often not registered. Ask for a written letter of appointment and check your EPF statement.
What is the salary for caregiver jobs in Israel for Sri Lankans?
Caregivers in Israel must be paid at least the Israeli minimum wage, which rose to NIS 6,443.85 a month on 1 April 2026, roughly LKR 693,000 at October 2026 exchange rates. Jobs go through the government-to-government route run by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), which has asked for an NVQ Level 3 caregiving certificate or nursing experience.
Can I get a caregiver job in Japan from Sri Lanka?
Yes, through the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) programme. Nursing care is one of the 16 SSW fields. You need to pass JFT-Basic or JLPT N4, the nursing care skills test and the Nursing Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test. Our estimate for SSW nursing care pay is JPY 180,000 to 240,000 a month before deductions.
Are live-in caregiver jobs in Sri Lanka better paid?
Live-in jobs often pay a little more in cash, about LKR 40,000 to 70,000 a month by our estimate, and you save on food, rent and travel. The trade-off is long and unclear hours. Agree in writing on your days off, night duties and what happens if the patient is admitted to hospital before you move in.
Sources
- Advanced Certificate in Caregiving (NVQ Level 3 and 4) - Faculty of Nursing, University of Colombo
- Sri Lanka raises private sector minimum wage to Rs. 30,000 - OnLanka
- Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment
- Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission
- Employees' Provident Fund - Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Updated Reviewed by SalaryLK Editorial TeamHow we research salaries
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