SOC 6133 Caring personal service occupations

Dental nurses Salary

Median salary £22,615 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £23,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For dental nurses, £25,742 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -34% versus the national average. Experienced dental nurses (top 25%) earn over £26,859.

About this role

Dental nurses assist dentists during clinical procedures, prepare treatment rooms and instruments, manage patient records and provide chairside support during examinations, treatments and surgical procedures.

Key responsibilities

Assisting dentists during clinical procedures and surgery
Preparing and sterilising instruments and treatment rooms
Taking and processing dental radiographs
Managing patient records and appointment systems
Providing oral health education and post-treatment advice

Qualifications and entry routes

GDC (General Dental Council) registration is mandatory. Requires completion of a GDC-approved dental nursing qualification (Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing). Additional qualifications in radiography, oral health education and sedation are available.

Career outlook

Consistent demand across dental settings. Extended duties (radiography, impression taking, oral health education) offer role expansion and career progression.

Key skills

Chairside assistance Instrument sterilisation Radiography Patient communication Clinical record keeping

Common industries

NHS dental practices
Private dental practices
Hospital dental departments
Community dental services
Orthodontic practices

Data coverage

SOC code 6133

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 53,000

Median Salary

£22,615

Mean Salary

£21,930

Jobs (000s)

53k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £16,957Median: £22,615P75: £26,859

P10: £12kP25: £17kMedian: £23kP75: £27kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£11,906

0-2 years

Mid Level

£16,957

3-7 years

Senior

£26,859

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +126% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +54.3%Real growth: +11.8%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: -20.5%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£22,615

Full-time Only

£25,742

Full-time premium: +£3,127

Dental nurses salary: common questions

How much do dental nurses earn in the UK?

Dental nurses earn a median of £25,742 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £16,957 and £26,859.

Is £25,742 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for dental nurses?

Entry-level dental nurses typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £16,957, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £11,906.

Have dental nurses salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median dental nurses pay has risen from £17,506 to £25,742 — +47% in cash terms, or +7.0% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for dental nurses?

Male dental nurses earn a median £18,868 and female dental nurses £22,739 — a gap of +21% in 2025 in women’s favour.

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