All Graduate Salaries Compared
| Degree | Starting | Mid-Career | Take Home/Mo (Start) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | £32,000 | £55,000 | £2,213 |
| Medicine | £32,398 | £65,000 | £2,237 |
| Law | £25,000 | £45,000 | £1,793 |
| Engineering | £28,000 | £48,000 | £1,973 |
| Accounting & Finance | £26,000 | £50,000 | £1,853 |
| Economics | £28,000 | £50,000 | £1,973 |
| Nursing | £29,970 | £38,000 | £2,092 |
| Architecture | £24,000 | £42,000 | £1,733 |
| Marketing | £24,000 | £40,000 | £1,733 |
| Teaching | £31,650 | £43,607 | £2,192 |
| Psychology | £22,000 | £35,000 | £1,613 |
| English & Humanities | £22,000 | £32,000 | £1,613 |
| Business Management | £25,000 | £42,000 | £1,793 |
| Maths & Statistics | £28,000 | £55,000 | £1,973 |
| Art & Design | £20,000 | £30,000 | £1,493 |
| Biology | £22,000 | £35,000 | £1,613 |
| Chemistry | £24,000 | £40,000 | £1,733 |
| Physics | £26,000 | £50,000 | £1,853 |
| Pharmacy | £33,000 | £45,000 | £2,273 |
| Dentistry | £33,000 | £55,000 | £2,273 |
Career Outlook for Nursing Graduates
Nursing graduates enter the profession at a time of extreme demand. The NHS has over 40,000 nursing vacancies, ensuring graduates have near-guaranteed employment. The profession offers clear salary progression through NHS Agenda for Change pay bands, and specialist roles command increasingly competitive salaries.
Typical First Roles and Career Paths
Newly qualified nurses start on NHS Band 5 (£25,655-£31,534). Specialisms include adult nursing, children's nursing, mental health nursing, and learning disability nursing. After gaining experience, nurses can specialise in areas such as critical care, oncology, community nursing, or nurse prescribing. See Band 5 salary details.
Tips for Nursing Graduates
The NHS Pension Scheme (20.68% employer contribution) and unsocial hours enhancements (up to 30% extra for nights and weekends) significantly boost the effective value of a nursing salary. Many nurses supplement their income with agency shifts at higher hourly rates. Consider nurse salary guide for the full career path breakdown.
Student Loan Repayments
Nursing graduates on Band 5 starting salary of £25,655 make minimal student loan repayments on Plan 2 — approximately £7/month. The government provides additional bursary support for some nursing students.