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Average Certified Nursing Assistant CNA Salary in United Kingdom for 2026

A certified nursing assistant CNA in United Kingdom earns about 47,400 GBP a year. That's 32% below the national average of 69,700 GBP.

Pay ranges widely from country to country and from role to role. The lowest reported salaries in United Kingdom sit around 20,400 GBP a year, while the very top stretches to 74,900 GBP. Everything on this page is in British pound (GBP, symbol £), which lets you compare numbers like-for-like without worrying about exchange rates.

The numbers here are pulled together from official government wage data, large independent salary surveys, and aggregated worker-reported pay. Most reported salaries include the benefits that are common in United Kingdom, such as housing or transport allowances, which is worth keeping in mind if you're comparing against a country where those are usually paid on top.

To turn a gross salary in United Kingdom into a take-home figure, use our United Kingdom salary after tax calculator, which works the latest tax brackets and contributions through the math for you.

How much does a certified nursing assistant CNA make in United Kingdom?

Average salary
47,400 GBP
3,950 GBP per month
Lowest reported
20,400 GBP
1,700 GBP per month
Highest reported
74,900 GBP
6,241 GBP per month

A typical certified nursing assistant CNA working in United Kingdom brings home around 3,950 GBP a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 20,400 GBP, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 74,900 GBP for the most experienced and specialised people in the role.

The wide gap between low end and top end reflects how much pay can vary inside the same job title. A junior certified nursing assistant CNA working at a small local employer earns very different money from a senior at a multinational. Skills, employer, city and years in the seat all push the number around. For a cross-country comparison, see the certified nursing assistant CNA salary in Guernsey or Jersey, both of which pay in the same currency.

How certified nursing assistant CNA pay ranges in United Kingdom

A good way to think about salary in United Kingdom is to look at the distribution rather than the headline average. Half of all certified nursing assistant CNAs in United Kingdom earn less than 51,300 GBP a year, and the other half earn more. That middle number is the median, and it is usually more useful than the average for answering "is my pay normal here".

Looking at the quartiles fills in the picture. A quarter of earners take home less than 32,600 GBP (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 70,800 GBP (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of certified nursing assistant CNAs sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.

The very lowest reported salaries sit around 20,400 GBP. The highest stretch to 74,900 GBP, though only a small fraction of earners ever reach that level. If you are deciding whether your own offer or current pay is reasonable, work out which of those four bands you would fall into and use that as your reference point.

20,400
Low
51,300
Median
74,900
High
32,600
25th
70,800
75th
The middle 50% sit between the 25th and 75th percentile Tails are the lowest and highest reported All figures in GBP

Certified nursing assistant CNA pay by experience in United Kingdom

Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for a certified nursing assistant CNA in United Kingdom, ahead of education and almost any other single factor. The longer you have been in the role, the more your employer can trust you to handle complexity, mentor others and act independently, all of which command higher pay. The chart below shows how the typical certified nursing assistant CNA salary changes as you move through the career ladder.

  • 0-2 Years
    23,600 GBP
  • 2-5 Years
    +34% from previous
    31,700 GBP
  • 5-10 Years
    +57% from previous
    49,800 GBP
  • 10-15 Years
    +25% from previous
    62,100 GBP
  • 15-20 Years
    +4% from previous
    64,400 GBP
  • 20+ Years
    +11% from previous
    71,800 GBP

The single largest jump on the ladder is from 2 - 5 Years to 5 - 10 Years, where pay rises by about 57%. That is the point at which a certified nursing assistant CNA typically goes from "competent in the role" to "the person other people in the team learn from", and the market pays well for that step.

Certified nursing assistant CNA pay by education in United Kingdom

Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving certified nursing assistant CNA pay in United Kingdom. Higher qualifications consistently pull higher salaries, but the size of the gap tends to be smallest at junior levels and widens as people move up. Two people in the same role with the same years of experience but different degrees can end up earning very different money once they reach mid-career.

Below is the average certified nursing assistant CNA salary in United Kingdom broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.

  • Bachelor's Degree
    27,300 GBP
  • Master's Degree
    +112% from previous
    57,800 GBP

Certified nursing assistant CNA gender pay gap in United Kingdom

The gender pay gap is a stubborn feature of almost every labour market, and United Kingdom is no exception. Male certified nursing assistant CNAs in United Kingdom earn an average of 46,200 GBP a year, while female certified nursing assistant CNAs earn around 49,300 GBP. That works out to a 6% gap in favour of women, even when comparing people doing the same work.

A pay gap of this size has a real long-term cost. Over a typical thirty-year career it can add up to several years of pay, and it compounds through pensions, retirement contributions and bonus-linked stock. Some of the gap is explained by women being more likely to work part-time, take career breaks, or be steered toward lower-paying specialisations. Some of it is straightforward unequal pay for the same job, which is harder to defend.

