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  • 10 December 2024
  • 3 min read

What Band 5 Salary Nurses Get Paid In 2025 – And What You’ll Do To Earn It

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    • Bala Nataraj
    • Vanessa Mantebea Opoku
  • 2
  • 155115
A quick guide to what a Band 5 position will now pay – and what you will be required to do to earn that salaryA quick guide to what a Band 5 position will now pay – and what you will be required to do to earn that salary

Newly qualified Nurses begin their careers on a Band 5 salary within the NHS' banding system. Here we explain what that salary is, and how you'll earn it.

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Your new pay packet

(Figures include the 5.5% pay rise implemented in May 2024)

Entry level Nurses currently earn £29,969 with 1-2 years’ experience, while those with 2-4 years’ experience will earn £32,324 a year.

Beyond this, and for any other banding or level of experience, you can find out exactly what you’ll be paid by using our handy Nursing Pay Scale And Bands pay table and our NHS Take Home Pay Calculator.

The highest possible annual salary within this banding currently will be £36,483 once you have over 4 years experience.

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Your duties at Band 5

For a Band 5 general nursing position, first and foremost you’ll need to be NMC registered, which will require you to have a nursing degree.

Within the job, you’ll often be the first point of contact for a patient, and you’ll normally work within a multi-disciplinary team.

Whether dealing with minor injuries or people with chronic health issues, you’ll help to provide assessments of the patient, evaluate their needs and plan their ongoing journey in your care setting – and beyond.

On any given day, you could be expected to:

• Write patient care plans

• Monitor pulse, blood pressure and temperature

• Observe and record the condition of patients

• Check and administer drugs and injections

• Set up drips and blood transfusions

• Assist with tests and evaluations

• Plan discharges from hospitals

• Communicate with families and friends of patients

This is just a broad guide, as the responsibilities you’ll have could vary greatly according to the specialist area you work in, and whether you’re hospital or community based.

Typically, you’ll be expected to work in a shift pattern that can include evenings, weekends and nights.

But community roles could afford you a more structured, 9-5 role.

Find your next Band 5 position today

Whether you’re newly qualified or looking for new experience, we have roles to suit every nurse at every stage of their career.

Comments

From Theresa, by email

"I would like to point out that for specialist staff nurses band 6 who are the most important team in specialist area of a hospital an ITU requires 65% of Staff Nurses to be Band 6 to meet standards of care, this group of Staff Specialised Nurses have been capped at a very low rate.

"I have been a specialist Nurse in ITU / CCU both Adult & Paediatric for more than 8 yrs, I have been a Nurse for more than 25 yrs, have been a band 7 for 4 yrs but due to change of location had to take a band 6.

"It is not possible to simply say you need to climb through the bands to earn a better salary.

"I believe this article needs to also look at the requirements of any NHS Trust. There is a limited # of Band 7 positions and Band 8 - its the Christmas tree scenario / effect.

"So I believe that Band 6 Specialist Nurses should have more pay scale as some work in ITU / CCU / NICU, A&E, Theatres / Recovery.

"The list is ongoing - more investment in these area of Band 6 specialist nurses is required as they fall into the same category as Band 6 on a General Ward with no post graduate courses or experience."

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About this contributor

I believe people working in healthcare should be able to choose to enjoy work. That is, choose an employer who reflects their values and provides them with a sustainable career. This leads to better patient care, higher retention rates and happier working lives in this most important employment sector.

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    • Bala Nataraj
    • Vanessa Mantebea Opoku
  • 2
  • 155115

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    • Matt Farrah 4 years ago
      Matt Farrah
    • Matt Farrah
      4 years ago

      Here's a fuller reply to Michelle's question from a nursing colleague that I spoke to about this: "Oh god... that ... read more

    • Michelle Bolt 4 years ago
      Michelle Bolt
    • Michelle Bolt
      4 years ago

      Does anybody know if a newly qualified band 5 of 6 months should be in charge of a ward. If ... read more

      • Are you speaking from experience here Michelle? It seems very soon. Pay is determined by Band and years exp. Usually progression so soon to Band 6, without specialising or further training, would be u... read more

        Are you speaking from experience here Michelle? It seems very soon. Pay is determined by Band and years exp. Usually progression so soon to Band 6, without specialising or further training, would be unusual. I'd be interested to know if you have been put in charge of a ward?
        read less

        Replied by: Matt Farrah

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