Why are Nurses Paid so Badly?
Those we depend on the most are paid the least. Those we rely on the least are paid the most, but why?
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which analyses annual income in the U.K, the average pay for nurses in 2019 was £33,242 ($41,599). Compare this to financial managers who earned, on average, £66,353 ($82,954) or marketing directors who averaged £80,411 ($100,529).
A pattern emerges where jobs providing services to society are on the lower end of the pay scale. Careworker’s (average salary of £19,104 or $23,883) look after the vulnerable. Youth workers (average salary of £25,514 or $31,897) play a crucial role in supporting communities. These jobs (alongside nurses) are the building blocks of society; without them, society would break down.
Our health is fundamental to our prosperity and wellbeing. It seems obvious, but if people aren’t healthy, society can’t function. Look at the debilitating impact the Coronavirus has had on society. At the core of draconian measures such as lockdowns is a desire to save lives.
You would imagine that nurses would be paid in line with their value, given their crucial importance to a functioning society. But as the ONS statistics show, the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.
