How much do nurses get paid? Majority of NHS unions accept Government pay offer

The majority of unions representing NHS staff have accepted an offer from the government, despite opposition from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and Unite.

Health and Social Secretary Steve Barclay said he would implement the deal for all staff on the NHS staff council.

He added: “Where some unions may choose to remain in dispute, we hope their members – many of whom voted to accept this offer – will recognise this as a fair outcome that carries the support of their colleagues and decide it is time to bring industrial action to an end.”

RCN has, however, indicated that it will reballot its members for a further six months of industrial action.

How much do nurses earn?

The average wage of a UK nurse is somewhere around the £33,000 to £35,000 a year mark, with qualified nurses initially earning £20,270, according to nurses.co.uk.

The pay system is divided into nine bands, which each have key pay points. Nurses will normally progress through these annually until they reach the top of the pay band and move up. A newly qualified nurse starting in band five, for example, will earn £27,000 a year in England, rising to a minimum of £33,000 in band six.

A nurse’s salary rises when they take on new responsibilities, such as becoming a ward sister, ward manager, or moving to a team leader position.

Nurses who extend their skills with further training — such as a specialism in pediatrics, mental health, or intensive care — could net a higher overall salary.