The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) has issued guidelines showing the minimum salaries for dental nurses considered acceptable by BADN. The guidelines are in response to continued, significant demand on dental nurse salaries from both dental nurses and dental employers.

A dental nurse registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) should expect a salary from £20,000; an extended duties registered dental nurse (a dental nurse who holds an NEBDN post-registration qualification) should expect a salary from £24,000; and a senior dental nurse (who holds an NEBDN post-registration qualification and also has an additional supervisory function) should expect a salary of at least £28,000.

These recommended salaries are per annum, for a 37-hour week. The BADN says that overtime should be paid at 1.5 times normal rate and double for Sundays or public holidays. Time off in lieu may be given instead of overtime payments, if this is acceptable to both employer and employee.

The BADN considers that dental nurses paid according to, or in excess of, this salary scale should be responsible for their own GDC registration and BADN membership fees and claim the appropriate tax allowances from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). In the event that these fees are paid by the employer, a dispensation should be obtained from HMRC by the employer as the HMRC regard this as a benefit in kind. There is no HMRC allowance for continuing professional development (CPD) costs if paid by the employee; however, tax allowances may be available to employers paying training costs.