Paediatric Nurse UK Salary: Hourly, Weekly and Annual Pay Explained

Paediatric Nurse UK Salary: Hourly, Weekly and Annual Pay

Understanding the paediatric nurse UK salary is essential for anyone considering or already working in children’s nursing. Pay varies depending on whether you work for the NHS, a private hospital, or through an agency, and it also depends on your band, location, and hours. This guide breaks down the key figures for 2026/27, using official NHS pay scales and publicly available data.

NHS Agenda for Change Bands

Most paediatric nurses in the UK are employed under the NHS Agenda for Change framework. The role of a registered children’s nurse typically falls within bands 5, 6 and 7, depending on experience and seniority.

• Band 5 – Newly qualified paediatric nurses start here. The salary range is £32,073 to £39,043.
• Band 6 – Senior staff nurses, specialist practitioners or those with additional responsibilities. Pay ranges from £39,959 to £48,117.
• Band 7 – Advanced practitioners, ward managers or clinical nurse specialists. The range is £49,387 to £56,515.

Each band has three pay steps, and progression is usually annual. The figures above are for England; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own slightly different scales.

Hourly Rates

Based on the standard NHS working week of 37.5 hours, the hourly rates for paediatric nurses are:

• Band 5: £16.40 (entry) to £19.97 (top)
• Band 6: £20.44 to £24.61
• Band 7: £25.26 to £28.90

These rates are well above the National Living Wage of £12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over. Even the lowest NHS paediatric nurse hourly rate is nearly 30% higher.

Take-Home Pay

Gross salary is not the same as what lands in your bank account. After deducting income tax, employee National Insurance and the NHS pension contribution (typically around 9.3% of pensionable pay), take-home pay for a paediatric nurse is roughly 70% of gross.

• Band 5 entry: £24,483 net per year (£2,040 per month)
• Band 5 top: £28,570 net (£2,381 per month)
• Band 6 top: £34,391 net (£2,866 per month)
• Band 7 top: £39,708 net (£3,309 per month)

These figures assume full-time hours, standard pension membership, and no student loan repayments. If you have a student loan, your take-home pay will be lower.

London Weighting and Other Allowances

Paediatric nurses working in London receive a High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS). For 2026/27:

• Inner London: 20% of basic salary (minimum £5,794, maximum £8,746)
• Outer London: 15%
• Fringe: 5%

This can add thousands to your annual pay. For example, a Band 5 nurse at the top step in Inner London would earn £39,043 plus up to £8,746, giving a gross of around £47,789.

Bank and Agency Work

Many paediatric nurses supplement their income by working extra shifts through NHS staff banks or private agencies. Bank rates are often higher than basic NHS pay, especially for unsocial hours. For instance, at one London NHS trust, a Band 5 paediatric nurse earns £21.06 per hour on a weekday day shift, rising to £24.22 on Saturdays or nights, and £27.38 on Sundays or bank holidays.

Agency work through organisations like the British Nursing Association can offer even higher rates, particularly for specialist paediatric roles in theatres, ITU or A&E. However, agency workers do not receive NHS pension contributions or sick pay.

How to Compare Offers

When looking at a paediatric nurse UK salary, always check whether the figure is gross or net, and whether it includes London weighting or unsocial hours enhancements. A job advert quoting £35,000 may actually be Band 5 with no extras, while another at £45,000 could include Outer London weighting.

For a deeper look at how NHS pay bands work across different roles, visit our pay guides section. You can also explore pay data for comparisons with other nursing specialities.

Summary

A paediatric nurse in the NHS earns a competitive salary that far exceeds the statutory minimum wage. With clear progression from Band 5 to Band 7, and opportunities for additional earnings through London weighting, unsocial hours and bank shifts, the profession offers solid financial rewards alongside the satisfaction of caring for children and young people.

Remember that actual pay depends on your specific contract, location and hours. Always check the latest NHS pay scales and your own payslip for accurate figures.