NHS Deputy Director of Nursing salary, 2026/27
Deputy directors of nursing report to the Trust Director of Nursing and have whole-Trust nursing leadership responsibility, often covering quality, professional development or operational nursing. The role is consistently banded at 8d.
- Range (England)
- £94,356 to £108,814
- Typical band
- Band 8d
- Hourly entry
- £48.25
- Hourly top
- £55.65
Deputy Director of Nursing pay by band, England 2026/27
The table below shows the entry and top step at each band Deputy Directors of Nursing are typically paid on. Most Deputy Directors of Nursing move through the bands over the course of their career as they take on more senior or specialist responsibilities.
Deputy Director of Nursing pay in Scotland
Scottish NHS staff are paid on a separate pay scale, negotiated by the Scottish Government rather than the UK Pay Review Body. Scotland consistently pays more than England at every band. The figures below are the Scottish equivalents for the same bands.
| Band (Scotland) | Entry | Top |
|---|---|---|
| Band 8d | £107,810 | £112,426 |
Common questions
- What pay band is a Deputy Director of Nursing on?
- Most NHS Deputy Directors of Nursing are banded at Band 8d. The exact responsibility level can vary slightly between Trusts, but the banding is consistent across the NHS because the Job Evaluation Scheme produces the same score for the same job description.
- How much does an NHS Deputy Director of Nursing earn in 2026/27?
- On the 2026/27 England pay scale, an NHS Deputy Director of Nursing earns between £94,356 and £108,814 a year gross, depending on band and step. At the lowest entry rate that works out to roughly £48.25 an hour, and at the top rate roughly £55.65 an hour. Take-home pay after tax, NI and the NHS pension contribution is typically 70% of the gross figure. Scottish Deputy Directors of Nursing earn between £107,810 and £112,426 on the equivalent Scottish scale.
- Where can I find Deputy Director of Nursing jobs in the NHS?
- NHS Jobs (jobs.nhs.uk) lists all current vacancies across the four UK nations. Filter by 'Pay Band' to focus on roles at the band you're interested in. HSC Recruit covers Northern Ireland (jobs.hscni.net) and NHS Scotland Jobs covers Scotland (jobs.scot.nhs.uk). Most Trusts also list vacancies on their own websites alongside the national portal.
- Does Deputy Director of Nursing get London weighting?
- Only at NHS Trusts in England inside one of the three London weighting (HCAS) zones. Deputy Directors of Nursing working at Inner London Trusts get 20% on top of basic pay (minimum £5,794, maximum £8,746 for 2026/27). Outer London is 15%, Fringe is 5%. Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish Deputy Directors of Nursing don't receive a London weighting equivalent.