Senior managers receive biggest pay rises in NHS

By Vivienne Russell | 18 December 2012

Senior NHS managers enjoyed an average pay rise of 2% in the year to September 2012, outweighing that received by doctors, nurses and ambulance staff, according to figures published today.

This compares with a 2.6% rise in 2011.

Senior managers received a £1,459 (2%) rise, taking their average basic pay to £74,654. The average increase for their staff group as a whole, Management, Estates and Central Functions, was 1.4%, taking the average basic salary to £27,270.

Hospital doctors (including consultants and registrars) also enjoyed a 1.4% (£784) rise on the previous year, increasing their basic to £58,456.

Nurses, midwives and health visitors did less well, with an average 0.7% (£216) increase, taking their basic pay to £30,481. Next came qualified ambulance staff, with a 0.6% (£147) rise, increasing their average pay to £26,446.

Qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff received the lowest rise, at 0.4% or £146, bringing the average salary up to £34,354.

HSCIC chief executive Tim Straughan said that with more than 1 million people working in the NHS in England, the figures were of ‘great interest’ to both the service itself and the wider public.

‘Today’s figures are intended to provide new insight into the average earnings of this workforce, which of course contain a complex mix of differing grades of experience and working patterns,’ he said.

The HSCIC noted that the figures were ‘experimental’, that is they were undergoing evaluation. The centre is asking for feedback.

But Straughan added: ‘Although they are experimental, the figures do point to a small increase in average basic pay for most staff groups between 2011 and 2012.’

A two-year pay freeze came into effect in April 2011 for all but the lowest paid NHS staff, but some staff will have moved up to the next incremental pay point with their Agenda for Change band.