Paediatric Nurse UK Salary: Gross Pay, Take-Home and Key Deductions for 2026/27

Paediatric Nurse UK Salary: Understanding Gross Pay and Take-Home

If you are considering a career as a paediatric nurse or are already working in the field, knowing your paediatric nurse UK salary in terms of gross pay versus what actually lands in your bank account is essential. This guide explains the typical earnings, deductions, and factors that affect your take-home pay for the 2026/27 tax year.

Gross Salary for Paediatric Nurses

Paediatric nurses in the UK are employed under the NHS Agenda for Change pay system. Your salary band depends on your experience and role:

• Band 5 – Newly qualified staff nurse: £31,049 to £37,890 per year (national rates).
• Band 6 – Senior or specialist nurse: £38,682 to £47,126.
• Band 7 – Advanced practitioner or ward manager: £47,810 to £55,423.

These figures are for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. London weighting adds approximately £6,210 to Band 5, raising the gross to £37,259. Scotland uses the same bands but with slightly different full-time hours (36 vs 37.5) and separate income tax.

Take-Home Pay After Tax and National Insurance

Your take-home pay is your gross salary minus Income Tax and employee National Insurance (NI). For 2026/27, the key thresholds are:

• Income Tax Personal Allowance: £12,570 (0% tax).
• Basic rate: 20% on earnings between £12,571 and £50,270.
• Higher rate: 40% on earnings between £50,271 and £125,140.
• National Insurance: 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, 2% above £50,270.

Using these rules, a Band 5 paediatric nurse on £31,049 takes home approximately £25,875 per year (£2,156 per month) after tax and NI only. A Band 6 nurse on £38,682 takes home about £31,371 (£2,614/month), and a Band 7 nurse on £47,810 takes home about £37,943 (£3,162/month).

These figures do not include pension contributions or student loan repayments. For a more detailed breakdown, use our take-home calculator which allows you to add pension and student loan deductions.

Impact of NHS Pension Contributions

Most paediatric nurses are members of the NHS Pension Scheme. Contribution rates are tiered based on your pensionable pay. For 2026/27, typical rates are:

• Band 5: 8.3% of pensionable pay.
• Band 6: 9.8% (above £38,682).
• Band 7: 9.8% or higher.

Including a 5% pension contribution (a common assumption for Band 5), the take-home for a Band 5 nurse on £31,049 drops to around £24,500–£25,400 per year. Always check your payslip for your exact contribution rate.

Student Loan Repayments

If you have a student loan, repayments are deducted from your salary above certain thresholds. For 2026/27:

• Plan 1: threshold £26,900, 9% of earnings above.
• Plan 2: threshold £29,385, 9% above.
• Plan 5: threshold £25,000, 9% above.
• Postgraduate Loan: threshold £21,000, 6% above.

A Band 5 nurse on £31,049 with a Plan 2 loan would repay about £149 per year (9% of £1,664). This reduces monthly take-home by roughly £12.

Factors That Change Your Take-Home

• London Weighting: Adds £6,210 to Band 5 gross, raising take-home to about £30,346 per year.
• Unsocial Hours and Overtime: These are paid on top of your basic salary and are taxed at your marginal rate.
• Tax Code: If your tax code is not 1257L (e.g., due to benefits in kind or underpayments), your take-home will differ.
• Scotland: Scottish income tax bands are different; use a Scottish-specific calculator for accurate figures.

For more salary data across roles, visit our salary data page.

Summary

Your paediatric nurse UK salary is determined by your NHS band and experience. After Income Tax and National Insurance, a Band 5 nurse takes home roughly 83% of gross pay. Adding pension and student loan reduces this further. Always use an up-to-date calculator and check your payslip for exact amounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical gross salary for a paediatric nurse in the UK?

Paediatric nurses are paid on NHS Agenda for Change bands. A newly qualified nurse (Band 5) earns a gross salary of £31,049 to £37,890 per year. With experience, a Band 6 senior nurse earns £38,682 to £47,126, and a Band 7 specialist nurse earns £47,810 to £55,423. London weighting adds approximately £6,210 to Band 5.

How much take-home pay does a Band 5 paediatric nurse receive after deductions?

After income tax and National Insurance (but before pension and student loan), a Band 5 paediatric nurse on £31,049 takes home about £25,875 per year (£2,156/month). Including a typical 5% NHS pension contribution, take-home drops to around £24,500–£25,400 depending on exact pension tier. Use our take-home calculator for a personalised estimate.

Do paediatric nurses in Scotland have different take-home pay?

Yes. Scotland uses separate income tax bands, which can result in slightly different net pay compared to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The gross salary bands are the same (NHS Agenda for Change), but Scottish income tax rates and thresholds apply. For accurate figures, use a calculator that supports Scottish tax or check your payslip.