SOC 9262 Elementary administration and service occupations

Hospital porters Salary

Median salary £27,988 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £28,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For hospital porters, £29,409 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -25% versus the national average.

About this role

Hospital porters transport patients, equipment, supplies, specimens and other items within hospital settings. They play an essential role in hospital operations, ensuring safe and timely movement of people and materials between departments.

Key responsibilities

Transporting patients between wards, theatres, departments and discharge areas
Moving medical equipment, supplies and specimens safely
Assisting with patient transfers including bed-to-bed moves
Responding to emergency calls and assisting with crash teams
Maintaining cleanliness of transport equipment and routes

Qualifications and entry routes

No formal qualifications are required. NHS trusts provide manual handling, patient moving and handling, infection control and fire safety training. DBS check is mandatory.

Career outlook

Essential hospital role with consistent demand. Provides a pathway into other NHS careers including healthcare support worker, theatre assistant and facilities management.

Key skills

Patient handling Physical fitness Navigation of hospital layout Communication Reliability

Common industries

NHS hospitals
Private hospitals
Hospices
Mental health units
Rehabilitation centres

Data coverage

SOC code 9262

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 6,000

Median Salary

£27,988

Mean Salary

£27,983

Jobs (000s)

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £23,655Median: £27,988

P10: --P25: £24kMedian: £28kP75: --P90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£23,655

0-2 years

Mid Level

£23,655

3-7 years

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +50.8%Real growth: +9.3%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: -12.1%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£27,988

Full-time Only

£29,409

Full-time premium: +£1,421

Hospital porters salary: common questions

How much do hospital porters earn in the UK?

Hospital porters earn a median of £29,409 a year (ONS ASHE 2025).

Is £29,409 a good salary in the UK?

For hospital porters, £29,409 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -25% versus the national average.

What is the starting salary for hospital porters?

Entry-level hospital porters typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £23,655, though this varies by employer and region.

Have hospital porters salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median hospital porters pay has risen from £19,238 to £29,409 — +53% in cash terms, or +11% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for hospital porters?

Male hospital porters earn a median £27,450 and female hospital porters £30,758 — a gap of +12% in 2025 in women’s favour.

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