How much do Registered Nurses get paid?

The annual salary for a Registered Nurse in the UK depends upon the specific nursing position, skills required, experience and job location.

Registered Nurses in England, Wales and Scotland are paid according to the Agenda for Change pay-scale.

Newly Qualified (Band 5) Nurses are currently paid £22,128 a year or £11.32 per hour.

This equates to between £1300 and £1500 per month for employees working 37.5 hours per week after tax, national insurance, pension and student loan contributions. Finally this will also depend on the amount of unsociable hours completed. 

Here is an anonymised copy of my first ever payslip as a Registered Nurse from a couple of years ago.

Nurses, like all healthcare professionals, are also subject to other employment related costs such as; car parking charges (£20 to £40 per month), professional registration fees (£125 per year) and union fees (£17 to £20 per month).

Healthcare staff working in London receive a supplementation of up to £6,405 in inner London – you can find out exactly how much here.

How often do Nurses receive a pay rise?

NHS staff received a yearly 1% pay rise for the last 7 years. This is expected to continue for the foreseeable future due to ongoing pay restraint.

Nurses, do however, receive a yearly incrementation of pay until they reach the top of their ‘banding’ although this is usually subject to individual performance reviews and once they have reached the top there is no further incrementation without changing roles. 

How well are Nurses paid?

Newly qualified nurses remain one of the lowest paid graduate professions in the UK and despite the ongoing challenge for better pay. You can take a look at the agenda for change pay-scale.

Nurses do however have extensive options when it comes to career progression and better pay. Options can include; nurse practitioners, ward sisters, matrons, specialist nurses, nurse managers and research nursing.