Paediatric Nurse UK Salary: Hourly and Annual Pay Guide for 2026/27

If you're looking for the latest paediatric nurse UK salary figures, the 2026/27 NHS pay scales provide clear benchmarks. Paediatric nurses (officially Registered Children's Nurses) work across neonatal care, paediatric wards, children's A&E and community services. Their pay is set under the NHS Agenda for Change framework, with most nurses employed at Bands 5, 6 and 7.

This guide covers annual gross salaries, hourly rates, take-home pay after deductions, and how part-time hours affect your earnings. All figures are for England unless stated otherwise, and are effective from 1 April 2026.

NHS Agenda for Change Pay Bands for Paediatric Nurses

Newly qualified paediatric nurses start at Band 5. With experience, you can progress to Band 6 (senior practitioner) and Band 7 (advanced clinical role or ward manager). Each band has several pay steps; you move up annually subject to satisfactory performance.

Band 5 – Entry: £32,073 gross per year | Top: £39,043 | 3 steps, typically 4 years to top Band 6 – Entry: £39,959 | Top: £48,117 | 3 steps Band 7 – Entry: £49,387 | Top: £56,515 | 3 steps, typically 5 years to top

These figures come from NHS Employers and are the standard rates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has its own pay scales with a 36-hour working week; Scottish paediatric nurses earn between £34,544 and £61,466 on the equivalent bands.

How Hourly Rates Are Calculated from Annual Salary

NHS hourly rates are derived by dividing the annual salary by 52.143 weeks (to account for the extra day each year) and then by the standard weekly hours. For England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the standard week is 37.5 hours. For Scotland, it is 36 hours from 2026/27.

Using the simplified formula (annual ÷ 52 ÷ 37.5) gives a close approximation, but the official published rates may differ by a few pence. For example, Band 5 entry: £32,073 ÷ 52 ÷ 37.5 = £16.45, but the official rate is £16.40 per hour.

Official hourly rates for England 2026/27:

• Band 5 entry: £16.40/hr
• Band 5 top: £19.97/hr
• Band 6 entry: £20.44/hr
• Band 6 top: £24.61/hr
• Band 7 entry: £25.26/hr
• Band 7 top: £28.90/hr

If you want to convert any hourly rate to an annual salary, multiply by your weekly contracted hours and then by 52. For a full-time nurse on 37.5 hours, the rule of thumb is: annual ≈ hourly × 37.5 × 52. Use our hourly calculator to do the maths instantly.

Part-Time and Full-Time Considerations

Many paediatric nurses work part-time, whether through choice or as part of a job-share. Your annual salary is calculated pro-rata: if you work 30 hours per week, you receive 30/37.5 = 80% of the full-time salary for your band and step. Your hourly rate remains the same as a full-time colleague on the same pay point.

This matters when comparing job offers. A part-time Band 6 nurse on 22.5 hours (60% of full-time) would earn 0.6 × £39,959 = £23,975 gross per year at entry, but their hourly rate is still £20.44. Always check the contracted hours and the hourly rate, not just the annual figure.

Overtime rules also differ for part-time staff. If you are part-time, additional hours up to 37.5 per week are paid at your basic hourly rate, not at overtime rates. Only once you exceed 37.5 hours in a week do overtime rates (×1.5) apply. Full-time staff get overtime for any extra hours beyond their contract.

London Weighting and Unsocial Hours

NHS staff in London receive a High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) on top of basic pay. For 2026/27:

• Inner London: 20% of basic salary, minimum £5,794, maximum £8,746
• Outer London: 15%, minimum £4,870, maximum £6,137
• Fringe areas: 5%, minimum £1,346, maximum £2,270

So a Band 6 nurse at the top step (£48,117) working in Inner London would receive an additional £8,746 (the cap), bringing gross pay to £56,863. The hourly rate including HCAS is higher than the basic rate.

Unsocial hours enhancements apply to shifts worked within your contracted hours at certain times:

• Weekday nights (8pm–6am) and Saturdays: +30%
• Sundays and bank holidays: +60%

These are separate from overtime. If you regularly work unsocial hours, your holiday pay must reflect your average enhancements (following the Flowers vs East of England Ambulance Trust ruling).

Take-Home Pay After Tax and Pension

Your net pay depends on your tax code, National Insurance category, pension choice and whether you have a student loan. The figures below assume standard NHS Pension membership (employee contribution around 9.3% for most bands), no student loan, and the 2026/27 tax rates.

Estimated annual take-home pay (England, no London weighting):

• Band 5 entry: £24,483 net (£2,040/month)
• Band 5 top: £28,570 net (£2,381/month)
• Band 6 entry: £29,157 net (£2,430/month)
• Band 6 top: £34,391 net (£2,866/month)
• Band 7 entry: £35,206 net (£2,934/month)
• Band 7 top: £39,708 net (£3,309/month)

These are from NHS Pay Bands and represent the cash that lands in your bank account. London weighting and unsocial hours would increase take-home pay. For a detailed breakdown of your personal situation, see our salary articles on NHS take-home pay.

Comparison with National Minimum Wage

The National Living Wage (for workers aged 21 and over) from April 2026 is £12.71 per hour. The lowest NHS band (Band 2) starts at £12.92 per hour, just 21p above the legal minimum. Paediatric nurses at Band 5 earn well above this floor, but the gap is narrow for support staff.

Career Progression and Earnings Potential

Over a typical paediatric nursing career, gross pay can rise by over £24,000 from Band 5 entry to the top of Band 7. National pay deals add cost-of-living increases each April. Beyond Band 7, advanced nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and matrons can reach Bands 8a to 8d, with salaries up to £108,814. Band 9 roles (e.g., director of nursing) pay up to £129,783.

For the most up-to-date salary data across all NHS roles, visit our salary data page.

Summary

The paediatric nurse UK salary in 2026/27 ranges from £32,073 to £56,515 gross per year for full-time staff on Bands 5–7. Hourly rates start at £16.40 and go up to £28.90. Part-time workers earn the same hourly rate but a pro-rata annual salary. London weighting and unsocial hours enhancements can significantly boost earnings. Always consider your contracted hours, pension choice and tax position when comparing offers.