Registered Nurse Salary 2026/27
Registered nurses in England sit on Agenda for Change Band 5, starting at £32,073 and rising to £39,043 at the top of the band — typically reached in around four years. Specialising or moving into Band 6/7 roles lifts pay further.
| Band | Step | Annual (2026/27) | Years to progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 5 | entry | £32,073 | 2 yrs |
| Band 5 | intermediate | £34,592 | 2 yrs |
| Band 5 | top | £39,043 | — |
Demand: Growing · +1% workforce YoY.
What you could earn next
Example trajectory: £32,073 now → £56,515
Yr 0
£32k
Yr 2
£35k
Yr 4
£49k
Yr 6
£52k
Yr 8
£57k
Common questions
How much does a Band 5 nurse earn in 2026/27?
£32,073 at entry, rising through £34,592 to £39,043 at the top of Band 5 (England, 2026/27 AfC basic pay).
How do nurses earn more than Band 5?
By moving into Band 6 specialist/charge-nurse roles (£39,959–£48,117) or Band 7 (£49,387+), usually via post-registration experience and specialty study.
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Indicative — England 2026/27 Agenda for Change basic pay, excludes High Cost Area Supplements, unsocial-hours and overtime. Typical timings are national averages, not guarantees. Not financial advice. See data sources.