How Much Does A Paediatric Nurse Earn In The UK?

"On average, a Paediatric Nurse can expect to earn somewhere between £30,000 and £35,000 a year according to industry stats."

This short guide details the pay you would expect as a Paediatric Nurse, newly qualified right through to those practising at consultant level.

Paediatric Nurses, otherwise known as Children’s Nurses, are as in demand as ever in NHS Trusts all across the UK.

Caring for anyone from new-borns to teenagers, Paediatric Nurses can work in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, day care centres, clinics, the community or children’s homes. But what sort of pay can Paediatric Nurses expect in the UK? Does it vary between the public and private sector? And how can salaries be increased?

This short guide answers all-pay related questions for existing or aspiring Paediatric Nurses.

What Is The Starting Salary For A Paediatric Nurse?

The starting salary for a Paediatric Nurse is currently £27,055 a year. That’s a Band 5 salary – the same banding and salary as every other newly qualified Nurse in the NHS.

With each year of experience you move up to different pay points within a banding – and therefore increase your earnings every year until you reach the top.

On average, a Paediatric Nurse Jobs can expect to earn somewhere between £30,000 and £35,000 a year according to industry stats.

Pay at the top of Band 5 is just under £33,000 a year.

What Is The Average Salary For A Paediatric Nurse?

On average, a Paediatric Nurse can expect to earn somewhere between £30,000 and £35,000 a year according to industry stats.

This reflects a Band 6 salary, a position that most Paediatric Nurses will find themselves in after a few years’ experience in the job. 

In the private sector, average pay is harder to calculate – but the data that’s available suggests it can be slightly higher.

What Is The Highest Salary A Paediatric Nurse Can Earn?

Paediatric Nurses with enough experience and specialist skills can earn salaries well in excess of £50,000.

This kind of pay reflects senior roles at Band 7 or even Band 8.

Typically these bandings and salaries are for Paediatric Nurses at consultant level, who will have specialist qualifications and will normally manage teams.

How Can You Boost Your Earnings As A Paediatric Nurse?

Beyond building your experience or gaining new skills and qualifications, the other way of growing your potential earnings is through bank or agency work.

The NHS remains quite dependent on agency workers who are available at short notice. In these roles, you may well be able to command a much higher hourly rate.

However, agency roles only become lucrative when you’re experienced enough, and have the flexibility to work across multiple locations.

The other longer term career route towards higher pay could be to head into a health management role, research or teaching. Furthermore, in some cases your experience and skills could help you to apply for private sector roles that offer higher salaries too.

View more information on nursing pay with our Nursing Salary and Pay Scale Guide - 2023

Find Your Next Paediatric Nurse Job Today

View our latest Paediatric Nurse roles here, or if you can’t find what you’re looking for, register your CV here.