Certified Nursing Assistant CNA gender pay gap

6%

Men earn this much less than women on average in United Kingdom.

Women 49,300 GBP
Men 46,200 GBP

Pay raises for a certified nursing assistant CNA in United Kingdom

Most countries hand out at least some kind of pay raise every year, typically when an employee's contract is reviewed or as a cost-of-living adjustment to keep wages roughly in step with inflation. The rhythm and size of those raises varies hugely between industries.

A typical worker doing this role in United Kingdom sees a raise of about 9% every 17 months, which works out to roughly 6% on an annual basis. That figure is the typical underlying rate; in years where inflation runs high you can usually expect a bit more, and in flat-economy years a bit less.

Across all jobs in United Kingdom, the national average raise is around 9% every 15 months.

By industry

Industries with the highest pay raises in United Kingdom:

  • Banking
  • Energy
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Travel
  • Construction
  • Education

By experience level

Experienced workers tend to see larger raises. Retaining a senior is cheaper than replacing them, so employers fight harder for them.

  • Junior Level
    3% - 5%
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior Level
  • Top Management

Certified nursing assistant CNA bonus rates in United Kingdom

Bonuses are the other half of total compensation, and they vary a lot between jobs and industries. Some roles are paid almost entirely in base salary; others lean heavily on bonus structures tied to revenue, project completion or company performance. Whether a job pays a bonus, how big it is, and how often it lands all factor into whether the headline salary is actually a good offer.

61%

61% of certified nursing assistant CNAs in United Kingdom reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes a certified nursing assistant CNA a moderate-bonus role overall, which is useful context when you're weighing up a job offer where the base is below market.

Among those who did receive a bonus, the size of the payment varied substantially. Reported bonuses ranged from 2% to 7% of base salary. The remaining 39% of certified nursing assistant CNAs reported no bonus at all over the same period.

Which careers pay bonuses in United Kingdom

Revenue-facing roles tend to pay the biggest bonuses. Operational and support roles tend toward smaller, more predictable ones.

  • Finance
  • Architecture
  • Sales
  • Business Development
  • Marketing / Advertising
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Insurance
  • Customer Service
  • Human Resources
  • Construction
  • Transport
  • Hospitality

Certified nursing assistant CNA: public vs private sector pay

Public-sector pay in United Kingdom is about 7% more than private-sector pay for similar work. The private sector typically offers stronger upside and bigger bonuses; the public sector typically offers better benefits and stability.

Public vs private pay gap

6%

Public-sector workers earn this much more than private-sector workers in United Kingdom on average.

Public sector 72,700 GBP
Private sector 68,200 GBP

Certified nursing assistant CNA salary by city and region in United Kingdom

Certified nursing assistant CNA pay is not even across United Kingdom. The chart below shows the highest-paying cities and regions in the dataset, followed by the full location table.

