United Kingdom Nurse Salary Per Month and Understanding Pay scale – 2024
UK Nurse Salary Per Month and Understanding Pay Scale: 2024
The average registered nurse salary in the United Kingdom is £2,844 per month, £34,128 per year, or £17.50 per hour. Entry-level positions start at £30,225 per year, while most experienced workers make up to £48,750 per year.
However, this can vary depending on factors such as location, level of experience, and type of employer.
For example, nurses working in London tend to earn higher salaries due to the higher cost of living in the city. Additionally, nurses with more experience or specialized training may earn higher salaries.
However, nurses working in the National Health Service (NHS) typically have a slightly lower salary compared to those working in private healthcare. Salaries for nurses can also vary depending on their role, with those in management or leadership positions earning more than those in entry-level roles.
Overview.
In this article, we have provided a sufficient explanation of the salary for nurses in the United Kingdom and a full understanding of the UK banding system. This article also includes information on the salaries of nurses working in NHS and private health centers in the UK.
To make our diverse readers who need to understand the UK nursing salary and pay scale system in the United Kingdom feel calm, we have provided full information on whether international and UK-based citizens, including students, student nurses, registered nurses and other people who need to understand the salary of nurses working in the United Kingdom, will have a comprehensive explanation that will make them fully understand all they need to know about the salary of nurses in the UK.
When a newly qualified registered nurse starts working in the UK as a qualified registered nurse, the NMC starts at Band 5 with a salary of about £28,407 per year. Within 2-4 years’ experience, a Band 5 nurse will earn £30,639, and the very top of this banding pays £32,934. A nurse can be promoted up to upper band 9 after accumulating experience over some years. During this period, the salary of a nurse increases according to the bands.
However, the current starting salary for a Band 5 nurse in the UK is £28,407, with tax and pensions excluded.
The UK Band pay system
To understand what bands are related to nurses salaries in the UK, below is a complete explanation: The band-pay system included all staff except doctors, dentists and other very senior managers. There are 9 bands in the NHS UK pay system, and each of the nine pay bands has a number of pay points. Staff covers will normally be promoted to the next pay point annually until they reach the top of the pay band (band 9). In addition to basic pay, there is also extra pay for staff who work in high-cost areas, such as around London, as we have stated earlier.
Band 1: Nursery Assistant salary in the UK
Years: 0-1+
In the UK, Band 1 nurses are considered nursery assistants and typically earn a starting salary of around £22,383 per year.
Nursery assistant roles require simple routine procedures that are gained through simple induction or training. The roles are unskilled and require limited qualifications.
An example of the roles in Band 1.
- Nursery assistant.
- Domestic support worker.
- Housekeeping assistant.
- Driver.
Band 2: Healthcare Assistant
Years: 0-6+
In the UK, Band 2 employees are considered to be more experienced than Band 1 they typically earn a salary of around £22,383 per year.
The roles in this band would need a period of induction. The employee needs to understand some procedures that, although routine, may be performed outside of their immediate work area.
Example of Roles at Band 2
Healthcare assistant
- Nursery assistant
- Domestic team leader
- Domestic support worker
- Housekeeping assistant
- Driver security officer
- secretary/typist
Band 3: Emergency Care Assistant
Band 3 employees are expected to take on a more advanced role in patient care; they will be expected to use their knowledge to apply to new situations within a range of work procedures. Roles would require a level of formal training or relevant experience.
Examples of roles at band 3
- Emergency care assistant
- Clinical coding officer
- Estates officer
- Occupational therapy support worker.
Band 3 workers are considered to be more experienced compared to Band 1 and 2 nurses and typically earn a salary of around £22,816 to £24,336 per year.
Band 4: Theatre Support Worker
Years of Experience: 0–6 years
In the UK, Band 4 employees are considered to be senior or advanced practitioners and typically earn a salary of around £25,147 to £27,596 per year. These positions would require further application of theory to a job role. Band 4 roles would require a candidate to have relevant experience or complete a detailed training programme.
Examples of roles at band 4
- Assistant practitioner
- Audio-visual technician
- Pharmacy technician
- Dental nurse
- Theater support worker.
