Nursing agency pay rates

Join one of the highest-paying nursing agencies in Scotland and Northern Ireland

At The Guild, we offer exceptional rates of pay for nurses, alongside some other great benefits. Find out more about our nursing agency pay rates at The Scottish Nursing Guild below.

How much will I get paid as an agency nurse?

Our nurses are paid an hourly rate, however, the rate of pay as an agency nurse with The Guild can vary depending on several factors, such as:

  • Specialism – those in charge of a specialist unit will typically earn more per hour than a healthcare assistant for example.
  • Experience – if you’re a more senior nurse, your hourly rate as an agency nurse will be higher than someone with less experience.
  • Shift times – you’ll earn a higher rate working unsociable hours through the night or at the weekend compared to a morning shift in the middle of the week.
  • Whether or not you’re working in the private sector – our nurses will earn more per hour working in a private hospital or care home

Scottish Nursing Guild Pay Rates

To ensure you’re paid fairly as an agency nurse, we calculate our hourly rates based on grades.

To find out how much you’ll earn as a nurse working with The Guild, including holiday pay for each specialism, use the table below.

Our pay rates

If you’re a nurse looking for agency work in Scotland, Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, take a look at our latest pay rates below.

ANP, ANNP, APNP, ECP, ENP

£66.50 – £128.50 an hour

ANP, ANNP and ENP

Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Day Mon-Fri 8am-8pm
Night Mon-Thurs 8pm-8am
Weekend Fri 8pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£66.50
£73.00
£79.50
£128.50
£57.55
£63.17
£68.80
£111.20
£8.95
£9.83
£10.70
£16.80
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Day Mon-Fri 8am-8pm
Night Mon-Thurs 8pm-8am
Weekend Fri 8pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£66.50
£73.00
£79.50
£128.50
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Day Mon-Fri 8am-8pm
Night Mon-Thurs 8pm-8am
Weekend Fri 8pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£57.55
£63.17
£68.80
£111.20
Shift
Holiday Pay
Day Mon-Fri 8am-8pm
Night Mon-Thurs 8pm-8am
Weekend Fri 8pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£8.95
£9.83
£10.70
£16.80

In charge of a specialist unit

£47.50 – £102.50 an hour
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£47.50
£55.50
£61.00
£102.50
£41.10
£48.03
£52.79
£88.70
£6.40
£7.47
£8.21
£13.80
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£47.50
£55.50
£61.00
£102.50
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£41.10
£48.03
£52.79
£88.70
Shift
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£6.40
£7.47
£8.21
£13.80

Specialities

£40.00 – £83.00 an hour

A&E, Cardiac Catheter Lab Nurse, Chemo, Endoscopy Nurse, HDU, ITU, RNLD, RMN, Midwife, NICU, Paediatric A&E Nurse, Paediatric ITU, RCN, Practice Nurse, Prison Nurse, Renal Dialysis Nurse, School Nurse, Surgical first assistant and ODP

Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£40.00
£45.00
£50.50
£83.00
£34.61
£38.94
£43.70
£71.82
£5.39
£6.06
£6.80
£11.18
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£40.00
£45.00
£50.50
£83.00
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£34.61
£38.94
£43.70
£71.82
Shift
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£5.39
£6.06
£6.80
£11.18

Trained

£32.50 – £70.00 an hour

Community, District Nurse, Nursing Home Nurse, Palliative Care Nurse and RGN

Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£32.50
£36.50
£43.00
£70.00
£28.12
£31.59
£37.21
£60.57
£4.38
£4.91
£5.79
£9.43
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£32.50
£36.50
£43.00
£70.00
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£28.12
£31.59
£37.21
£60.57
Shift
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£4.38
£4.91
£5.79
£9.43

Specialist HCA

£25.00 – £61.50 an hour

HCA LD and Mental Healthcare Assistant

Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£25.00
£29.00
£35.50
£61.50
£21.63
£25.10
£30.72
£53.22
£3.37
£3.90
£4.78
£8.28
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£25.00
£29.00
£35.50
£61.50
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£21.63
£25.10
£30.72
£53.22
Shift
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£3.37
£3.90
£4.78
£8.28