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Manchester
  • London
  • Somerset
  • Liverpool
  • Leeds
  • Glasgow
  • Sheffield
  • Bristol
LocationTypeAverageMedianRange
EnglandRegion93,800 GBP99,700 GBP44,300-148,300 GBP
ScotlandRegion69,200 GBP71,000 GBP35,400-109,000 GBP
ManchesterCity58,700 GBP60,400 GBP26,900-91,700 GBP
LondonCity58,200 GBP63,500 GBP27,100-92,100 GBP
SomersetCity57,200 GBP56,100 GBP29,200-86,600 GBP
LiverpoolCity57,100 GBP55,600 GBP30,800-87,000 GBP
LeedsCity55,700 GBP51,500 GBP26,900-84,900 GBP
GlasgowCity55,100 GBP53,300 GBP29,600-83,000 GBP
SheffieldCity54,600 GBP60,000 GBP27,400-87,900 GBP
BristolCity54,200 GBP60,100 GBP27,600-87,800 GBP
BirminghamCity53,800 GBP58,400 GBP23,600-87,000 GBP
PlymouthCity53,600 GBP54,700 GBP24,800-83,000 GBP
WolverhamptonCity53,300 GBP54,500 GBP25,300-80,500 GBP
EdinburghCity53,300 GBP53,600 GBP27,600-83,700 GBP
CardiffCity53,300 GBP50,300 GBP27,300-78,700 GBP
BrightonCity53,300 GBP49,200 GBP27,300-78,700 GBP
SouthamptonCity53,300 GBP54,100 GBP27,600-83,700 GBP
DundeeCity52,000 GBP54,900 GBP22,000-80,500 GBP
LeicesterCity51,900 GBP57,800 GBP25,400-86,400 GBP
OxfordCity51,500 GBP47,400 GBP26,600-76,000 GBP
BradfordCity51,500 GBP51,900 GBP27,400-82,200 GBP
AberdeenCity51,500 GBP50,700 GBP26,200-80,700 GBP
BelfastCity51,400 GBP54,500 GBP25,300-81,400 GBP
NewcastleCity51,300 GBP49,700 GBP25,800-78,500 GBP
NottinghamCity51,300 GBP52,800 GBP24,200-81,400 GBP
YorkCity51,100 GBP51,400 GBP23,600-79,600 GBP
CoventryCity50,100 GBP51,800 GBP25,700-80,000 GBP
NewryCity50,000 GBP51,500 GBP23,800-75,800 GBP
Kingston upon HullCity50,000 GBP50,100 GBP23,600-78,400 GBP
PeterboroughCity49,700 GBP54,700 GBP23,100-79,600 GBP
SwanseaCity49,700 GBP49,300 GBP27,300-79,800 GBP
ChesterCity49,700 GBP53,300 GBP22,100-76,900 GBP
PooleCity49,700 GBP49,300 GBP27,300-79,700 GBP
DerbyCity49,700 GBP47,400 GBP27,300-79,700 GBP
NewportCity49,400 GBP51,400 GBP23,200-74,700 GBP
GloucesterCity49,400 GBP47,800 GBP24,400-76,000 GBP
PortsmouthCity48,500 GBP51,100 GBP24,400-76,800 GBP
LincolnCity48,000 GBP50,300 GBP23,300-76,600 GBP
DerryCity47,800 GBP47,400 GBP22,800-71,700 GBP
NorwichCity47,600 GBP50,000 GBP20,000-73,300 GBP
ArmaghCity47,400 GBP46,700 GBP23,600-71,700 GBP
CambridgeCity46,900 GBP50,300 GBP23,300-74,700 GBP
HartlepoolCity46,900 GBP51,900 GBP22,100-78,500 GBP
ExeterCity46,900 GBP50,300 GBP23,300-74,700 GBP
StirlingCity46,700 GBP45,600 GBP26,400-74,100 GBP
TruroCity46,700 GBP42,700 GBP22,400-69,600 GBP
SalisburyCity46,200 GBP45,100 GBP23,500-68,400 GBP
LisburnCity46,100 GBP45,600 GBP22,400-69,400 GBP
CanterburyCity46,000 GBP45,000 GBP22,400-69,700 GBP
StromnessCity45,600 GBP47,100 GBP21,100-69,600 GBP
InvernessCity45,600 GBP47,100 GBP21,100-69,600 GBP
AbingdonCity45,400 GBP45,900 GBP22,100-71,800 GBP
Northern IrelandRegion45,400 GBP45,000 GBP25,300-70,900 GBP
StrontianCity45,000 GBP44,200 GBP20,100-68,800 GBP
WinchesterCity44,500 GBP43,500 GBP22,200-69,700 GBP
KirkwallCity44,300 GBP45,600 GBP20,000-69,400 GBP
BangorCity43,800 GBP47,500 GBP23,800-69,200 GBP
DurhamCity43,800 GBP49,300 GBP21,400-72,400 GBP
WakefieldCity43,800 GBP46,700 GBP20,900-70,000 GBP
WalesRegion43,800 GBP45,200 GBP22,000-68,200 GBP
RiponCity43,400 GBP45,200 GBP21,400-65,800 GBP
St DavidsCity42,700 GBP43,400 GBP22,600-64,400 GBP
WellsCity40,600 GBP42,300 GBP19,300-65,100 GBP

Certified Nursing Assistant CNA in United Kingdom: FAQs

  • How much does a certified nursing assistant CNA make per month in United Kingdom?

    A certified nursing assistant CNA in United Kingdom earns about 3,950 GBP a month before tax, based on an annual average of 47,400 GBP.

  • What's the salary range for a certified nursing assistant CNA in United Kingdom?

    Entry-level certified nursing assistant CNAs in United Kingdom start near 20,400 GBP. Top-end pay reaches around 74,900 GBP. The middle 50% of earners sit between 32,600 and 70,800 GBP.

  • Is the median certified nursing assistant CNA salary in United Kingdom higher or lower than the average?

    The median is 51,300 GBP, higher than the average of 47,400 GBP. Half of certified nursing assistant CNAs in United Kingdom earn below the median, half earn above it.

  • What's the gender pay gap for certified nursing assistant CNAs in United Kingdom?

    Men working as a certified nursing assistant CNA in United Kingdom earn around 6% less than women on average (46,200 vs 49,300 GBP a year).

  • Do certified nursing assistant CNAs in United Kingdom get bonuses?

    About 61% of certified nursing assistant CNAs in United Kingdom reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 2% to 7% of base salary.

  • Do certified nursing assistant CNAs earn more in the public or private sector in United Kingdom?

    In United Kingdom, the public sector pays a certified nursing assistant CNA about 7% more on average. Public-sector pay tends to be steadier; private-sector pay tends to offer bigger upside.

  • How often do certified nursing assistant CNAs in United Kingdom get a pay raise?

    A certified nursing assistant CNA in United Kingdom sees a raise of around 9% every 17 months, equivalent to roughly 6% a year.