A full comparison of teacher and nurse salaries in the UK — pay scales, progression, take-home pay, and which career offers better long-term earnings.
Teacher and nurse — two of the UK's most essential professions, both requiring degree-level qualifications, and both frequently debated when it comes to pay. How do they actually compare?
| Career stage | Teacher salary | Nurse salary (AfC band) |
|---|---|---|
| Newly qualified | £31,650 (NQT, England) | £29,970 (Band 5 entry) |
| 3–5 years experience | £35,000–£38,000 (MPS) | £32,000–£36,483 (Band 5 top) |
| Experienced / specialist | £40,000–£46,525 (UPS) | £37,338–£44,962 (Band 6) |
| Senior / leadership | £48,000–£60,000+ (TLR/SLT) | £46,148–£52,809 (Band 7) |
| Head / Consultant | £60,000–£130,000+ (head) | £53,755–£72,293 (Band 8a/8b) |
Both teachers and nurses receive London Weighting additions:
In London, senior teachers on the Upper Pay Scale can earn £50,000–£55,000. Experienced Band 7 nurses in London with the 20% supplement reach £55,000+.
Both professions have excellent defined benefit pensions — one of the most significant components of total compensation that raw salary figures ignore.
When pension value is included, both professions' total compensation packages are substantially higher than the headline salary figures suggest — typically equivalent to an additional £7,000–£12,000 per year in pension accrual.
At the top of each profession, headteachers out-earn most NHS nurses — large secondary school heads can earn £80,000–£130,000. However this is a small minority. For the majority of practitioners spending a full career in the classroom or on the ward, salaries are broadly comparable across most of their working lives.
The key difference is progression route: teachers who take on leadership responsibilities (TLR payments, SLT roles) can accelerate earnings faster. Nurses who qualify as Advanced Nurse Practitioners or move into management access Band 7–8 pay, which is competitive but takes longer to reach.
Beyond salary, both professions face significant workload pressures. Teacher recruitment and retention remains a challenge, with many leaving within five years. Nursing faces similar pressures — the profession has been chronically understaffed, and many experienced nurses move to agency work for higher hourly rates (though without the pension and security benefits).
Whether you're a teacher, nurse, or in any other profession — see where your pay stands.
Check Your Salary →At entry level, teachers earn slightly more — £31,650 for an NQT vs £29,970 for a Band 5 nurse. Across full careers the gap narrows, and senior nurses on Band 7–8 earn comparably to experienced teachers. Headteachers at large schools can earn significantly more than most nurses.
Newly qualified teachers in England start on £31,650 outside London. In Inner London the starting salary is £38,766.
NHS nurses start on Band 5, which begins at £29,970 in 2025/26. With London Weighting, this increases significantly.
Both offer clear progression paths. Teaching offers TLR payments and leadership routes to headship. Nursing offers clinical specialist, advanced practitioner, and management routes through Bands 6–8. Teaching leadership tends to offer higher top-end salaries.