Dental nurse salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official occupation: Dental nurses
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£22,615
Typical Annual pay range
Understanding Dental nurse pay in the UK
The typical dental nurse in the UK earns a median salary of £22,615 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 dental nurse earnings fall between £16,957 and £26,859 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced dental nurse.
Where you work changes the picture: dental nurse pay ranges from £14,736 in East Midlands up to £23,983 in South East, a difference of £9,247 (63%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see dental nurse pay in South East or read how we source and check this data.
How 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 | £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 £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.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local dental nurse pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow dental nurse pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for dental nurse 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 dental nurse earn in the UK?
- The median annual salary for a dental nurse in the UK is £22,615, according to ONS ASHE 2025 data. Most dental nurses earn between £16,957 and £26,859 per year.
- What is the median dental nurse salary?
- The median dental nurse salary in the UK is £22,615 per year (ONS ASHE 2025). Half of all dental nurses earn more than this figure, and half earn less.
- How much do senior dental nurses earn?
- The top 25% of dental nurses in the UK earn more than £26,859 per year (75th percentile, ONS ASHE 2025). The bottom quarter earn up to £16,957 annually.
- Which UK region pays dental nurses the most?
- South East has the highest median dental nurse salary at £23,983 per year, according to ONS ASHE 2025 data.
- How has dental nurse pay changed in recent years?
- Median dental nurse pay rose from £20,935 in 2024 to £22,615 in 2025 — a 8% increase (ONS ASHE 2025).
- What is the average dental nurse salary in the UK?
- The mean (average) dental nurse salary in the UK is £21,930 per year. The mean is lower than the median of £22,615 because low earners skew the average (ONS ASHE 2025).
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