Band 5: Newly Qualified Nurse
Years of Experience: 0–7
In the UK, Band 5 employees (nurses) are considered to be fully qualified and experienced nurses who have taken on a role that requires a higher level of autonomy, clinical judgment and decision-making. They typically earn a salary of around £28,407 to £32,934.13 per year.
They would be expected to understand a wide range of procedures and practices. Candidates likely have expertise within a specialist area, which will have been gained through qualifications or relevant experience.
Examples of roles at Band 5 include many newly qualified clinical professionals:
- Operating department practitioner (ODP),
- Therapeutic radiographer
- podiatrist
- Learning disability nurse and practice manager.
- ICT test analyst
Band 6: Nursing specialist or Senior Nurse
Years of Experience: 0–8
In the UK, Band 6 nurses are considered to be senior nurses and have advanced clinical expertise; they act as clinical leaders and mentors for other nurses. They typically earn a salary of around £35,391 to £42,618 per year.
From 1st April 2023 (with the 5% NHS pay rise offered), the annual salary for a Band 6 on the 1st pay point will be £35,391. This is £2,949.25 a month before deductions. A person on this NHS pay point will pay £228.15 a month of national insurance, £289.03 a month in NHS pension contributions, and £322.54 a month in tax.
The Nursing specialist or Senior Nurse
Specialist roles are gained through study or extensive practical experience.
Examples of roles at band 6
- School nurse
- Biomedical scientist
- Clinical psychology trainee
- Experienced paramedic
Band 7: Advanced Nurse or Nurse Practitioner
Years of experience: 0–8
In the UK, Band 7 nurses are considered to be advanced practitioners or senior managers and have a high level of autonomy, clinical judgment, and decision-making skills. They typically earn a salary of around £45,996 to £50,056 per year.
They are nurses with highly developed specialist knowledge across a range of situations. Employees will have gained skills through extensive study and relevant practical experience.
They may also be expected to take on leadership roles, such as leading a team of nurses or managing a ward or department. They may also be involved in the management and development of services, and may act as a link between the management and the nursing staff.
Examples of roles at band 7
- Communications manager,
- Advanced speech and
- Language therapist
- High-intensity therapist
Band 8: Modern Matron or Chief Nurse
In the UK, Band 8 nurses are considered to be highly experienced and specialist nurses and have a high level of autonomy, clinical judgment, and decision-making skills. They typically earn a salary of around £50,52 to £58,972 per year
Band 8 is the top end of the NHS nurse grades. For nurses, this banding reflects heads of teams. You’ll still carry out many nursing duties, in addition to looking after a large team of staff.
Band 9
Band 9 is not a standard band in the UK National Health Service (NHS) nursing pay scale. But it is important to know that Band 8 is the highest band in the nursing pay scale. Band 9 is usually used for nursing management and leadership roles such as director of nursing, chief Nurse and other senior management roles that are not directly involved in patient care.
These positions can have a wide range of salary based on the level of responsibilities and the size of the organization they work for, and it could range anywhere between £99,891 to £114,949 or more
What about private nurse salaries in the UK?
According tonurses united kingdom, “Newly qualified registered nurses licensed to practice by NMC in the UK can actually start their careers in private health care centers.
In the UK, the starting salary is more difficult to pin down because pay in the private sector is unregulated.
But some reports suggest it can offer a slightly higher starting salary. Barchester Healthcare, for example, is one of the biggest private providers of nursing and residential care services in the UK and tends to offer a starting salary that’s slightly higher than the NHS equivalent.
The vast majority of newly qualified nurses start their careers within the NHS, so private providers probably have to offer a little more money to grab their attention. However, it’s by no means a certainty that your starting salary will be higher in the private sector; other considerations are important too.
Benefits in the NHS are renowned for being excellent and rarely matched by private jobs. But private positions normally offer more flexibility and a lower nurse-to-patient ratio. So when considering where you’ll work as a nurse, think about the kind of life you want to lead—not just pay.”.
Non-governmental Organizations E.g Agency and Bank in UK
Meanwhile, many other nurses are prepared to work with an agency or a trust’s bank. Not only does this offer lots of flexibility, but it can also offer much higher daily rates of pay.
