Dental nurse salary in Wales (2025/26)
Official occupation: Dental nurses
Full-time average annual pay in Wales
£23,019
2025 · moderate suppression
Median
£23,019
Mean
£22,496
| Statistic | Annual pay (gross) |
|---|---|
| Median | £23,019 |
| Mean | £22,496 |
Region-level range withheld by ONS — UK-wide, the middle half of dental nurse earnings fall between £16,957–£26,859. See full methodology →
Understanding Dental nurse pay in Wales
The typical dental nurse in Wales earns a median salary of £23,019 in 2025/26 — 1.8% (£404) above the UK-wide median of £22,615. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
Across the UK, Wales ranks 5th of 11 regions for dental nurse pay. Regional medians run from £14,736 in East Midlands up to £23,983 in South East, a spread of £9,247 (63%).
The mean (average) salary is £22,496, close to the median — the two measures broadly agree for dental nurse in Wales, and the median remains the clearest guide to typical pay.
To see what £23,019 means after income tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator below — it also factors in student loan repayments.
Take-home pay estimate
Tax year 2025/26| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £1,918 | £23,019 |
| Income tax | £174 | £2,090 |
| National Insurance | £70 | £836 |
| Take-home pay | £1,674 | £20,093 |
Estimate only · 2025/26 HMRC rates · Standard tax code · No pension contribution · Not financial or tax advice
How dental nurse pay varies by region
South East is the highest-paying region for dental nurse at £23,983 — 6% above the UK median. East Midlands is lowest at £14,736.
UK median £22,615
| Region | Median payUK median £22,615 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South East | £23,983 | £23,983 | £23,451 | +6% |
| West Midlands | £23,472 | £23,472 | £22,616 | +4% |
| Scotland | £23,361 | £23,361 | £22,943 | +3% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £23,075 | £23,075 | £21,678 | +2% |
| Wales (current region) | £23,019 | £23,019 | £22,496 | +2% |
| North East | £22,225 | £22,225 | £22,124 | -2% |
| East of England | £22,098 | £22,098 | £24,516 | -2% |
| North West | £21,641 | £21,641 | £21,297 | -4% |
| South West | £21,207 | £21,207 | £21,060 | -6% |
| London | £20,540 | £20,540 | £23,129 | -9% |
| East Midlands | £14,736 | £14,736 | £15,831 | -35% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| South East £23,983 | £23,983Mean £23,451 | +6% |
| West Midlands £23,472 | £23,472Mean £22,616 | +4% |
| Scotland £23,361 | £23,361Mean £22,943 | +3% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £23,075 | £23,075Mean £21,678 | +2% |
| Wales (current region) £23,019 | £23,019Mean £22,496 | +2% |
| North East £22,225 | £22,225Mean £22,124 | -2% |
| East of England £22,098 | £22,098Mean £24,516 | -2% |
| North West £21,641 | £21,641Mean £21,297 | -4% |
| South West £21,207 | £21,207Mean £21,060 | -6% |
| London £20,540 | £20,540Mean £23,129 | -9% |
| East Midlands £14,736 | £14,736Mean £15,831 | -35% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£22,615); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
How dental nurse pay in Wales has changed over time
Median annual pay for dental nurse in Wales by year, shown against the UK-wide median (Source: ONS ASHE). The shaded band is the UK-wide 25%–75% pay range — ONS does not publish pay range breakdowns at region level.
Wales median
UK median
▪ UK-wide 25%–75% range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a dental nurse earn in Wales?
- The median annual dental nurse salary in Wales is £23,019, according to ONS ASHE 2025 data.
- How does dental nurse pay in Wales compare to the UK average?
- Wales dental nurses earn a median of £23,019 per year — 1.8% above the UK median of £22,615 (ONS ASHE 2025).
- Which area of the UK pays dental nurses the most?
- South East has the highest median dental nurse salary at £23,983 per year (ONS ASHE 2025).
- Is Wales a well-paid location for dental nurses?
- The Wales median of £23,019 is 1.8% higher than the UK-wide median of £22,615, making it a relatively well-paid location for this role (ONS ASHE 2025).
How the figures are sourced
Data sources: Official UK earnings data (2025 provisional)(opens in new tab)
Related roles in Caring Personal Services
Other published roles in this occupation group. View category overview →
Related salary guides
- UK Dentist Salary 2026: NHS UDA Rates, Private Practice Pay, and Regional Earnings →
UK dentist salary in 2026: why ONS data is suppressed, NHS UDA earnings, private practice pay, and how regional location affects dentist income in the UK.