Are you getting a good deal at work?
Compare your job to find out

NHS

1533 job reviews

6.3/10
What is this?

What is the Breakroom Rating?

Close

We’re different from other job review sites.

Breakroom Ratings are a fair and objective measure of how good an employer is.

Instead of giving us a personal opinion of their workplace, everyone on Breakroom answers the same set of questions about their job.

This means we can measure what jobs are really like at an employer, and you can trust the Breakroom Rating to find out where’s best to work.

NHS pay

How much does NHS pay per hour?

£9.00–17.29 from 875 hourly employees at NHS

What does NHS pay different age groups?

This table shows how hourly pay rates at NHS compare to the minimum wage and the Real Living Wage.

Age group NHS pay rate Real Living Wage Minimum wage
Under 18 Not enough data yet Only applies to people 18 and over £4.55
18-20 £8.13–9.92 £9.30, £10.75 in London £6.45
21-24 £8.25–13.69 £9.30, £10.75 in London £8.20
25 and over £9.00–18.00 £9.30, £10.75 in London £8.72

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

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

Does NHS pay weekly, biweekly or monthly?

People get paid every month

89% of people report they get paid every month

Based on 1519 employee responses

Does NHS pay accurately and on time?

Yes. People get paid accurately and on time

Excellent

4% of people report they have been paid late or the wrong amount

Based on 50 employee responses

Why this matters

It is important that you are paid correctly and on time - everyone has financial commitments and living expenses to keep on top of. At a good job, you shouldn't have to chase up any payments that are due to you.

Do workers at NHS do extra work that they don't get paid for?

Rarely. Most people don’t do unpaid extra work

Good

39% of people report that they do extra work that they don’t get paid for

Based on 1384 employee responses

Why this matters

Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.

Does NHS pay sick pay?

Yes. People get proper sick pay

Excellent

85% of people say they would get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work

Based on 1448 employee responses

Why this matters

Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.

At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.

This is more than the legal minimum, which says you should only get paid if you are unwell for 4 full days. See Citizens Advice for more details.

Do workers at NHS get paid breaks?

No. People don’t get paid breaks

Bad

16% of people say they get paid breaks

Based on 1458 employee responses

Why this matters

A good job should have paid breaks.

You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.

What people say about pay at NHS

  • 6.6/10

    Best thing

    Nightshift means no childcare issues. Enhanced pay for working nights

    Worst thing

    Working nightshift not good long term for sleep patterns and health. Working alone mostly is lonely

    Healthcare support worker, September 2020
  • 4.9/10

    Best thing

    The hours I am given

    Worst thing

    pay Stress Lack of respect Hierarchy Abuse of the system Manager has favourites
    Staff nurse, September 2020
  • 5.5/10

    Best thing

    We all get on well

    Worst thing

    Our pay is sometimes wrong
    Dental nurse, August 2020
  • 6.1/10

    Best thing

    The team, I can’t imagine doing anything else!

    Worst thing

    pay is crap for the amount of responsibility. Hours are too long.
    Staff nurse, July 2020
  • 3.3/10

    Best thing

    Rewarding

    Worst thing

    no respect and not enough pay
    Healthcare assistant, December 2019
  • 8.3/10

    Best thing

    The people, the place

    Worst thing

    Poor pay , government expectations.
    Hca, August 2020
  • 9.4/10

    Best thing

    Stability and being part of a national service that makes a difference

    Worst thing

    That difference isn't always reflected in the pay gradings
    Reception assistant security, May 2020
  • 7.9/10

    Best thing

    Steay job decent sick and holiday pay

    Worst thing

    Pressure to hit audit targets not enough pay
    Patient.services assistant, June 2020
  • 7.2/10

    Best thing

    Team and set schedule

    Worst thing

    pay , work load, career progression, lack of communication
    Mental health nurse, August 2020
  • 7.8/10

    Best thing

    My colleagues

    Worst thing

    The management and the unfair pay
    Data input clark/administration, September 2020
  • 7.6/10

    Best thing

    Hours, no weekend working

    Worst thing

    pay rate. No career progression.
    Medicines optimisation assistant, June 2020
  • 3.4/10

    Best thing

    Some colleagues

    Worst thing

    Other colleagues. pay . Responsibility.
    Support worker, August 2020
  • 4.6/10

