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The NHS is the UK’s publicly funded medical and healthcare provider.

nhs.uk

Do the NHS pay minimum wage?

Yes. Most people are paid above the minimum wage at the NHS.

Here’s how the NHS pay different age groups.

Age group NHS pay per hour
16-17 £4.81-10.30 per hour
18-20 £7.46-11.88 per hour
21-22 £10.00-12.71 per hour
23 and over £10.53-18.47 per hour

Last updated 27 March 2024

What is the Real Living Wage?

The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.

Location Real Living Wage
London £13.15
Rest of the UK £12.00

What is the legal minimum wage?

The minimum wage is the legal minimum you must be paid per hour.

Age group Legal minimum wage
23 or older £10.42
21-22 £10.18
18-20 £7.49
Under 18 £5.28
Apprentices £5.28

How we know this

Based on data from 169 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2023 and March 2024.

94% of people say they are paid at or above the legal minimum wage.

What people are saying about pay at the NHS

  • Best thing

    Extra pay at weekends

    Worst thing

    High stress environment, no respect and low pay

    3.0

    NHS Healthcare assistant, September 2023

  • Best thing

    That I get a pay check at the end of the month

    Worst thing

    The general feeling and morale at the work place

    4.2

    NHS Porter, August 2023

  • Best thing

    the money, if payroll decide to pay you correctly (& if you can get ahold of them)

    Worst thing

    the staff, the managers that don’t even say hi/goodbye back to you when you arrive/leave, the nurses/doctors/etc that look down on you, or focus on what you’re doing rather than doing their own jobs & occasionally ask you to work more than you’re paid to do, payroll underpaying you occasionally, feeling under appreciated, not being heard by anyone there or given genuine sympathy when you’re having a hard time, I could go on…

    3.0

    NHS Domestic cleaner, August 2023

  • Best thing

    Sick pay
    Above minimum wage

    Worst thing

    Management and the doctors

    8.6

    NHS Medical secretary, August 2022

  • Best thing

    Schedules and holidays benefits are great. Get paid when sick. Depending on length of service depends how long you would get paid full wage. Then it will drop to half pay. Max 6 months.

    Worst thing

    No communications between lower workers when they are doing the bulk of the work.
    The filing system is completely different for every department. No wonder things get lost. No wifi. No freedom in approaching some tasks.

    5.5

    NHS Employee, July 2022

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