Nursing agency pay rates

We pride ourselves on being one of the highest-paying nursing agencies

Working as a nurse requires a high level of skill and dedication, which is why we pride ourselves on on offering nursing agency pay rates that nurses deserve.

How much do nursing agency jobs pay?

Nursing pay rates are normally worked out on an hourly basis, but our pay rates are dependent on several factors including:

  • Location – the pay rate for a nurse in London will differ from a nurse working in Cardiff.
  • Specialism – for example, an HCA will earn a different hourly wage compared to an A&E nurse.
  • Experience – senior positions will typically earn more than those who are relatively new to nursing.
  • Setting – nursing pay rates can vary depending on the client; working in an NHS environment will typically pay differently than working in a private setting such as a care home.
  • Time of shift – depending on what time you are required to work, the hourly wage for nursing agency staff can vary significantly, for example working a basic Monday-Friday shift from 8 am-2 pm, you’ll earn less than working over the weekend & through the night.

Thornbury Nursing Agency Pay Rates

As one of the highest-paying nursing agencies in the UK, we calculate our pay rates based on grades. The table below shows the hourly rates and sick pay for each specialism we recruit for, including A&E nurses, midwives, and theatre nurses.

To find out exactly how much you can earn per hour as an agency nurse with Thornbury, please see the table below:

Our pay rates

Jump to:

ANP, ANNP, APNP, ECP, ENP
In charge of a specialist unit
First Assistant
Specialities
Trained
Specialist HCA*
General HCA*

ANP, ANNP, APNP, ECP, ENP

£73.50 – £144.50 an hour

ANP, ANNP, ENP and ECP

Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Day Mon-Fri 8am-8pm
Night Mon-Thurs 8pm-8am
Weekend Fri 8pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£73.50
£80.50
£87.50
£144.50
£63.60
£69.66
£75.72
£125.04
£9.90
£10.84
£11.78
£19.46
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Day Mon-Fri 8am-8pm
Night Mon-Thurs 8pm-8am
Weekend Fri 8pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£73.50
£80.50
£87.50
£144.50
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Day Mon-Fri 8am-8pm
Night Mon-Thurs 8pm-8am
Weekend Fri 8pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£63.60
£69.66
£75.72
£125.04
Shift
Holiday Pay
Day Mon-Fri 8am-8pm
Night Mon-Thurs 8pm-8am
Weekend Fri 8pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£9.90
£10.84
£11.78
£19.46

In charge of a specialist unit

£53.50 – £115.00 an hour
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£53.50
£63.50
£70.00
£115.00
£46.30
£54.95
£60.57
£99.52
£7.20
£8.55
£9.43
£15.48
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£53.50
£63.50
£70.00
£115.00
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£46.30
£54.95
£60.57
£99.52
Shift
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£7.20
£8.55
£9.43
£15.48

First Assistant

£51.00 – £107.00 an hour
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£51.00
£58.00
£65.00
£107.00
£44.13
£50.19
£56.25
£92.59
£6.87
£7.81
£8.75
£14.41
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£51.00
£58.00
£65.00
£107.00
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£44.13
£50.19
£56.25
£92.59
Shift
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£6.87
£7.81
£8.75
£14.41

Specialities

£47.00 – £96.50 an hour

A&E, Cardiac Catheter Lab Nurse, Chemo, Endoscopy Nurse, HDU, ITU, Midwife, NICU, Paediatric A&E Nurse, Paediatric ITU, RCN, Practice Nurse, Prison Nurse, Renal Dialysis Nurse, School Nurse, Surgical First Assistant and ODP

Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£47.00
£53.00
£58.50
£96.50
£40.67
£45.86
£50.62
£83.51
£6.33
£7.14
£7.88
£12.99
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£47.00
£53.00
£58.50
£96.50
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£40.67
£45.86
£50.62
£83.51
Shift
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£6.33
£7.14
£7.88
£12.99

Trained

£39.00 – £80.50 an hour

Community, District Nurse, Nursing Home Nurse, Palliative Care Nurse, RGN, RNLD and RMN

Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£39.00
£42.50
£49.00
£80.50
£33.75
£36.78
£42.40
£69.66
£5.25
£5.72
£6.60
£10.84
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£39.00
£42.50
£49.00
£80.50
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£33.75
£36.78
£42.40
£69.66
Shift
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£5.25
£5.72
£6.60
£10.84

Specialist HCA*

£27.50 – £64.00 an hour

Learning Disability HCA and Mental Healthcare Assistant

Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£27.50
£31.50
£39.00
£64.00
£23.80
£27.26
£33.75
£55.38
£3.70
£4.24
£5.25
£8.62
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£27.50
£31.50
£39.00
£64.00
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£23.80
£27.26
£33.75
£55.38
Shift
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£3.70
£4.24
£5.25
£8.62

General HCA*

£22.00 – £50.50 an hour

Healthcare Assistant (HCA) and Home Care Support Worker (HCSW)

Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£22.00
£28.00
£30.50
£50.50
£19.04
£24.23
£26.39
£43.70
£2.96
£3.77
£4.11
£6.80
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£22.00
£28.00
£30.50
£50.50
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£19.04
£24.23
£26.39
£43.70
Shift
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£2.96
£3.77
£4.11
£6.80

*Please note: We are not currently recruiting any new HCAs. We will re-open HCA applications once the demand from our clients changes. Please continue to check our website periodically so you don’t miss out when our HCA applications re-open.

