Official pay data
Updated 12 October 2026
Salary guide
Official annual estimates for the whole country, mapped to the closest published occupation.
United Kingdom · gross annual earnings estimate
25th percentile
£23,380
Median
£25,742
75th percentile
£28,935
This ASHE benchmark covers full-time employee jobs, not self-employed income or part-time jobs. ASHE gross earnings include basic pay, overtime, incentive pay such as bonuses and commissions, shift premiums, and other cash pay. They are before deductions, exclude payments in kind, and are not take-home pay or the whole benefits package. Compare the benchmark with an offer on the same working-hours and annual-pay basis.
This is a country-level occupation benchmark, not a local offer estimate. Pay can differ by location, employer, duties, and working pattern.
Source: ONS, 2025-04-30. Mapped to Dental nurses; the occupation is broader than the page role. Figures are estimates, not advertised salaries.
This national benchmark is a useful comparison point for a Dental Nurse because it is mapped to the Dental nurses occupation. The occupation includes supporting the dental team during appointments, but individual posts can differ in the duties assigned and their working pattern.
Benchmark fit
Dental Nurse fits the mapped Dental nurses occupation because the national profile describes dental nurses supporting the dental team during patient appointments. Use the benchmark for that occupational comparison, not as a promise that every Dental Nurse post has the same duties or pay.
Do not treat the occupational benchmark as the exact salary for a particular post: pay can differ by employer, location, duties and working pattern.
Role scope
A Dental Nurse may support the dental team during patient appointments and help patients feel comfortable.
Prepare dental instruments, materials and equipment. · Assist with screening and treatments, including examples such as gum checks, cleaning and fillings. · Follow infection controls, such as sterilising instruments. · Update and maintain patient records on a computer system. · Give advice on routine oral healthcare.
Prepared instruments, materials and equipment for appointments or treatment. · Maintained patient records and provided routine oral-health advice where these tasks were assigned.
Read the range
When comparing roles within this occupation, read the job description closely: one Dental Nurse post may focus on appointment support and instrument preparation, while another may also include record maintenance, infection-control work or routine oral-health advice. These are differences in assigned responsibility, not salary bands. If you are applying, use the [Dental Nurse CV guide](/uk/cv-examples/dental-nurse) to choose which duties to include as evidence.
One quarter of employees earn below this figure.
Half of employees earn below this figure and half above it; it is not the arithmetic midpoint of the displayed range.
One quarter of employees earn above this figure.
Location
Supplementary regional medians are available for ten regions, including Scotland, Wales and several English regions.
| Region | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| East | Not published | £26,889 | Not published |
| East Midlands | Not published | £25,136 | Not published |
| North East | Not published | £24,218 | Not published |
| North West | Not published | £24,200 | Not published |
| Scotland | Not published | £26,123 | Not published |
| South East | Not published | £26,707 | Not published |
| South West | Not published | £26,381 | Not published |
| Wales | Not published | £24,574 | Not published |
| West Midlands | Not published | £25,541 | Not published |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | Not published | £25,665 | Not published |
Use regional figures as supplementary context. The main benchmark is country-level, and an individual offer can differ by location, employer, duties and working pattern.
Beyond salary
Compare an offer on the same annual-pay and working-hours basis as the benchmark. Separate fixed pay from any cash payments that depend on overtime, incentives, commission or shift premiums, then review benefits on their own terms.
Confirm the stated annual amount and contracted hours before comparing it with the benchmark.
Ask whether overtime, bonuses, commission, incentive pay or shift premiums are available, and what rules determine them.
Check the offered terms for pension, health cover, leave or other non-cash benefits separately, because they are not the same as gross cash earnings.
Offer review
Questions
Source
Source: ONS, 2025-04-30. The figures cover Dental nurses (6133) and full time employee jobs. Updated 12 October 2026. This broad occupation benchmark may not match every Dental Nurse vacancy.
Put the benchmark to work
Use the salary range as context. Tailor your CV around the experience that supports your target level.