But without the benefits and security of a full-time position, the key to success as a bank or agency nurse is finding work consistently. Broadly speaking, that makes it a better choice when you’ve already gained some experience first.
source: nurses.co.uk
UK Nurse salary based on qualifications
The higher the educational qualification a nurse achieved in the UK, the higher the salary they earn. This is in detail (in GBP) according to the qualifications in the UK per year: nurses with bachelor’s degrees earn about £45,400, and nurses with master’s degrees earn about £63,000 in the UK.
UK Registered Nurse Salary according Location
A nurse can earn a higher or lower salary in the UK according to his or her job location. There is a high cost of living in some places and a low cost of living in others; therefore, a nurse living in a location with a higher cost of living can earn a higher salary, and vice versa. The example below will help you understand the nurse’s salary according to their location in the UK.
Location Salary (in GBP) per Year
- Wirral: £113,606
- Holywell, Clwyd: £73,125
- Welshpool: £73,125
- Shetland Islands: £71,125
- North East England: £70,200
- Wilmslow: £69,888
- Lowestoft: £69,277
- Dronfield: £69,225
- Isle of Man: £68,467
- Washington, Tyne And Wear: £68,250
Nurses salary in the UK according to Skills
This list explained the salary of nurses according to their skills in the UK
- Skills Salary (in GBP) per Year
- Medicine and Surgery: £25,903
- Geriatrics £25,790
- Elder Care: £27,770
- Acute Care: £26,480
- Critical Care: £27,084
Work Experience (in Years) Salary (in GBP) per Year
This explains the salary of a nurse in the UK according to the length of time a nurse has worked.
- 0 to 2 years: £32,200
- 2 to 5 years: £43,200
- 5 to 10 years: £56,100
- 10 to 15 years: £67,900
- 15 to 20 years: £74,300
- 20 years and above, £78,100
UK nurse salary according to Gender
In the UK, a female nurse earns a little higher salary than a male nurse. Details are below:
Gender Salary (in GBP) per Year
Male: £53,300
Female: £57,500
Benefits enjoyed by a National Health Service (NHS) Nurse
In the UK, it’s very important to work with the NHS due to its huge benefits and job security compared to other agencies and private health sectors.
The benefits enjoyed by a nurse registered with the National Health Service (NHS) are as follows:
- Increase in pay grade, between 30 percent and 60 percent in the case of working night shifts, weekends and national and bank holidays.
- The pension scheme of the NHS provides comprehensive and generous support to all sectors in the UK.
- Enjoys 27 holidays in a year, along with bank holidays.
- Free access to health, occupational and counselling support.
- Full pay for six months on sick leave and half pay for six months on the same.
- Enjoys maternity and paternity leave, even if it goes above the minimum statutory leave.
- Access to varied and vast training and professional development courses and funding from the institution that appointed them.
Table of UK band system, years of experience and salary for nurses
| Band system | Years of experience | Salary |
| Band 1 | 0-1+ | £22,383 |
| Band 2 | 0-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5-6 6 years and above |
£22,383 £22,383 £22,383 £22,383 £22,383 £22,383 £22,383 |
| Band 3 | 0-1
1-2 |
£22,816
£22,816 |
| Band 4 | 0-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5-6 6 years and above |
£25,147
|
| Band 5 |
0-1 |
£28,407 |
| Band 6 | 0-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 5-6 6-7 7-8 8 years and above |
£35,392
|
| Band 7 | 0-1 1-2 3-4 4-5 5-6 6-7 7-8 8 years and above |
£43,742 £43,742 £45,996 £45,996 £50,056 £50,056 £50,056 £50,056 |
| Band system | Years of experience | Salary |
| Band 8a | 0-1
1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5 years and above |
£50,952
£50,952 £50,952 £50,952 £50,952 £57,349
|
| Band 8b | 0-1
1-2 2-3 4-5 5 years and above |
£58,972
£58,972 £58,972 £58,972 £68,525
|
| Band 8c | 0-1
1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 |
£70,417
£70,417 £70,417 £70,417 £70,417 £81,138 |
| Band 8d | 0-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5 years and above |
£83,571
|
| Band 9 | 0-1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5 years and above |
£99,891
|