From newly qualified Band 5 to nurse consultant, here's what nursing pays in 2026/27 — including the after-tax figures.
Registered nurses in the NHS in England are paid on Agenda for Change bands. A newly qualified nurse starts at the bottom of Band 5; experienced ward nurses reach the top of Band 5 or move into Band 6 (senior staff nurse, deputy ward manager); Band 7 covers ward managers and advanced nurse practitioners; Band 8a covers matrons and nurse consultants.
| Role / band | Salary | Take-home / year | Take-home / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newly qualified (Band 5 entry) | £32,073 | £26,612 | £2,218 |
| Band 5 top step | £39,043 | £31,631 | £2,636 |
| Senior nurse (Band 6 entry) | £39,959 | £32,290 | £2,691 |
| Band 6 top step | £48,117 | £38,164 | £3,180 |
| Ward manager / ANP (Band 7 entry) | £49,387 | £39,078 | £3,257 |
| Band 7 top step | £56,515 | £43,336 | £3,611 |
| Matron / consultant (Band 8a entry) | £57,528 | £43,924 | £3,660 |
| Band 8a top step | £64,750 | £48,112 | £4,009 |
Take-home figures use 2026/27 England/Wales/NI rates (Income Tax + employee NI only, standard tax code, no pension or student loan deductions). Public-sector pension contributions will reduce take-home further — model yours with our Pension Tax Relief Calculator.
Basic salary is only part of nursing pay. Night shifts, weekends and bank holidays attract unsocial-hours enhancements — typically time-plus-30% to time-plus-60% for Band 5. A full-rotation Band 5 nurse can add £3,000–£6,000 a year on top of the figures above. Agency and bank shifts pay more still, but without the NHS pension and sick-pay protections.
Private hospitals typically pay close to NHS rates for staff roles, while agency nurses can earn £25–£45+ per hour depending on specialty and region — but as a worker you should check how tax is handled. If you do agency work through an umbrella company, model your real pay with our Umbrella Pay Calculator.
£32,073 basic (Band 5 entry step in England) — roughly £2,205 per month after tax and NI, before pension contributions and any unsocial-hours enhancements.
Nurse consultants and chief nurses can reach Bands 8b–9, with salaries from £66,582 up to £129,783 at the very top of Band 9 in 2026/27.
Yes — the NMC annual fee is a professional expense, and you can claim tax relief on it (and on RCN/Unison subscriptions). Many nurses miss this.
Hourly rates are higher, but you give up the NHS pension, sick pay and incremental progression. If paid via an umbrella company, deductions can be significantly higher than PAYE — always run the numbers first.