General HCA

£18.50 – £42.50 an hour

HCA and HCSW

Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£18.50
£23.50
£24.50
£42.50
£16.01
£20.34
£21.20
£36.78
£2.49
£3.16
£3.30
£5.72
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£18.50
£23.50
£24.50
£42.50
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£16.01
£20.34
£21.20
£36.78
Shift
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
£2.49
£3.16
£3.30
£5.72

In charge of a specialist unit (Standard)

€56.50 – €130.50 an hour
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
Up to €56.50
Up to €66.50
Up to €74.50
Up to €130.50
€50.81
€59.81
€67.00
€117.37
€5.69
€6.69
€7.50
€13.13
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
Up to €56.50
Up to €66.50
Up to €74.50
Up to €130.50
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
€50.81
€59.81
€67.00
€117.37
Shift
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
€5.69
€6.69
€7.50
€13.13

Specialities (Standard)

€46.00 – €103.50 an hour

A&E, Cardiac Catheter Lab Nurse, Chemo, Endoscopy Nurse, HDU, ITU, RNLD, RMN, Midwife, NICU, Paediatric A&E Nurse, Paediatric ITU, RCN, Practice Nurse, Prison Nurse, Renal Dialysis Nurse, School Nurse, Surgical first assistant and ODP

Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
Up to €46.00
Up to €52.50
Up to €60.00
Up to €103.50
€41.37
€47.22
€53.96
€93.08
€4.63
€5.28
€6.04
€10.42
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
Up to €46.00
Up to €52.50
Up to €60.00
Up to €103.50
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
€41.37
€47.22
€53.96
€93.08
Shift
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
€4.63
€5.28
€6.04
€10.42

Trained (Standard)

€36.50 – €86.50 an hour

Community, District Nurse, Nursing Home Nurse, Palliative Care Nurse and RGN

Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
Up to €36.50
Up to €41.00
Up to €50.00
Up to €86.50
€32.83
€36.87
€44.97
€77.79
€3.67
€4.13
€5.03
€8.71
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
Up to €36.50
Up to €41.00
Up to €50.00
Up to €86.50
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
€32.83
€36.87
€44.97
€77.79
Shift
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
€3.67
€4.13
€5.03
€8.71

Specialist HCA (Standard)

€32.50 – €79.00 an hour

HCA LD and Mental Healthcare Assistant

Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
Up to €32.50
Up to €37.00
Up to €45.50
Up to €79.00
€29.23
€33.28
€40.92
€71.05
€3.27
€3.72
€4.58
€7.95
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
Up to €32.50
Up to €37.00
Up to €45.50
Up to €79.00
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
€29.23
€33.28
€40.92
€71.05
Shift
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
€3.27
€3.72
€4.58
€7.95

General HCA (Standard)

€24.00 – €54.50 an hour

HCA and HCSW

Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
Up to €24.00
Up to €30.00
Up to €31.50
Up to €54.50
€21.58
€26.98
€28.33
€49.02
€2.42
€3.02
€3.17
€5.48
Shift
Total Hourly Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
Up to €24.00
Up to €30.00
Up to €31.50
Up to €54.50
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
€21.58
€26.98
€28.33
€49.02
Shift
Holiday Pay
Basic Mon-Fri 8am-2pm
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
BH Bank/Public Holidays
€2.42
€3.02
€3.17
€5.48

Night Sitter – RGN (Standard)

€211.00 – €276.50 per shift
Shift
Total Shift Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
Up to €211.00
Up to €276.50
€189.77
€248.67
€21.23
€27.83
Shift
Total Shift Pay
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
Up to €211.00
Up to €276.50
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
€189.77
€248.67
Shift
Holiday Pay
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
€21.23
€27.83

Night Sitter – HCA (Standard)

