How much does a Band 5 nurse or midwife earn?
In England, entry Band 5 basic is about £2,040 a month take-home on £32,073 a year (full-time, before unsocial hours). Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use different pay points.
Newly qualified registered nurses and midwives usually start on Band 5. Basic pay is the same AfC band; take-home still varies by nation, tax and rota.
Take-home by nationFull-time basic, entry and top pay points — no unsocial hours
| Nation | Entry basic | Entry take-home / mo | Top basic | Top take-home / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England2026/27 | £32,073 | £2,040 | £39,043 | £2,381 |
| Scotland2026/27 | £34,494 | £2,174 | £42,977 | £2,587 |
| Wales2026/27 | £32,557 | £2,067 | £39,631 | £2,412 |
| Northern Ireland2025/26 | £31,049 | £1,984 | £37,796 | £2,314 |
About this role
Band 5 covers registered nurses and midwives (and other registered roles such as some AHPs). Nurse and midwife basic pay points match; what differs is typical shift patterns and progression routes, not the band table itself.
What comes off
- Income tax and National Insurance — Scotland uses different tax bands.
- NHS pension — tiered contribution; see the pension guide.
- Student loan — common for newly qualified staff; see the student loan guide.
- London weighting (England) — if you work in a designated zone; see HCAS.
Out-of-hours pay
Ward nurses often mix days and nights; midwives frequently work nights and may have on-call arrangements depending on the unit. Unsocial enhancements sit on top of basic — they are a big reason two Band 5 payslips differ. Add shifts on the calculator or see the unsocial hours guide.
Read NHS unsocial hours (Section 2), then add your nights and weekend shifts on a nation calculator.
Progression
Common next steps are Band 6 specialist nurse or midwifery roles, or Band 6 health visitor after SCPHN training. Newly qualified staff may also repay student loans — check the student loan guide.
Open a calculatorAdd your hours and shifts
Related roles
Common questions
Do nurses and midwives earn the same on Band 5?
Basic Agenda for Change pay points are the same for the band. Midwives and nurses can still take home different amounts because of unsocial hours, on-call arrangements, London HCAS and tax code.
What is Band 5 nurse take-home in England?
Use the England column in the table for entry and top basic take-home at full-time hours. Open the England Band 5 calculator to change hours, shifts or student loan.
Does the table include nights and weekends?
No. It shows basic full-time take-home only. Model nights and weekends in the nation calculator.
Is Band 5 the same in Scotland?
Scotland publishes different pay points and uses Scottish income tax, so both basic and take-home differ from England.