Nurse Salary After Tax (UK, 2026/27)
The median UK nurse salary is £42,300 a year (ONS, 2025 provisional) — that's £33,976 after tax for 2026/27, about £2,831 a month.
Nurse take-home pay
Where the £42,300 median goes
Breakdown of £42,300 gross: Take-home pay £33,976, 80.3%; Income Tax £5,946, 14.1%; National Insurance £2,378, 5.6%.
- Take-home pay£33,976 · 80.3%
- Income Tax£5,946 · 14.1%
- National Insurance£2,378 · 5.6%
Full breakdown
| Gross salary (ONS median) | £42,300 |
| Taxable income | £42,300 |
| Personal allowance used | £12,570 |
| Income Tax | £5,946 |
| National Insurance | £2,378 |
| Total deductions | £8,324 |
| Take-home pay | £33,976 |
Median pay from ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), 2025 provisional results (published 2025-10-23), full-time UK employee jobs. Take-home figures are this calculator's own estimate for 2026/27, assuming a standard tax code, no pension contribution and no student loan.
Tax on the £42,300 nurse median, band by band
Total tax on a £42,300 salary is £8,324 for 2026/27 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland — £5,946 of Income Tax plus £2,378 of National Insurance. That's an effective rate of 19.7%.
| Band | Income in band | Rate | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Allowance | £0 – £12,570 | 0% | £0.00 |
| Basic rate | £12,570 – £42,300 | 20% | £5,946.00 |
National Insurance on £42,300
| Band | Earnings in band | Rate | NI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the primary threshold | £12,570 | 0% | £0.00 |
| Main rate | £29,730 | 8% | £2,378.40 |
Live in Scotland, have a pension or student loan? Use the full calculator to model your own figures — Scottish Income Tax bands differ from the rest of the UK.
How the nurse salary compares
ONS classes this occupation as Other nursing professionals (SOC code 2237), covering around 461,000 full-time nurse jobs in the UK. Its £42,300 median is above the UK-wide median full-time salary of £39,039 by £3,261 (8.4%).
See every profession ranked by take-home pay for the full comparison.
Nurse salary: frequently asked questions
What is the average nurse salary in the UK?
The median gross annual pay for a full-time nurse (ONS occupation code 2237, "Other nursing professionals") is £42,300, based on ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2025 provisional results.
How much does a nurse take home after tax?
On the median nurse salary of £42,300, take-home pay is £33,976 a year (£2,831 a month) for 2026/27 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, after £5,946 of Income Tax and £2,378 of National Insurance.
Is a nurse salary above the UK average?
Yes. The median nurse salary of £42,300 is £3,261 (8.4%) above the UK-wide median full-time salary of £39,039.