€184.50 – €197.50 per shift
Shift
Total Shift Pay
Excluding Holiday Pay
Holiday Pay
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
Up to €184.50
Up to €197.50
€165.93
€177.62
€18.57
€19.88
Shift
Total Shift Pay
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
Up to €184.50
Up to €197.50
Shift
Excluding Holiday Pay
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
€165.93
€177.62
Shift
Holiday Pay
P1 Mon-Thurs 2pm-8am
P2 Fri 2pm – Mon 8am
€18.57
€19.88

Please note that there are alternative pay rates available in the Republic of Ireland. Click here to view our private rates.

Pay rate terms

Scotland and Northern Ireland

Effective 3 July 2023:

  • Specialities: A&E, Minor Injury/Walk-In Centre; HDU/ITU/CCU/OR, Dialysis; NICU/SCBU, RSCN, RM; Cath Lab, Chemotherapy, Endoscopy. Intensive/Complex Homecare, Occupational Health, Practice Nursing. Prisons. CAMHS, Psychiatric ICU/Forensic/secure unit, Specialist 1:1 Mental Health assignments and other specialist certificates when requested.
  • Travel expenses are paid at 25 pence per mile for journeys up to 200 miles: and at 30 pence for each additional mile for journeys over 200 miles. Expenses will also be paid for bridge tolls, congestion charges and clean air zones. Reasonable public transport costs will be paid for the return journey. Receipts for all incidental travel costs must be provided and scanned on the same image as your timesheet when submitting electronically.
  • There may occasionally be different pay and mileage rates for specific clients – it is your responsibility to ensure you know the pay and mileage rates when you accept a shift.
  • The Guild makes no deductions for additional administration charges.
  • Statutory holiday entitlement provides 5.6 weeks of paid holiday, including bank holidays, in a 52-week working year pro-rata. The Agency discharges this statutory obligation by the addition of a holiday pay element to the basic hourly rate paid to all agency workers. This holiday pay currently equates to an additional 15.56% pay for every hour worked. The Guild urges all staff to take their agency paid holiday entitlement in full.
  • By accepting these terms, you agree that any such sums paid to you as holiday pay in addition to your hourly rate may be set off against any entitlement to receive statutory holiday pay during periods of annual leave.
  • If any changes occur during your placement regarding your duties or ward allocation, please inform the call centre immediately as this could affect your pay; retrospective changes may not be possible.
  • For care provided in the patient’s own home, no breaks will be deducted if you are the only worker in attendance. In all other cases standard breaks are deducted. If no break is offered, please write this on your timesheet and ask the signatory to initial.
  • The Guild urges all agency workers to have professional indemnity insurance provided by personal membership of a recognised professional body or trade union.
  • Tax and NIC are deducted by The Guild from the pay rates quoted above.
  • Information submitted on your timesheet must match the shift details we have on our system. Workers will not be paid any additional times or for a change in grade, without authorisation from a client prior to the shift ending.
Republic of Ireland

Effective 3 July 2023:

