SOC 2234 Health professionals

Nurse practitioners Salary

Median salary £41,392 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £41,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For nurse practitioners, £46,069 is the typical (median) pay. That is above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +18% versus the national average. Experienced nurse practitioners (top 25%) earn over £50,139.

About this role

Nurse practitioners provide clinical care to patients across a range of healthcare settings. They assess patient needs, plan and deliver nursing interventions, administer medications and support patients through treatment and recovery.

Key responsibilities

Assessing patient health needs and developing care plans
Administering medications and clinical treatments
Monitoring patient progress and responding to changes in condition
Supporting patients and families with health education
Maintaining accurate clinical records and documentation

Qualifications and entry routes

Requires a nursing degree (BSc or postgraduate) approved by the NMC, followed by NMC registration. Specialist roles require additional postgraduate training and qualifications.

Career outlook

Severe workforce shortages across the UK, particularly in mental health, community and emergency nursing. Strong career progression opportunities into advanced practice and leadership.

Key skills

Clinical assessment Patient care Medication administration Communication Critical thinking

Common industries

NHS
Private hospitals
Community health
Mental health
Care homes

Data coverage

SOC code 2234

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2021–2025

Estimated jobs 114,000

Median Salary

£41,392

Mean Salary

£40,947

Jobs (000s)

114k

Data Years

5 years

Salary Range (2025)

P10: £23kP25: £31kMedian: £41kP75: £50kP90: £59k

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£23,126

0-2 years

Mid Level

£30,945

3-7 years

Senior

£50,139

8-15 years

Leadership

£58,540

15+ years

Potential career growth: +153% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2021-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +12.4%Real growth: -9.1%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 10.2%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£41,392

Full-time Only

£46,069

Full-time premium: +£4,677

Nurse practitioners salary: common questions

How much do nurse practitioners earn in the UK?

Nurse practitioners earn a median of £46,069 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £30,945 and £50,139.

Is £46,069 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for nurse practitioners?

Entry-level nurse practitioners typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £30,945, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £23,126.

How much do the highest-paid nurse practitioners earn?

The best-paid 10% of nurse practitioners earn over £58,540 a year, and the top 25% over £50,139 (ONS ASHE 2025).

Have nurse practitioners salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2021, median nurse practitioners pay has risen from £40,391 to £46,069 — +14% in cash terms, or -8.0% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for nurse practitioners?

Male nurse practitioners earn a median £44,980 and female nurse practitioners £40,409 — a gap of +10% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).