Nurse Salary UK (2026)
The UK median Nurse salary is £35,000 per year. Entry-level: £27,000 · Senior: £50,000. Also known as: Registered Nurse, Staff Nurse, Ward Nurse.
UK-wide salary distribution
Nurse hiring market in the UK
Demand for Nurses in the UK has been strongly positive over the last three to five years, with employer hiring volumes outstripping qualified candidate supply in most major cities. The highest-paying UK city on this site for the role is London at £44,800 median, which is roughly what a competent mid-level practitioner can expect to earn there with three to five years of experience.
Pay progression for a Nurse in the UK is rarely linear. Most of the gain happens at three points: the move from entry-level to mid (typically in years 2–3), the move into senior or principal positions (years 6–8), and — for those who pursue it — a lateral jump into management, consulting or independent contracting. Sitting in the same role waiting for inflationary increases is by some distance the slowest path; changing employer every three to four years remains the dominant pay-rise mechanism in the UK labour market.
Nurse salary by UK city
| City | Lower quartile | Median | Upper quartile | vs UK avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £36,480 | £44,800 | £54,400 | +28% |
| Cambridge | £32,775 | £40,250 | £48,875 | +15% |
| Oxford | £32,205 | £39,550 | £48,025 | +13% |
| Reading | £31,920 | £39,200 | £47,600 | +12% |
| Edinburgh | £30,780 | £37,800 | £45,900 | +8% |
| Bristol | £30,210 | £37,100 | £45,050 | +6% |
| Brighton | £29,925 | £36,750 | £44,625 | +5% |
| Milton Keynes | £29,925 | £36,750 | £44,625 | +5% |
| Aberdeen | £29,640 | £36,400 | £44,200 | +4% |
| Southampton | £29,640 | £36,400 | £44,200 | +4% |
| Manchester | £29,070 | £35,700 | £43,350 | +2% |
| Leeds | £28,500 | £35,000 | £42,500 | +0% |
| Birmingham | £27,930 | £34,300 | £41,650 | -2% |
| Glasgow | £27,645 | £33,950 | £41,225 | -3% |
| Cardiff | £27,075 | £33,250 | £40,375 | -5% |
| Nottingham | £26,790 | £32,900 | £39,950 | -6% |
| Liverpool | £26,505 | £32,550 | £39,525 | -7% |
| Sheffield | £26,505 | £32,550 | £39,525 | -7% |
| Newcastle | £26,220 | £32,200 | £39,100 | -8% |
| Belfast | £25,650 | £31,500 | £38,250 | -10% |
Take-home pay calculator · 2024/25
Nurse
£27,460/yr · £528/wk · effective rate 21.5%
| Gross salary | £35,000 |
| Pension (5%) | −£1,750 |
| Income tax | −£4,136 |
| National Insurance | −£1,654 |
| Net take-home | £27,460 |
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Core skills for Nurses
- Clinical care
- NMC registration
- Medication administration
- Patient assessment
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Nurse salary in the UK?
The average UK Nurse salary is £35,000 per year (ONS 2025). The lower quartile is £28,500 and the upper quartile is £42,500.
Where do Nurses earn the most in the UK?
Nurses earn most in London (£44,800 median), followed by Cambridge (£40,250) and Oxford (£39,550). See the full city table above.
What qualifications does a Nurse need?
Core skills and qualifications for Nurses include: Clinical care, NMC registration, Medication administration, Patient assessment. Entry-level roles start at around £27,000; senior positions reach £50,000+.
Is Nurse a good career in the UK?
The career outlook for Nurses is high. Salaries have grown broadly in line with wage inflation, with experienced professionals in high-cost cities (London, Cambridge, Oxford) earning 15–30% above the UK median.