Public sector jobs in Gateshead

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust and Gateshead Council are the two main public employers in Gateshead. The trust’s sites include the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and the borough’s schools, Northumbria Police, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and the North East Ambulance Service all recruit locally. Newcastle is across the river, which means two large job markets sit within one commute. NHS pay starts at £25,272 on band 2 from April 2026, and council pay at £25,614 on the NJC spine.

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

The trust says the sites it works from include the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon Urgent Treatment Centre and Bensham Hospital. It also runs a Community Diagnostic Centre at the Metrocentre, offering scans and tests away from the main hospital. A trust of that shape recruits nurses, doctors, radiographers and sonographers, healthcare assistants, urgent care staff, porters and administrators. Agenda for Change rates for England apply. From 1 April 2026, band 3 runs from £25,760 to £27,476, band 5 from £32,073 to £39,043 and band 6 from £39,959 to £48,117. The band 5 guide explains how a newly qualified nurse moves up. Staff join the NHS Pension Scheme, where in 2026/27 the rate is 8.3% on pensionable pay of £28,855 to £35,155 and 9.8% on £35,156 to £52,778.

Mental health and ambulance services

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust has Gateshead as a service area on its website, so mental health and learning disability roles for the borough may be advertised under that trust as well as Gateshead Health. North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust runs 999, 111 and patient transport, and has specialist teams, including a hazardous area response team. All use the same national bands.

Gateshead Council

Gateshead Council runs its own jobs page. Gateshead is a metropolitan district, so the council is responsible for adult and children’s social care, education support, housing, highways, waste and libraries across the borough. Pay follows the NJC spine from SCP 3 (£25,614) from 1 April 2026, and staff join the Local Government Pension Scheme. The NJC pay spine guide lists the points, and how to get a council job explains the application stages.

Schools

Gateshead has maintained schools and academies. Teachers outside London start on £34,069 (M1) from 1 September 2026. The government has accepted the award, and the pay document was published on GOV.UK on 16 October 2026, so maintained schools apply it from 1 September 2026, backdated where needed. Teaching assistants and support staff are on the NJC spine, paid pro rata and usually in term time only.

Police and fire

Gateshead is one of the metropolitan districts in the Northumbria police area, so Northumbria Police covers it, and a constable earns £32,255 from 1 September 2026. Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service lists Gateshead among the five areas it serves. Firefighters earn £31,539 in development and £40,358 when competent, from 1 July 2026.

Newcastle and Sunderland

Newcastle’s civil service sites, university hospitals and city council are a short journey from Gateshead, and Sunderland is also within reach. Public sector jobs in Newcastle and public sector jobs in Sunderland cover them. Run your figures through the take-home pay calculator before you weigh the commute.