How much does a Mental health nurses earn in the UK?
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£40,028
Typical Annual pay range
Understanding Mental health nurses pay in the UK
The typical mental health nurses in the UK earns a median salary of £40,028 in 2025/26. 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.
The middle half of mental health nurses earnings fall between £31,368 and £45,647 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced mental health nurses.
Where you work changes the picture: mental health nurses pay ranges from £20,066 in East of England up to £43,240 in London, a difference of £23,174 (115%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see mental health nurses pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for mental health nurses at £43,240 — 8% above the UK median. East of England is lowest at £20,066.
UK median £40,028
| Region | Median payUK median £40,028 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £43,240 | £43,240 | £46,004 | +8% |
| Scotland | £40,506 | £40,506 | £38,853 | +1% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £36,122 | £36,122 | £36,226 | -10% |
| Wales | £35,719 | £35,719 | £41,153 | -11% |
| South East | £34,094 | £34,094 | £35,316 | -15% |
| North East | £29,842 | £29,842 | £30,365 | -25% |
| West Midlands | £28,985 | £28,985 | £28,872 | -28% |
| North West | £28,913 | £28,913 | £27,401 | -28% |
| South West | £27,521 | £27,521 | £26,430 | -31% |
| East Midlands | £27,215 | £27,215 | £28,070 | -32% |
| East of England | £20,066 | £20,066 | £21,511 | -50% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £43,240 | £43,240Mean £46,004 | +8% |
| Scotland £40,506 | £40,506Mean £38,853 | +1% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £36,122 | £36,122Mean £36,226 | -10% |
| Wales £35,719 | £35,719Mean £41,153 | -11% |
| South East £34,094 | £34,094Mean £35,316 | -15% |
| North East £29,842 | £29,842Mean £30,365 | -25% |
| West Midlands £28,985 | £28,985Mean £28,872 | -28% |
| North West £28,913 | £28,913Mean £27,401 | -28% |
| South West £27,521 | £27,521Mean £26,430 | -31% |
| East Midlands £27,215 | £27,215Mean £28,070 | -32% |
| East of England £20,066 | £20,066Mean £21,511 | -50% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£40,028); ‘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.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local mental health nurses pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow mental health nurses pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for mental health nurses by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25%–75% range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a mental health nurse earn in the UK?
- The median annual salary for a mental health nurse in the UK is £40,028, according to ONS ASHE 2025 data. Most mental health nurses earn between £31,368 and £45,647 per year.
- What is the median mental health nurse salary?
- The median mental health nurse salary in the UK is £40,028 per year (ONS ASHE 2025). Half of all mental health nurses earn more than this figure, and half earn less.
- How much do senior mental health nurses earn?
- The top 25% of mental health nurses in the UK earn more than £45,647 per year (75th percentile, ONS ASHE 2025). The bottom quarter earn up to £31,368 annually.
- Which UK region pays mental health nurses the most?
- London has the highest median mental health nurse salary at £43,240 per year, according to ONS ASHE 2025 data.
- How has mental health nurse pay changed in recent years?
- Median mental health nurse pay rose from £38,573 in 2024 to £40,028 in 2025 — a 3.8% increase (ONS ASHE 2025).
- What is the average mental health nurse salary in the UK?
- The mean (average) mental health nurse salary in the UK is £38,561 per year. The mean is lower than the median of £40,028 because low earners skew the average (ONS ASHE 2025).
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