Any nurses out there making decent money?

[TricycleBicycle]

Inspired by the £40-50k salaries thread...

Are there any nurses out there making this sort of money? If so, how? Are you senior? Agency work? Putting in ridiculous hours?

I left a corporate job to retrain as a nurse and am quite depressed when I realise that 8 years later I am only just (as a low band 6) making the salary that I left behind. Had I stayed in my old job I would undoubtedly be on at least double now (albeit probably less satisfied with my job).

I love nursing but my salary annoys me. I feel so undervalued. So, are any of you satisfied with yours?

I've been qualified 3 years and am coming up to middle band 5. I'm in Wales and voted against the "pay rise" being offered.
Although my wages are better than I was earning pre-nursing, it's galling to know that untrained factory workers earn the same amount as me in a local factory.
I'm looking into emigrating to the US. At least the wages are better ther and I could probably work part time. Instead of having to work an extra 12 hour shift a month to pay back breaks (free) and trying to pick up an overtime shift a month as well to supplement. I was doing agency shifts, but the travelling was getting too much.

I should say, I love my job, but it's hard to stay enthusiastic with the stress it brings.

As a nursing home manager in older persons care you would make a good salary. Contact some recruiters... nursing home manager jobs always out there x

I've heard that nursing is well paid in the US but their nurses are quite highly skilled too. One of my friends was looking to go there and she would have had to do quite a lot - eg if you qualified in adult you have to do child stuff too, maybe midwifery? Probably worth it though.

I voted for the pay rise after being mis-led by the RCN

Look at the pay scales. They are very well paid. Especially if they have a speciality and become the Names Nurse for Safeguarding/Falls/Dementia etc

My colleague is 27 yo (Band 7) and on 33+K

My dear friend is band 8b matron, on agency staff and gets £78 an hour.

That's without any other allowances and London weighting

The pity party with nursing salaries really annoys me, no one goes into any employment on a CEOs wage. A qualified nurse goes in on a band 5.

www.rcn.org.uk/employment-and-pay/nhs-pay-scales-2015-16

For a 27 YO nurse to be on band 7, they must have gained a lot of extra qualifications in a relatively short period of time so probably not typical.

But yes, nursing pay and grading is relatively well known and no-one goes into the profession for high salaries, although there are opportunities to advance to what are quite decent salaries for much of the country (upper band 6, band 7), but it takes hard work and success at available vacancies.

Jeez NewYear, pity party? I am not one for self pity at all but surely you can see that the vast majority of nursing roles are hugely underpaid, considering the hours, the stress and the huge responsibility involved.

I've been qualified for six years and I'm only just on what I was on in an entry level corporate job. For various reasons (house moves, family) I have only just progressed to a band 6 role.

I'm not expecting a CEO salary on starting. I'm asking about career progression.

My friend is a community prescribing nurse and earns in the £40’s. She had to do additional studying over 18-24 months I think & now works in a doctors surgery (so nice hours). Being allowed to prescribe drugs has helped pay massively