Learning Disability Nurse UK Salary in 2026

This helpful guide informs on what you can expect to earn in this niche and expanding area of Learning Disability Nursing.

There are just under 17,000 Learning Disability Nurses in the UK currently.

Their vital and challenging work is more important than ever with demands and challenges within this niche growing every year.

The NHS continues to work hard to attract more people to join this field of nursing, and inevitably the question of salary is often raised.

This short guide will summarise everything you need to know about learning disability nursing pay, from starting salaries and average salaries, through to what the future may hold.

What is the starting salary for a Learning Disability Nurse?

The starting salary for a Learning Disability Nurse is currently £31,048 a year.

That’s a Band 5 salary, which is the banding attributed to all newly qualified Nurses.

As your experience builds you can move up within this banding and therefore increase your earnings.

Pay at the top of Band 5 is just under £38,000 a year.

What is the average salary for a Learning Disability Nurse?

The average salary for a Learning Disability Nurse is approximately £39,000 to £46,000 a year.

The majority of Learning Disability Nurses are on Band 6, and this salary range reflects this banding.

Some Learning Disability Nurses work privately, but in the private sector salaries are fairly similar to the NHS.

What is the highest salary a Learning Disability Nurse can earn?

Learning Disability Nurses with enough experience can earn well in advance of £50,000 a year. This level of pay is attached to Band 8 roles and beyond.

However, this level of pay is normally only achievable by becoming more specialised. Nursing consultants will earn considerably more, for example.

Alternatively, you could pursue a position in health management, research, nurse education, or within a specific field of learning disabilities, such as autism.

How else can you boost your earnings as a Learning Disability Nurse?

Beyond building your experience or gaining new skills and qualifications, the other way of growing your potential earnings is through bank or agency work.

Many parts of the UK have a shortage of Learning Disability Nurses, and that means that many NHS Trusts rely on staff banks and staffing agencies to supply qualified Learning Disability Nurses on a flexible, short-term basis.

With enough experience, agency nurses can command very high daily rates of pay.

You could also consider taking on a role in the private sector, where pay is unregulated and therefore higher in some cases.

What does the future hold for Learning Disability Nursing pay?

As with other forms of nursing, the majority of Learning Disability Nurses work in the NHS, and are therefore reliant on annual increases decided upon by the government and pay regulators.

In recent years, nursing pay has become a very contentious subject. Increases have come each year, but many believe they are insufficient – especially in light of increasing inflation and rising household costs.

It's also worth noting that the overall number of LD Nurses working in the NHS is barely increasing year-on-year - while the demand for them is only growing. So perhaps in the future it will grow in focus and therefore attract more generous remuneration.

Demand for private sector support will likely grow too - and that will, in turn, boost potential earnings as a private Learning Disability Nurse.

With NHS pressures growing and staff shortages remaining, bigger salary increases to help attract and retain Learning Disability Nurses would seem likely.