Agency nurse pay rates are one of the first things nurses ask about when they think about agency work, and one of the hardest to pin down. There is no single national rate. What you are offered depends on who the shift is for, when it is, your experience and how the agency pays you. This guide explains the benchmark most rates are measured against, the rules that limit what NHS trusts can pay agencies, and the questions to ask before you accept a rate.
The benchmark: NHS Agenda for Change pay
Most nursing pay in the UK is compared with the NHS Agenda for Change pay scales. A newly registered nurse usually starts at Band 5. According to NHS Employers’ pay scales for 2026/27, which apply from 1 April 2026, Band 5 annual basic pay in England is:
- Entry step: ยฃ32,073, or ยฃ16.40 an hour
- Intermediate step: ยฃ34,592, or ยฃ17.69 an hour
- Top step: ยฃ39,043, or ยฃ19.97 an hour
These are basic rates for directly employed NHS staff, before any unsocial hours enhancements. They are a useful yardstick when you compare an agency rate, but agency pay works differently.
How agency nurse pay rates are set
An agency charges the hospital, care home or other client a rate for each hour worked. Out of that charge comes your pay, the agency’s costs and margin, employer National Insurance, employer pension contributions and holiday pay. The rate you see therefore depends on:
- The client. NHS trusts and private providers work under different rules and budgets.
- The shift. Nights, weekends and bank holidays usually pay more than weekday days.
- Your specialism. Some areas, such as mental health or critical care, may pay differently from general ward or nursing home shifts.
- Urgency. Short notice shifts that are hard to fill can pay more.
- How you are paid. Pay through the agency’s payroll (PAYE) and pay through an umbrella company are calculated differently, so compare take home pay, not just the headline figure.
NHS agency price caps
NHS trusts in England cannot pay agencies whatever they like. NHS England’s agency rules, last revised in October 2025, include price caps on the total hourly amount a trust can pay for an agency worker. The cap covers everything: the worker’s pay, the agency’s fee, employer National Insurance and pension, holiday pay and expenses, but not VAT.
The caps are set at 55% above the hourly equivalent of Agenda for Change pay at 2016 rates, and NHS England says they do not rise with each pay award. The rules also say the caps are a maximum, not a standard or default rate. Trusts must book agency nurses through approved framework agreements, with exceptions only on patient safety grounds and with senior sign off.
In practice, this means NHS agency shifts are tightly controlled.
Private sector shifts
The NHS agency rules apply to NHS trusts. Care homes with nursing, private hospitals, hospices and other independent providers agree rates directly with agencies. Rates in the private sector vary widely from one provider and area to another, so compare the full picture, including travel, shift length and whether breaks are paid.
Your rights after 12 weeks
If you work through an agency in the same role with the same hirer for 12 weeks, the Agency Worker Regulations give you the right to the same basic pay and conditions as a comparable permanent nurse there. We explain how the 12 weeks are counted, and what pauses or resets them, in our guide to the Agency Worker Regulations.
Questions to ask before you accept a rate
- Is this rate paid through PAYE or through an umbrella company?
- Does it include holiday pay, or is holiday pay paid separately?
- Are there different rates for nights, weekends and bank holidays?
- Are breaks paid or unpaid?
- How often are you paid, and how are timesheets approved?
- Who is the client, and how far will you travel?
A reputable agency will answer all of these clearly before you work your first shift.
What you need to work as an agency nurse
To work as a nurse in the UK you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Agencies will also check your identity, right to work, references and training, and arrange the right level of DBS check. Our guide to DBS check levels for care and school staff explains the different checks.
Agency nursing and care work around Luton
Around Luton the main NHS employer is the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, part of Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which also runs Bedford Hospital. In Hertfordshire, Lister Hospital in Stevenage and Watford General are the largest sites. Alongside the hospitals there are many private care homes, nursing homes and supported living services in Luton, Dunstable, Bedford, Milton Keynes and the Hertfordshire towns, and these are where most agency shifts outside the NHS come from.
ST HECS supplies care and healthcare staff to providers in these areas. If you are looking for agency work, tell us where you can travel to and which shifts suit you, and we will match you to settings within reach.
Nursing work with ST HECS
ST HECS supplies nurses, healthcare assistants and support workers to care providers across Luton and Bedfordshire. To find out about current shifts and the rates on offer, visit our healthcare recruitment page or contact the team.
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