SOC 6131 Caring personal service occupations

Nursing auxiliaries and assistants Salary

Median salary £24,761 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £25,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For nursing auxiliaries and assistants, £29,084 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -26% versus the national average. Experienced nursing auxiliaries and assistants (top 25%) earn over £30,410.

About this role

Veterinary nurses and assistants provide clinical care to animals, assisting veterinary surgeons with surgery, administering treatments, monitoring recovery and advising animal owners. Registered veterinary nurses hold RCVS registration and perform a defined scope of procedures.

Key responsibilities

Assisting during veterinary surgery and procedures
Administering medications and monitoring anaesthesia
Providing nursing care to hospitalised animals
Conducting diagnostic tests and imaging
Advising clients on animal health and welfare

Qualifications and entry routes

Registered Veterinary Nurses require an RCVS-approved qualification and RCVS registration. Veterinary care assistants work under VN supervision without formal registration. RVN title is legally protected.

Career outlook

Significant workforce shortage with high vacancy rates. Advanced practitioner roles and expanded scope of practice are improving career pathways and retention.

Key skills

Animal handling Anaesthesia monitoring Clinical nursing Client communication Diagnostic testing

Common industries

Small animal veterinary practices
Equine veterinary hospitals
Referral centres
Emergency and out-of-hours services
Zoo and wildlife centres

Data coverage

SOC code 6131

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 466,000

Median Salary

£24,761

Mean Salary

£23,895

Jobs (000s)

466k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P10: £10kP25: £16kMedian: £25kP75: £30kP90: £36k

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£9,547

0-2 years

Mid Level

£16,283

3-7 years

Senior

£30,410

8-15 years

Leadership

£35,661

15+ years

Potential career growth: +274% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +57.6%Real growth: +14.2%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 13.8%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£24,761

Full-time Only

£29,084

Full-time premium: +£4,323

Nursing auxiliaries and assistants salary: common questions

How much do nursing auxiliaries and assistants earn in the UK?

Nursing auxiliaries and assistants earn a median of £29,084 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £16,283 and £30,410.

Is £29,084 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for nursing auxiliaries and assistants?

Entry-level nursing auxiliaries and assistants typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £16,283, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £9,547.

How much do the highest-paid nursing auxiliaries and assistants earn?

The best-paid 10% of nursing auxiliaries and assistants earn over £35,661 a year, and the top 25% over £30,410 (ONS ASHE 2025).

Have nursing auxiliaries and assistants salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median nursing auxiliaries and assistants pay has risen from £18,793 to £29,084 — +55% in cash terms, or +12% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for nursing auxiliaries and assistants?

Male nursing auxiliaries and assistants earn a median £27,647 and female nursing auxiliaries and assistants £23,842 — a gap of +14% in 2025.

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