Understanding the Band 5 Nurse Salary in 2026/27

If you're considering a nursing career or comparing hourly jobs with salaried offers, the band 5 nurse salary is a key benchmark. Band 5 is the entry point for registered nurses in England under the NHS Agenda for Change pay system. For 2026/27, the pay scales have been updated following the government's pay award, effective from 1 April 2026.

Annual Salary and Hourly Rates

The band 5 nurse salary ranges from £32,073 at entry to £39,043 after four years at the top step. These figures are for full-time staff working 37.5 hours per week. To convert annual salary to an hourly rate, divide by 52 weeks and then by weekly hours. For example:

• Entry: £32,073 ÷ 52 ÷ 37.5 = £16.40 per hour
• After 2 years: £34,592 ÷ 52 ÷ 37.5 = £17.69 per hour
• Top step: £39,043 ÷ 52 ÷ 37.5 = £19.97 per hour

This conversion is useful when comparing a salaried nursing role with hourly-paid positions. Use our Hourly to Salary tool to run your own calculations.

London Weighting and High Cost Area Supplements

Nurses working in and around London receive a High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) on top of their basic pay. The supplement is a percentage of basic salary, subject to minimum and maximum cash limits:

• Inner London: 20% (min £5,794, max £8,746)
• Outer London: 15% (min £4,870, max £6,137)
• Fringe: 5% (min £1,346, max £2,270)

For an entry-level band 5 nurse, HCAS boosts total annual pay to between £33,677 (fringe) and £38,488 (inner London). At the top step, inner London HCAS can bring total pay to £46,852. This makes a significant difference to take-home pay, especially for those commuting or living in expensive areas.

Unsocial Hours and Overtime

Nursing often involves shift work, and unsocial hours attract enhancements:

• Saturdays and weekday nights (8pm–6am): +30% (e.g., £21.32 per hour at entry)
• Sundays and bank holidays: +60% (e.g., £26.24 per hour at entry)
• Overtime: typically time-and-a-half or double time on bank holidays

These enhancements are pensionable and can add hundreds of pounds to monthly take-home pay. For example, a newly qualified nurse working a rotating rota with nights and weekends might earn around £472 extra per month in enhancements.

Take-Home Pay After Deductions

Gross salary is not the same as take-home pay. Deductions include income tax, National Insurance, and NHS Pension contributions. For 2026/27:

• At entry (£32,073): monthly take-home ≈ £2,040 (with 8.3% pension tier)
• At top step (£39,043): monthly take-home ≈ £2,380 (with 9.8% pension tier)

These figures assume no student loan, no London weighting, and standard tax code. With inner London HCAS, entry-level take-home rises to about £2,351 per month. Student loan repayments (Plan 2) reduce take-home by roughly £30–£40 per month.

Comparing Band 5 Nurse Salary with Other Roles

The median full-time gross annual pay in the UK is around £39,039, which aligns closely with the top of band 5. This means experienced band 5 nurses earn around the national median. However, entry-level nurses start below the median, reflecting the structured progression within the NHS.

When comparing hourly jobs with salaried offers, remember that salaried roles often include benefits like pension, sick pay, and holiday pay. The NHS pension is particularly valuable, with employer contributions around 20%. For more insights, read our salary articles on UK wage benchmarks.

Part-Time and Pro-Rata Pay

Many nurses work part-time. Your hourly rate remains the same, but annual salary is reduced proportionally. For example, working 30 hours per week (80% of full-time) at entry level gives an annual salary of £25,658 and monthly gross pay of £2,138. Use our salary data to explore different hours.

Key Takeaways

• The band 5 nurse salary for 2026/27 is £32,073–£39,043 per year.
• Hourly rates range from £16.40 to £19.97 based on a 37.5-hour week.
• London weighting adds 5%–20% depending on zone.
• Unsocial hours enhancements can significantly boost earnings.
• Take-home pay after deductions is roughly 75% of gross, depending on circumstances.

For a quick conversion of any hourly rate to annual salary, visit our Hourly to Salary homepage. Always check your contract and official GOV.UK guidance for the most accurate figures.