Qualified nurses are estimated to have an average basic pay of just over £27,000, an increase of 4.2% over the last year, according to government figures.

After supplementing their income with overtime and including location-based bonuses, qualified nurses earn £31,500 per year on average, data from the NHS Information Centre shows.

The information was gathered between January and March 2008 using the Electronic Staff Record (ESR).

However hospital consultants command average salaries of £111,800 and with average NHS earnings totalling £115,400. The figure does not include private work outside NHS hours.

(Article courtesy of Nursing Times)