What's the typical starting wage for a Nurse in the UK?

Updated 4th March 2026

• This article was originally published on 8th April 2021, and last updated 4th March 2026
• All figures represent the 3.3% increase set for April 1st 2026

As a student nurse or newly qualified nurse you might be wondering about pay in the UK?

Let’s just get straight to the nursing salary question and get that answered: The current starting salary for a Band 5 Nurse in the UK is £32,073 per year (minus tax and pensions).

"The current average starting salary for a Band 5 Nurse in the UK is £32,073 per year"

This is according to Agenda for Change, and includes the most recent 3.3% pay rise announced in February 2026.

(That’s the minimum and does not include any allowances or location weighting.)

For me, I wasn’t as concerned about what I would be paid but I had to make sure that my bills would be covered.

After some years you will get a pay increment. We detail this here on Nurses.co.uk on our Pay Guide page.

This all depends on your performance over the year and whether you have maintained all your mandatory training for the year.

They can withhold your pay increments if this isn’t done.

Your pay also depends on how much service you have done in the NHS already and what role you are doing.

As you can see on the pay scale, it will increase the higher the band you go.

It was only in 2018 that nursing pay in the UK was increased to this new pay scale after years of nurses fighting for better recognition.

(An NHS nurse’s starting salary increased every year for the subsequent three years.)

Back in 2015, for a Band 5 nurse pay was £21,692.

However, do not be fooled by this percentage, this doesn’t make up for all the years of pay cap nurses suffered (it was averaged at around 12% LOSS in 2015). Not to mention the current inflation rates and the high cost of living.

But now the cap has been scrapped, will nurses start to see a regular pay increase in the future?

Who knows…?

I absolutely think nurses should be paid a whole lot more for what they do, and I thought this would be recognised given the effort with Covid.

In the private sector, it’s such a varied pay scale as each company will have their own pot of money to pay staff with.

Do Nursing Pay Rates Depend On WHERE You Work?

Yes.

It very much depends on the place you work for.

For instance, in GP nursing, each GP has their own funding to spend as they wish on staffing.

So, each GP will vary but some go by the Agenda for Change, the same as the NHS to keep it fair.

However, if you are applying to GP nurse jobs, I advise you to ask in your interview or prior, about their contracts and how much annual leave, sick pay and maternity / paternity as well as pensions you are entitled to.

This is something a couple of GPs aren’t the best at, and some won’t offer you a very good deal, so make sure you get everything in place before signing the dotted line.

In addition, agencies are also on a different pay scale and both private / agency work is often a little bit more pay than the NHS.

Whether you choose NHS, private or the agency sector make sure the pay, terms and benefits work out for you and your life.

What’s The Starting Wage For A Nurse Working In The Private Sector?

Newly qualified, NMC registered Nurses can actually start their careers in the private sector too.

Here, the starting salary is more difficult to pin down because pay in the private sector is unregulated.

But some anecdotal 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.

Agency And Bank Pay For Nurses

Meanwhile, many other Nurses choose to work via an agency or through a trust’s bank.

Not only does this offer lots of flexibility, but it can 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.

Ultimately, nursing pay is enormously varied depending on experience, where you work and what you choose to specialise in.

But undoubtedly, there’s a growing consensus nationally that Nurses have never been more important – and should earn a salary that reflects that.

When Do NHS Nurses Get A Pay Rise?

The way pay plans were structured back in 2018 have meant that NHS Nurses should get their incremental pay rise every April.

However, since 2021, pay rises have become a controversial issue and agreement on deals have often come after April - meaning pay rises have been back-dated. The exception is this year - in 2026 the pay rise was announced in February, which offered a 3.3% pay rise on the previous year.

If I’m A Nurse Looking For More Pay, How Can I Make Extra Money?

Which leads me to my final piece of advice, how to make more or extra money whilst nursing?

Another contributor to Nurses.co.uk, Debbie Olusola, has written this piece a few years ago for tips on how to position yourself to earn more as a nurse.

A few nurses I know do extra shifts as bank or agency work, as they offer more pay per hour this way, especially if you do a Sunday or bank holiday shift.

Some places offer up to double pay during those times!

However, if you wanted something non-nursing related, you could set up an online Etsy store and get creative.

This is something I personally do on the side to make a few extra pounds here and there in my own time, with no pressure added.

A few student nurses are now making flash cards and selling these on Etsy, and they do really well!

Also looking into your own trust for bank shifts or university for paid work too; something else I did as a student was being a student ambassador and got paid for this – I loved it!

I love doing extra things on the side that are going to keep me motivated.

For me, it’s not just about extra money, it’s about keeping me doing what I love with passion.