How Much Does A Paediatric Nurse Earn In The UK?

Updated 17th March 2026

• This article was originally published on 8th February 2023, and last updated 17th March 2026
• All figures represent the 3.3% increase set for April 1st 2026

Paediatric Nurses, otherwise known as Children’s Nurses, are as in demand as ever in NHS Trusts all across the UK.

Caring for anyone from new-borns to teenagers, Paediatric Nurses can work in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, day care centres, clinics, the community or children’s homes. But what sort of pay can Paediatric Nurses expect in the UK? Does it vary between the public and private sector? And how can salaries be increased?

What Is The Starting Salary For A Paediatric Nurse?

The starting salary for a Paediatric Nurse is currently £32,073 a year. That’s a Band 5 salary – the same banding and salary as every other newly qualified Nurse in the NHS.

With each year of experience you move up to different pay points within a banding – and therefore increase your earnings every year until you reach the top.

Pay at the top of Band 5 with 4+ years experience is £39,043.

What Is The Average Salary For A Paediatric Nurse?

On average, a Paediatric Nurse can expect to earn somewhere between £32,000 and £48,117 a year according to industry stats.

This reflects a Band 5 to a Band 6 salary (£48,117 with over 5 yeas experience), a position that most Paediatric Nurses will find themselves in after a few years’ experience in the job.

In the private sector, average pay is harder to calculate – but the data that’s available suggests it can be slightly higher.

What Is The Highest Salary A Paediatric Nurse Can Earn?

Paediatric Nurses with enough experience and specialist skills can earn salaries well in excess of £50,000.

This kind of pay reflects senior roles at Band 7 (starting on £49,387) up to Band 8a with over 5 years experience (£64,750).

Typically these bandings and salaries are for Paediatric Nurses at consultant level, who will have specialist qualifications and will normally manage teams.

How Can You Boost Your Earnings As A Paediatric 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.

The NHS is less dependent on agency workers than it was a few years ago. Agency nurses need to be available at short notice, but can command a higher hourly rate (though now capped).

That said, agency roles only become lucrative when you’re experienced enough, and have the flexibility to work across multiple locations.

The other longer term career route towards higher pay could be to head into a health management role, research or teaching. Furthermore, in some cases your experience and skills could help you to apply for private sector roles that offer higher salaries too.