Comparing NHS and private sector salaries across healthcare, admin and tech. Which pays more — and what are the trade-offs?
For most healthcare roles the private sector pays higher base salaries — but the NHS Pension Scheme (defined benefit, ~23% employer contribution) makes total NHS compensation considerably more competitive than base salary comparisons suggest.
| Role | NHS | Private | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse | £29,969–£46,000 | £30,000–£42,000 | Broadly similar |
| Pharmacist | £37,000–£60,000 | £42,000–£75,000 | Private pays more |
| Physiotherapist | £30,000–£53,000 | £35,000–£80,000 | Private pays more |
| GP | £70,000–£110,000 | £80,000–£150,000 | Private pays more |
| IT / Digital | £30,000–£55,000 | £40,000–£90,000 | Private pays significantly more |
The NHS Pension Scheme is one of the most valuable in the UK — a defined benefit scheme with employer contributions equivalent to approximately 20–23% of salary. This significantly narrows the gap between NHS and private sector total compensation.
See what any NHS or private sector salary looks like after tax.
Use the CalculatorFor most roles, the private sector pays higher base salaries. However the NHS defined benefit pension (~23% employer contribution) makes total compensation often competitive with private sector equivalents.
For many employees, yes. The NHS defined benefit pension is one of the most valuable in the UK and significantly narrows the total compensation gap.