Pay rate terms

Effective 3 July 2023:

  • Specialties: A&E, Minor Injury/Walk-In Centre; HDU/ITU/CCU/OR, Dialysis; NICU/SCBU, RSCN, RM; Cath Lab, Chemotherapy, Endoscopy. Intensive/Complex Homecare, Occupational Health, Practice Nursing. Prisons. CAMHS, Psychiatric ICU/Forensic/secure unit, Specialist Mental Health assignments and other specialist certificates when requested.
  • Travel expenses are paid at 25 pence per mile for journeys up to 200 miles: and at 30 pence for each additional mile for journeys over 200 miles. Expenses will also be paid for bridge tolls, congestion charges and clean air zones. Reasonable public transport costs will be paid for the return journey. Receipts for all incidental travel costs must be provided and scanned on the same image as your timesheet when submitting electronically.
  • There may occasionally be different pay and mileage rates for specific clients – it is your responsibility to ensure you know the pay and mileage rates when you accept a shift.
  • Thornbury makes no deductions for additional administration charges.
  • Holiday pay at 15.56% is included in your hourly rate and paid to you on a weekly basis. Thornbury urges all staff to take their agency paid holiday entitlement in full.
  • By accepting these terms, you agree that any such sums paid to you as holiday pay in addition to your hourly rate may be set off against any entitlement to receive statutory holiday pay during periods of annual leave.
  • If any changes occur during your placement with regard to your duties or ward allocation, please inform your local office immediately as this could affect your pay. Retrospective changes may not be possible.
  • For care provided in a patient’s own home, no breaks will be deducted if you are the only worker in attendance. In all other cases standard breaks are deducted. If no break is possible, please write this on your timesheet and ask the signatory to initial.
  • Thornbury urges all agency workers to have professional indemnity insurance provided by personal membership of a recognised professional body or trade union.
  • Tax and NIC are deducted by Thornbury from the pay rates quoted above.
  • Information submitted on your timesheet must match the shift details we have on our system. Workers will not be paid any additional times or for a change in grade, without authorisation from a client prior to the shift ending.

Reliable and regular pay

Our nurses are paid via PAYE up to 5 times per week. We don’t use umbrella companies or permit our nurses to operate under a limited company or via umbrella schemes.

Read more about getting paid

More than just great pay

We also offer a wide range of other benefits, including:

  • Shift bonuses
  • Professional registration fees paid
  • Paid travel expenses
  • Professional development
  • Revalidation support
  • and much more

FAQs about our pay rates

We have answered some of the most common questions that agency nurses ask us:

Do I get paid more for working on a bank holiday?

Yes – working through a bank or public holiday means as an agency nurse, you are paid more per hour. Please refer to the table above to see how much you can earn per hour as a nurse working on public holidays.

When do I get paid?

Working with Thornbury Nursing, you can be paid up to four times a week – once your timesheet is submitted our team work on processing payments to ensure you get paid quickly. Also, we don’t charge any administration fees, meaning you keep as much of your pay as possible.

If you have any questions about your pay, contact our payroll team on 0345 120 5333.

Do I need to use an umbrella company to get paid as an agency nurse?

Other nursing agencies may pay via an umbrella company, however at Thornbury Nursing we believe that nurses should get paid the highest amount possible, and in line with HMRC’s regulations regarding tax.

For more information, please read why we pay what we say.

Who handles my tax and National Insurance?

As a PAYE worker, your tax and national insurance contributions are deducted from the pay rates in the table above, meaning that you don’t have to worry about ensuring that these payments are made – you simply receive a payslip as normal.

Do I still get holiday pay for working with a nursing agency?

As an agency nurse, you’re still entitled to holiday pay. We include your holiday pay at 15.56% of your hourly wage.

Can I claim travel expenses as part of my pay as an agency nurse?

We pay your travel expenses, at 25p per mile for up to 200 miles, and 30p for each additional mile for journeys over 200 miles.

We will also cover expenses for things like:

  • Bridge tolls
  • Congestion charges
  • Clean air zones
  • Public transport costs

We need receipts for all travel costs, and these need to be scanned in and submitted on the same image as your timesheets.

Am I entitled to benefits as an agency nurse?

Alongside being committed to paying nurses a higher pay rate, we also offer benefits on all our roles, including:

  • Reimbursed travel expenses
  • Paid NMC fees
  • Free annual flu voucher
  • 24/7 nurse-led telephone support

The work we offer you

We have short notice shifts for nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants (HCAs) in England and Wales.

We cover a wide range of specialisms in both healthcare and community settings.

Whether you’re looking for something familiar or are seeking variety, as long as you’re able to pick up work with a few hours notice, we have work for you.

Join in 3 steps

1. See if you’re eligible

Find out if you can work for us.

Go to eligibility checker

2. Apply

Fill in your details and tell us your skills, qualifications and employment history. This should take around 10-15 minutes.

3. Register

Take part in a short video interview and upload documents to our recruitment portal. The sooner you provide your documents, the sooner you can start working.

Talk to a member of our team