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  • 12 March 2021
  • 4 min read

NHS Nursing Pay Rises In April 2021 - What We DO Know!

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    • Mat Martin
    • Laura Bosworth
    • Aubrey Hollebon
    • Richard Gill
  • 1
  • 31357
At this point, all salaries are still offered according to the New Pay Deal laid out in 2018

What pay rises will NHS Nurses see in April 2021? There’s a lot being said about NHS Nursing Pay at the moment. This video explains what we DO know about your pay - as we stand.

*This video was created before the official announcement of the 3% pay rise in July 2021.*

NHS Nursing pay will rise in April (from 1st April - it's the same within all public sectors, if there is a rise).

In the last 3 years NHS Nursing pay rises have been awarded on 1st April. There's no evidence to suggest this has changed for 2021.

So, if you are due a pay rise it will happen in April. In this video we outline who will see a pay rise.

What Do We Know Will Happen In April 2021

• At this point, all salaries are still offered according to the New Pay Deal laid out in 2018. (We have a New Pay Deal Calculator that you can use.)

• Now that Pay Deal is about to run out – and in the budget in early March it was announced that NHS Pay would increase by only 1%, in May.

• At the time of recording the RCN have said they will oppose this. So we’ll see.

• What I will do here is talk about pay rates as they currently are.

NHS Pay Rises For Band 5 in April 2021

• For now, salary increases are still based on the 2018 New Pay Deal – so incremental increases in April 2021 simply follow the existing plans

• So let me talk you through what that means for nurses at different points for their career

• If you’re a newly qualified nurse, you’ll earn a Band 5 starting salary of £24,907

• But if you’ve been a Band 5 Nurse for 2 years, then from April 2021 your salary will increase by just over £2000 a year

• Meanwhile, if by April 2021 you’ve been a band 5 nurse for 4 years, your salary will jump by around £500, from £26,970 to £27,416

• And if you’ve been a Band 5 nurse for more than 6 years, you’ll get a big increase of more than £3000 – taking your salary to £30,615 which is currently the very top of the banding

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NHS Pay Rises For Band 6 in April 2021

• And now to Band 6 nurses…

• Band 6 roles currently start at £31,365 but more importantly, for most Band 6 nurses who have a couple of years of experience, the salary is £33,176 a year

• It stays at this level until you have more than 5 years experience – so if that’s you come April 2021, you’ll get a pay rise of just over £600

• But the best pay rise comes for Band 6 nurses who have 7 years’ experience as of April 2021. Your pay will actually jump by just over £4100 to £37,890

• For anyone in Band 7 the main highlight is that a nurse moving from 6 years experience to 7 years of experience (come April 2021) will see their pay move up from £41,723 to £44,503 (a pay rise of just under £3000…)

Conclusion

As I say, we all wait with bated breath to see what the new pay deal looks like - and when it arrives.

We have been told it will be early summer but whenever it is we will be here to explain what it means for you. Read more about Does A New Health Secretary Alter The Odds For An NHS Pay Rise?

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About this contributor

I believe people working in healthcare should be able to choose to enjoy work. That is, choose an employer who reflects their values and provides them with a sustainable career. This leads to better patient care, higher retention rates and happier working lives in this most important employment sector.

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    • Mat Martin
    • Laura Bosworth
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    • F Y 3 years ago
      F Y
    • F Y
      3 years ago

      Hi would a newly graduated nurse who did a dual registration undergraduate masters degree also still be in band 5 ... read more

      • Hmmmm. I have to be honest F Y, but I'm not sure. You would need to take this up with your hiring NHS Trust.

        Replied by: Matt Farrah

        Thanks My dual registration is child and mental health nursing.. is it possible for me to go from nursing to social working and would I have to take the whole social working degree again or... what i... read more

        Thanks My dual registration is child and mental health nursing.. is it possible for me to go from nursing to social working and would I have to take the whole social working degree again or... what is the pathway for me to do this??? Is it true that social workers get paid more than nurses?? How long does it take for you to go up a band as a nurse do you u have to be in that same band for 5+ years?? (Sorry for the overload of questions :)crvdbrcktsc
        read less

        Replied by: F Y

        I'm afraid some of the answers required here are above my pay grade! I would say that simply looking at pay as your motivation might not lead to the best decision. Nursing and social work are very dif... read more

        I'm afraid some of the answers required here are above my pay grade! I would say that simply looking at pay as your motivation might not lead to the best decision. Nursing and social work are very different career pathways of course and that ought to be your primary focus. You would not have to wait 5 years to move from Band 5. Not sure where you heard that!
        read less

        Replied by: Matt Farrah

        Thank you :)

        Replied by: F Y
      • Show all replies

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