Nurse salary 2026/27
What NHS nurses earn and take home in England from April 2026, from newly qualified staff nurse to ward manager, plus what the job involves and how to get there.
Nurse pay by band
| Band and step | Salary | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| Band 5, entry | £32,073 | £2,040 |
| Band 5, intermediate | £34,592 | £2,177 |
| Band 5, top | £39,043 | £2,381 |
| Band 6, entry | £39,959 | £2,430 |
| Band 6, intermediate | £42,170 | £2,548 |
| Band 6, top | £48,117 | £2,866 |
| Band 7, entry | £49,387 | £2,934 |
| Band 7, intermediate | £51,932 | £3,078 |
| Band 7, top | £56,515 | £3,309 |
Full time (37.5 hours), England, NHS Pension member, tax code 1257L, no student loan or unsocial hours. Newly qualified nurses start at Band 5 entry. Band 6 roles include junior sisters, charge nurses and specialist nurses. Band 7 covers ward managers and advanced practitioners.
With unsocial hours
Most ward nurses work nights and weekends. A Band 5 on the entry step averaging 8 hours a week of nights or Saturdays and 4 hours of Sundays takes home about £2,228 a month, against £2,040 on basic pay. Unsocial hours pay counts for your pension.
Is the move to Band 6 worth it?
A Band 6 nurse at entry level earns £39,959, against £32,073 at Band 5 entry. After tax, National Insurance and a higher NHS Pension contribution, that is about £390 a month more. Many Band 6 posts have fewer night shifts, so check whether the extra basic pay outweighs lost unsocial hours. A Band 5 doing regular nights can come close to a day-only Band 6.
Where a Band 5 salary goes
| Each year | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | £32,073 |
| NHS Pension contribution | £2,662 |
| Income tax and National Insurance | £4,928 |
| Take-home pay | £24,483 |
Any student loan repayment comes off in addition. Use the calculator to add your plan.
What a nurse does
Registered nurses plan, give and check care for patients, usually leading a group of patients on a shift with healthcare assistants working alongside them. Nurses train in one of four fields: adult, children’s, mental health or learning disability.
A typical shift on a ward
- Taking handover and planning care for your patients.
- Giving medicines, including injections and IV drugs once you are trained.
- Checking observations, spotting patients who are getting worse and escalating to doctors.
- Dressing wounds, managing drips, catheters and feeding tubes.
- Talking to patients and families, and planning safe discharges.
- Keeping accurate records and supervising students and support staff.
Hours
Full time is 37.5 hours a week. Many wards use 12-hour long days and nights, so full time is often three shifts one week and four the next. Community, clinic and theatre nurses may work more regular hours.
How to become a nurse
You must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The usual routes are a three-year nursing degree, a nursing degree apprenticeship with an employer, or qualifying first as a nursing associate and then topping up. Newly registered nurses then have a preceptorship, a supported first year with a mentor.
Moving up
Unlike midwives and paramedics, nurses do not move from Band 5 to Band 6 automatically. You apply for Band 6 posts once you have experience. The government has announced a review of Band 5 nursing roles in England to check staff are on the right band. Further on, Band 7 and above includes ward managers, advanced clinical practitioners and nurse consultants.
Common questions
How much does a newly qualified nurse earn?
£32,073 at Band 5 entry in England from April 2026, which is about £2,040 a month after tax, NI and the NHS Pension, before unsocial hours.
Do nurses automatically move to Band 6?
No. Nurses apply for Band 6 roles. Midwives and paramedics progress after their preceptorship, which is why there is pressure to change this for nurses.
How long does it take to become a nurse?
Usually three years on a nursing degree. Apprenticeships take about four years, or less if you are already a nursing associate.