Types of NHS Pay Bands
The NHS Pay Bands referred to within our NHS pay calculator are part of a system that was introduced to structure salaries within the NHS in a transparent way.
The different bandings are introduced at different stages in a Nurse’s career, starting from Band 5.
Within each banding, salaries increase with every year of service until the top of the banding is reached. Thereafter, higher salaries are only achievable by moving on to a higher banding, which is normally possible through further qualifications and applying for a more senior position.
- Band 5 salaries are offered to newly registered Nurses, and the current starting salary is £32,073. With 2-4 years’ experience, a Band 5 Nurse will earn £34,592, and the most a Nurse can earn in this banding is £39,043
- Band 6 salaries are offered typically to Senior Nurses, Health Visitors and other specialists, and the starting salary at this banding is £39,959. This rises to £48,117 for Nurses with more than 5 years’ experience
- Band 7 salaries are often offered to roles like Ward Managers, Emergency Nurse Practitioners and other specialists. Salaries in this banding start at £49,387 and rise to £56,515 for anyone with more than 5 years of experience
- Band 8 and 9 salaries are for exceptionally senior and consultant level Nurses – like Modern Matrons and Chief Nurses. Band 8a roles start at £57,528, but at Band 8d, can rise to £108,814 a year. Meanwhile, Band 9 roles start at £112,782, and rise to more than £129,000 with experience.
If you're new to nursing, or considering your next career step, we have a great introductory article for you - jump to our Nurse Career Guide: How to Become a Nurse in the UK.
NHS salary calculator FAQs
What’s the minimum a qualified Nurse will earn?
The starting salary for a newly qualified Nurse is currently a Band 5 salary, which pays £32,073 a year.
Do salaries within the NHS pay bands increase each year?
As is the case with other public sector workers, annual pay increases for professionals at every level are normally introduced but are hotly debated. Over the last two years, pay rises have been 3.6% and 3.3% respectively.
Does the NHS Pay calculator take into account deductions like pensions and tax?
The calculator is a flexible tool that is able to show you both your ‘gross’ pay as well as your ‘take-home’ pay.
That means you can see not just your total remuneration but also what you’re likely to earn each month or each week – and how much you will pay in tax and pension payments.
How do I move into a higher banding?
Moving into a higher banding is all about qualifications and experience.
A Band 6 role, for example, might be something like a Senior Nurse or a Health Visitor. And in both of those cases, the difference from being a new qualified Nurse is experience and qualifications.
So moving up the bandings demands more study – perhaps through a Master’s course or similar – or gaining experience within different specialisms or care settings.
As you accumulate this extra experience, you’ll harness your employability, and you’ll be able to apply for roles specifically advertised within higher bandings.
It’s also important to note that simply gaining experience within the same role won’t necessarily equip you for that move into a higher banding. In most cases, you’ll need to show new skills gained in a different context.
Is the NHS salary calculator updated each year?
Our NHS calculator is updated as soon as new pay rise deals are fully confirmed.
This process can be a little confusing, because pay deals are sometimes announced but then delayed because unions refuse to accept them.
But once formally confirmed, we update all of our figures immediately to ensure you can calculate an accurate indication of your expected salary.
We last updated the calculator on March 2nd 2026 to represent the pay rates that are effective as of April 1st 2026.
What’s the most an NHS Nurse can earn?
Exceptionally qualified and experienced consultant-level Nurses can earn in excess of £100,000 a year at Band 8d or above.
These roles are relatively scarce of course, but it’s a level that is reachable.
How much do Nurses earn in the private sector compared to the NHS?
Pay in the private sector is unregulated, so an accurate comparison is difficult.
Anecdotally, private sector Nurses may earn slightly more than equivalent NHS Nurses. However, benefits tend to be better within the NHS than in the private sector.
It’s also worth noting that many major private hospitals benchmark Nurse salaries against the NHS, so in many cases salaries aren’t that different.
It makes sense to view every single role, in or outside of the NHS, on its own merit.
More information about UK nursing pay
Go to our Nursing Pay Guide for more information about nursing salary & NHS pay scale and bands.
About our Pay Calculator
We have used the most reliable sources available to build our NHS Pay Calculator, and fact-checked them. Of course, your personal situation may change some outcomes so please check with your employer. Do contact us if you feel we could improve the information on this page.
