Veterinary Nurse Salary: What the Latest Data Shows

Understanding the veterinary nurse salary in the UK requires looking at official earnings surveys, regional variations, and comparisons with other healthcare roles. Unlike some professions, veterinary nursing does not have a national pay scale – each practice or group sets its own rates. The most authoritative source is the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).

ONS ASHE 2025 Provisional Figures

For SOC 2020 unit group 3240 (veterinary nurses), the ONS ASHE 2025 provisional data reports a median full-time gross annual salary of £28,893. Based on a standard 37.5-hour week, this equates to roughly £14.82 per hour. The 25th percentile stands at £25,190, while the 70th percentile reaches £31,869. Notably, the ONS suppressed the 10th, 75th, 80th and 90th percentiles due to reliability concerns, so we cannot quote the lowest or highest paid from this source.

To put this in context, the UK median full-time salary across all occupations is £39,039 (ONS ASHE 2025 provisional). Veterinary nurses earn about 26% less than the national median.

Regional Pay Differences

Where you work significantly affects your veterinary nurse salary. Data from SalaryScout (based on job listings and surveys) reveals striking regional disparities:

Region	Median Annual Pay
Scotland	£31,986
South East	£29,542
West Midlands	£28,743
East of England	£26,528
London	£25,057
Yorkshire and the Humber	£24,963
Wales	£22,542
North West	£18,954
East Midlands	£15,577
South West	£15,543
North East	£13,584

Scotland leads by a wide margin, with median pay 135% higher than the North East. London's median of £25,057 is below the national median, likely reflecting a mix of small animal practices and lower-paying roles. These figures are not directly from ONS but offer a useful regional benchmark.

Comparison with National Living Wage and NHS Pay

From April 2026, the National Living Wage (for those aged 21 and over) is £12.71 per hour. On a 37.5-hour week, that gives an annual salary of £24,785. The veterinary nurse median of £28,893 sits comfortably above this floor, but the 20th percentile of £24,844 is only £59 above the NLW. This means some veterinary nurses earn very close to the minimum.

Compared to NHS Agenda for Change Band 5 (the entry level for registered nurses), the veterinary nurse median is £3,180 lower than the Band 5 entry point of £32,073 (2026/27). After tax and National Insurance, the gap narrows to about £2,290 per year. However, NHS nurses benefit from a defined benefit pension scheme, while veterinary nurses typically have defined contribution workplace pensions.

Take-Home Pay and Pension Considerations

For a veterinary nurse earning the median £28,893 in England (2026/27 tax year), take-home pay is approximately £24,323 per year (£2,027 per month) after Income Tax (£3,265) and National Insurance (£1,306). If you contribute 5% of your salary to a workplace pension via salary sacrifice, take-home drops to about £23,282.

Use our Hourly to Salary tool to convert your own hourly rate to annual figures, or explore more salary data for other professions.

Seniority and Experience

The ONS percentiles show how experience and responsibility affect pay. The gap between the 25th percentile (£25,190) and the 70th percentile (£31,869) is £6,679 per year. This suggests that moving into senior roles – such as head nurse, referral nurse, or practice manager – can significantly boost earnings. However, the ONS suppressed the top percentiles, so the ceiling for experienced veterinary nurses is unclear from this data.

Key Takeaways

• The median veterinary nurse salary in the UK is £28,893 per year (£14.82/hr at 37.5 hrs/week).
• Regional pay varies enormously: Scotland pays the most, the North East the least.
• Most veterinary nurses earn below the NHS Band 5 entry point.
• The National Living Wage provides a floor, but some veterinary nurses earn only slightly above it.
• Seniority and location are the main drivers of higher pay.

For a more personalised calculation, try our hourly calculator to see how your hours and rate translate to annual salary.