    Best thing

    Kid security

    Worst thing

    Hours, pay , zero promotion
    Hca, July 2020
  • 2.1/10

    Best thing

    Pension

    Worst thing

    Management,shifts,pay
    Porter, May 2020
  • 10.0/10

    Best thing

    Working with a good team, treated with respect, 6 months off sick full pay

    Worst thing

    Parking

    Nursing assistant, July 2020
  • 9.4/10

    Best thing

    pay , location, being left alone to get on with the job

    Worst thing

    The responsibility of peoples health in my hands with no medical training

    NHS 111 health advisor, July 2020
  • 7.2/10

    Best thing

    It’s a job

    Worst thing

    Almost non existing pay rise for over 8 yrs
    Nurse, August 2020
  • 5.8/10

    Best thing

    Job security and sick pay

    Worst thing

    Bad management
    Bullying
    Bad equipment

    Sterile services technician, August 2020
  • 6.6/10

    Best thing

    Career for life

    Worst thing

    Covid pandemic pay doesn’t reflect the work
    Ward sister, August 2020
  • 6.1/10

    Best thing

    Job security
    Ongoing training
    Worthwhile job

    Worst thing

    Low pay Difficult shift pattern Very busy No breaks Bullying
    Staff nurse, July 2020
  • 6.1/10

    Best thing

    Being with women
    My work colleagues

    Worst thing

    Short staffing Lie pay
    Midwife, September 2020
  • 5.2/10

    Best thing

    Job satisfaction. Saving people’s lives. Seeing patients get better

    Worst thing

    Low pay . Antisocial hours. Lack of control over what shifts you work. Working every weekend, bank holiday, Christmas etc
    Staff nurse, July 2020
  • 4.2/10

    Best thing

    Holidays and sick pay

    Worst thing

    Shift pattern

    Support worker, August 2020
  • 8.3/10

    Best thing

    The team work and the weekend bonuses.
    Good skill development opportunities

    Worst thing

    pay for nurses in general should be more. Only day worth working are bank holidays or sundays as they comparatively pay well!
    Nurse, July 2020
  • 4.2/10

    Best thing

    Collegues

    Worst thing

    pay Work load Lack of staff
    Health care assistant, August 2020
  • 7.9/10

    Best thing

    Working to help people. Always learning new things. Weekends and bank holidays off.

    Worst thing

    Commuting. Not great pay for responsibility and knowledge required in role. Poor team morale
    Biomedical scientist, September 2020
  • 8.8/10

    Best thing

    Easy job, nice hours, fair pay

    Worst thing

    Mundane

    Receptionist, August 2020
  • 3.8/10

    Best thing

    Some of the people I work with

    Worst thing

    Patients, lack of support, no communication, treated as the lowest, not listened too, low pay
    Receptionist, August 2020
  • 4.9/10

    Best thing

    Good outcomes for seriously I'll or injured patients.

    Worst thing

    No pay rise for over 8 years. Inept Management.
    Emergency medical technician, August 2020
  • 3.0/10

    Best thing

    Helping people
    Being kind

    Worst thing

    The pay and wether I will get any hours
    Ambulance driver, January 2020
  • 4.8/10

    Best thing

    The hours

    Worst thing

    Stress Lack of understanding and support Maternity pay
    Nursing Assistant, January 2020
  • 7.8/10

    Best thing

    Holidays, sick pay , money

    Worst thing

    Other members of staff..can be nasty

    Cook, March 2020
  • 3.3/10

    Best thing

    Colleagues

    Worst thing

    pay in relation to responsibility, no respect, no incentives
    Administration assistant, May 2020
  • 7.2/10

    Best thing

    Colleagues

    Worst thing

    Staffing issues, could pay more
    Staff nurse, March 2020
  • 6.8/10

    Best thing

    I think the pay is much better with what i get at home

    Worst thing

    Sometimes the people i work with. And the no of patients

    Nurse, June 2020
  • 4.4/10

    Best thing

    helping sick people

    Worst thing

    pay , poor work conditions at times on jobs, high risk
    Intermediate ambulance practitioner, June 2020
  • 6.1/10

    Best thing

    Caring for sick patients

    Worst thing

    Pressure, poor pay , long shifts
    Healthcare assistant, July 2020
  • 8.7/10

    Best thing

    My manager Flexibility pay Holidays Pension Learning opportunities

    Worst thing

    Some of the staff

    Deputy ward manager, July 2020
  • 6.6/10

    Best thing

    Patients

    Worst thing

    Lack of acknowledgment for working higher than pay grade
    Mental health community support worker, June 2020
  • 3.1/10

    Best thing

    Job satisfaction

    Worst thing

    Low pay stress work overload
    Community midwife, July 2020
  • 6.8/10

    Best thing

    Sick pay holiday allowance/pay

    Worst thing

    Unable to progress

    Dental nurse, July 2020
  • 4.9/10

    Best thing

    Close to hme. Hrs of work

    Worst thing

    Toi much ti do. Different pay levels for same job
    Administrator, July 2020