Specialist nurses salary in Scotland
Full-time average annual pay in Scotland
£37,636
Based on ~20,000 employees · 2025 · moderate suppression
Median
£37,636
Mean
£36,937
| Statistic | Annual pay (gross) |
|---|---|
| Median | £37,636 |
| Mean | £36,937 |
Region-level range withheld by ONS — UK-wide, the middle half of specialist nurses earn £31,854–£48,657. See full methodology →
Understanding Specialist nurses pay in Scotland
The typical specialist nurses in Scotland earns a median salary of £37,636 in 2025/26, based on around 20,000 employees — 8.4% (£3,459) below the UK-wide median of £41,095. 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, Scotland ranks 10th of 11 regions for specialist nurses pay. Regional medians run from £35,957 in East Midlands up to £50,477 in London, a spread of £14,520 (40%).
The mean (average) salary is £36,937, close to the median — the two measures broadly agree for specialist nurses in Scotland, and the median remains the clearest guide to typical pay.
To see what £37,636 means after income tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator below — it also factors in student loan repayments and Scottish Income Tax rates.
Take-home pay estimate
Tax year 2025/26| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £3,136 | £37,636 |
| Income tax | £424 | £5,086 |
| National Insurance | £167 | £2,005 |
| Student loan (Plan 4 (Scotland)) | £37 | £440 |
| Total deductions | £628 | £7,532 |
| Take-home pay | £2,509 | £30,104 |
Estimate only · 2025/26 HMRC rates · Standard tax code · No pension contribution · Not financial or tax advice
How Specialist nurses pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for specialist nurses at £50,477 — 23% above the UK median. East Midlands is lowest at £35,957.
UK median £41,095
| Region | Median payUK median £41,095 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £50,477 | £50,477 | £45,974 | +23% |
| North East | £48,666 | £48,666 | £51,273 | +18% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £47,290 | £47,290 | £46,872 | +15% |
| North West | £45,568 | £45,568 | £46,332 | +11% |
| East of England | £45,027 | £45,027 | £43,577 | +10% |
| West Midlands | £42,477 | £42,477 | £39,856 | +3% |
| South East | £41,140 | £41,140 | £41,693 | ±0% |
| South West | £39,217 | £39,217 | £37,041 | -5% |
| Wales | £39,155 | £39,155 | £37,476 | -5% |
| Scotland (current region) | £37,636 | £37,636 | £36,937 | -8% |
| East Midlands | £35,957 | £35,957 | £37,276 | -13% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £50,477 | £50,477Mean £45,974 | +23% |
| North East £48,666 | £48,666Mean £51,273 | +18% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £47,290 | £47,290Mean £46,872 | +15% |
| North West £45,568 | £45,568Mean £46,332 | +11% |
| East of England £45,027 | £45,027Mean £43,577 | +10% |
| West Midlands £42,477 | £42,477Mean £39,856 | +3% |
| South East £41,140 | £41,140Mean £41,693 | ±0% |
| South West £39,217 | £39,217Mean £37,041 | -5% |
| Wales £39,155 | £39,155Mean £37,476 | -5% |
| Scotland (current region) £37,636 | £37,636Mean £36,937 | -8% |
| East Midlands £35,957 | £35,957Mean £37,276 | -13% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£41,095); ‘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 specialist nurses pay in Scotland has changed over time
Median annual pay for specialist nurses in Scotland by year, shown against the UK-wide median (Source: ONS ASHE). The shaded band is the UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range — ONS does not publish percentile ranges at region level.
Scotland median
UK median
▪ UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
How the figures are sourced
Data sources: Official UK earnings data (2025 provisional)(opens in new tab)
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