  • Specialities: A&E, Minor Injury/Walk-In Centre; HDU/ITU/CCU/OR, Dialysis; NICU/SCBU, RSCN, RM; Cath Lab, Chemotherapy, Endoscopy. Intensive/Complex Homecare, Occupational Health, Practice Nursing. Prisons. CAMHS, Psychiatric ICU/Forensic/secure unit, Specialist 1:1 Mental Health assignments and other specialist certificates when requested.
  • Travel expenses are paid at 25 cents per kilometre for journeys up to 200 miles: and at 30 cents for each additional mile for journeys over 200 miles. Expenses will also be paid for bridge tolls and congestion charges. Public transport costs are paid up to €70 per return journey. Receipts for all incidental travel costs must be provided and scanned on the same image as your timesheet when submitting electronically.
  • There may occasionally be different pay and kilometre rates for specific clients – it is your responsibility to ensure you know the pay and kilometre rates when you accept a shift.
  • The Guild makes no deductions for additional administration charges.
  • Statutory holiday entitlement provides 5.6 weeks of paid holiday, including bank holidays, in a 52-week working year pro-rata. The Agency discharges this statutory obligation by the addition of a holiday pay element to the basic hourly rate paid to all agency workers. This holiday pay currently equates to an additional 11.19% pay for every hour worked. The Guild urges all staff to take their agency paid holiday entitlement in full.
  • By accepting these terms, you agree that any such sums paid to you as holiday pay in addition to your hourly rate may be set off against any entitlement to receive statutory holiday pay during periods of annual leave.
  • If any changes occur during your placement regarding your duties or ward allocation, please inform the call centre immediately as this could affect your pay; retrospective changes may not be possible.
  • For care provided in the patient’s own home, no breaks will be deducted if you are the only worker in attendance. In all other cases standard breaks are deducted. If no break is offered, please write this on your timesheet and ask the signatory to initial.
  • The Guild urges all agency workers to have professional indemnity insurance provided by personal membership of a recognised professional body or trade union.
  • Tax and PRSI are deducted by The Guild from the pay rates quoted above.
  • Information submitted on your timesheet must match the shift details we have on our system. Workers will not be paid any additional times or for a change in grade, without authorisation from a client prior to the shift ending.

Reliable and regular pay

Our nurses are paid via PAYE up to 5 times per week. We don’t use umbrella companies or permit our nurses to operate under a limited company or via umbrella schemes.

Read more about getting paid

More than just great pay

We also offer a wide range of other benefits, including:

  • Shift bonuses
  • Professional registration fees paid
  • Paid travel expenses
  • Professional development
  • Revalidation support
  • and much more

FAQs

Want to know more about working with The Guild? Browse our frequently asked questions below.

When will I get paid?

Working with The Guild; if your timesheets are submitted on time, we can pay you up to four times each week.

Is the pay rate higher on a bank holiday?

If you work on a bank or public holiday, your hourly rate will increase to reflect this. Usually, it is around double your normal hourly wage. Please see our pay rates guides to find out how much you’ll earn working during bank holidays.

How do I pay tax and NI as an agency nurse?

We deduct tax and national insurance from your wages, the same way as any PAYE job, so there’s no tax return required on your behalf. Your deductions will be detailed on your payslips from The Guild.

If you have any questions about your pay, contact our payroll team on 0345 120 5333.

Can I use an umbrella company to get paid?

We don’t work with umbrella companies. We only offer work as an agency nurse as a standard PAYE employee.

Am I entitled to holiday pay?

Yes. We include holiday pay within your hourly age, at 15.56%.

Can agency nurses claim travel expenses?

You can claim 25p per mile for up to 200 miles, and 30p for each additional mile for journeys over 200 miles.

We also pay expenses for travel expenses incurred such as:

  • Bridge tolls
  • Congestion charges
  • Clean air zones
  • Public transport costs

Remember to keep a receipt for all travel costs, and submit these at the same time as your timesheets.

Am I entitled to benefits as an agency nurse?

Alongside being committed to paying nurses a higher pay rate, we also offer benefits on all our roles, including:

  • Reimbursed travel expenses
  • Enrolment into our pension scheme
  • Paid NMC fees
  • Free annual flu voucher
  • 24/7 nurse-led telephone support

The work we offer you

We have short notice shifts for nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants (HCAs) in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

We cover a wide range of specialisms in both healthcare and community settings.

Whether you’re looking for something familiar or are seeking variety, as long as you’re able to pick up work with a few hours notice, we have work for you.

Join in 3 steps

1. Check if you’re eligible

Find out if you can work for us.

Go to eligibility checker

2. Apply

Fill in your details and tell us your skills, qualifications and employment history. This should take around 10-15 minutes.

3. Register

Take part in a short video interview and upload documents to our recruitment portal. The sooner you provide your documents, the sooner you can start working.

Talk to a member of our team