Navigating Maternity Nurse Fees
Unveiling Insights and Guidelines
Embarking on a career in Maternity Nursing requires resilience and a strong heart. Maternity nurses must excel in multitasking, tending to the needs of both newborns and mothers while seamlessly integrating into the fabric of the family’s life. Just as the challenges of sleepless nights weigh heavily on new mothers, so too do they affect maternity nurses. These dedicated professionals enter your world to offer expert guidance, provide much-needed respite, address any concerns about your newborn, and offer unwavering care and support to both mother and child.
​
The journey of parenthood comes with a myriad of considerations, and securing the services of a skilled maternity nurse is undoubtedly one of them—a luxury few can afford. At The MNM HQ, we've delved into the realm of maternity nurse fee charges, bringing you an insightful overview of what to expect in terms of both payment and earnings.
AGENCIES
Childcare agencies often advertise maternity nurse positions, seeking top-tier experience and qualifications while claiming that pay is commensurate with these standards. However, upon closer examination, it becomes evident that they offer meagre hourly rates. This deceptive practice not only undermines the professionalism of dedicated individuals who have invested years in their careers, boasting a premier education and essential skills for newborn care, but it also disrespects their expertise.
Maternity Nurses after all dedicate themselves to the safety, wellbeing, and care of our most fragile, delicate, and vulnerable members of society. Many highly qualified and experienced maternity nurses opt not to work with agencies due to the insultingly low fees they offer. Consequently, parents and infants are exposed to risks as they may be assigned caregivers lacking formal qualifications, experience, essential certifications such as paediatric first aid, enhanced DBS checks, insurance coverage, and more.
​
Another frustration faced by maternity nurses is agencies advertising bookings at a flat 24-hour rate without accounting for breaks within that period. Upon calculation, this rate often falls below minimum wage, neglecting expenses like travel to and from the booking location. Maternity nurses globally strongly advocate for an end to this practice.
​
Furthermore, agencies often refrain from presenting maternity nurses to their clients at the nurses' desired rates. Consequently, clients may find themselves deprived of access to the agency's full pool of qualified maternity nurses. Instead, they may be assigned a nurse who falls short of their expectations or who is merely motivated by financial desperation to accept a booking temporarily, only to abandon the client when a more lucrative opportunity arises. This practice undermines the quality of care and the trust between clients and agencies.
SELF-EMPLOYED REALITIES
Crucially, maternity nurses operate as self-employed professionals, shouldering the responsibility of managing their own finances. From taxes, national insurance, indemnity insurance, advertising, continuous professional development, updating paediatric first aid, enhanced DBS, police check costs, travelling expenses, accountants and uniform costs to name a few expenses they incur. These dedicated caregivers navigate a complex financial landscape.
​
CONCLUSION
As you delve into the realm of maternity nurse salaries, armed with our insights, remember that transparency and communication should be paramount in any agreement, whether you are booking a maternity nurse through an agency or directly.
Whether you're seeking the services of a maternity nurse or considering a career in this field, let these guidelines serve as your compass, ensuring a smooth journey into the world of parenthood or working as a maternity nurse. Also, remember that you can bypass the services of an agency and book a maternity nurse directly. Many have their own websites, and they can also be found via social media and The Maternity Nurse Magazine website.
Outlined below are indicative rates that serve as a compass in understanding maternity nurse fees. It's essential to note that these figures are guidelines, subject to potential variations based on factors such as travel expenses, overseas insurance, and visas. Rarely will a maternity nurse be paid her worth working via an agency.
Maternity Nurse Fees 2024
18 Year olds
5 Years Experience
10 plus years experience
25 plus year experience
30 plus years experience
High profile maternity nurses
Without UK recognised infant care qualifications or experience
With or without UK recognised infant care qualifications or experience
With or without UK recognised infant care
qualifications or experience
With UK recognised infant care
qualifications and experience
With UK recognised infant care qualifications such as gold standard NNEB & Norland Nannies
With large social media presence, not necessarily with UK recognised infant care qualifications or any kind of training and certificates.
Minimum wage From April 2024 £8.60
£12 - £15 an hour
£15 - £18 an hour
£25 - £35 an hour
£30 - £55 an hour plus
£35 - £55 an hour plus ££££££
Expect to add on £5 - £10 an hour or more if booking or working for nights or days only, overseas and short-term bookings.
Agency Fees 2024
Each agency has its own established rates, which can vary. Below are approximate charges for agencies operating in and around London.
Registration fee
(Payable before searching for a maternity nurse)
Daily fee on top of what you pay the maternity Nurse
If the agency is VAT registered add 20% on top of the registration fee and the daily booking fee.
£100 - £150 plus
£20 - £100 per day
Cost to pay the agency on top of what you will pay the maternity nurse for 30 days.
- up to £450 +vat £540
National Living Wage and London Living Wage 2024
From 1 April 2024, if you're aged 21 and over you will be entitled to the National Living Wage if employed.
​
If you are self employed, here it gets confusing. For more information, check out acas.co.uk.
Because the information available is shady about working via an agency this is where the agency can advertise jobs below minimum wage when they are not employing people and only act as an introduction service. Childcare agencies are not regulated in the UK and so they operate to their own rules.
​
It is up to parents to decide what they want to pay and for the maternity nurse to decide on her fee charges.
Although employers are not obliged to pay a London Living Wage the cost of booking a maternity nurse if you live in London or if you are working or living in London should be taken into consideration.
Age 21 or over (National Living Wage)
Age 18 to 20
London Living Wage
£11.44 an hour
£8.60
£13.15
Minimum wage rates for 2025
National Minimum Wage rates for April 2025, including the National Living Wage and the London Living Wage .​
​
The new UK Government announced National Minimum Wage rates for 2025, including the National Living Wage. The new rates which will come into force from 1 April 2025 are as follows:
Age 21 or over (National Living Wage)
Age 18 to 20
London Living Wage
£12.21 hour
£10.00 an hour
£13.85
This article has been produced with assistance from members of the maternity nursing community and The National Nursery Examination Board Old Collegians.
Thank you to everyone for your contribution. ​
​​