NHS Pay Scales 2026/27

Complete Agenda for Change (AfC) pay band tables effective from 1 April 2026, including the 3.3% pay rise for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 3.75% for Scotland.

✓ All AfC Bands 2–9 ✓ England, Scotland, Wales & NI ✓ Updated April 2026 ✓ 3.3% Pay Rise Applied

✓ 2026/27 confirmed pay rise: NHS staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland received a 3.3% pay increase from 1 April 2026. Scotland secured a higher 3.75% uplift under a pre-agreed two-year deal, alongside a move to a 36-hour working week. All figures below reflect these confirmed awards.

🏴 England 🏴 Scotland 🏴 Wales 🏴 Northern Ireland

England — AfC Pay Bands 2026/27

Annual salaries effective 1 April 2026 (3.3% increase). Full-time equivalent based on 37.5 hrs/week.

BandEntryStep 2Step 3TopHourly (Entry)Typical Roles
Band 2£25,272£25,272£12.92/hrHCA, Support Worker
Band 3£25,760£27,476£13.17/hrSenior Support, Admin
Band 4£28,392£31,157£14.52/hrAssistant Practitioner
Band 5£32,073£34,589£37,340£39,043£16.40/hrStaff Nurse, Paramedic
Band 6£39,912£43,268£46,245£48,155£20.41/hrSenior Nurse, Specialist
Band 7£49,387£52,685£54,932£56,526£25.26/hrAdvanced Practitioner
Band 8a£57,498£61,008£64,771£29.41/hrConsultant, Senior Mgmt
Band 8b£66,580£71,121£77,404£34.05/hrHigher Management
Band 8c£79,524£85,525£91,643£40.67/hrSenior Leadership
Band 8d£94,386£100,938£108,804£48.27/hrExecutive Director
Band 9£112,780£121,082£129,821£57.68/hrCEO, Top Executive

Scotland — AfC Pay Bands 2026/27

Scotland: 3.75% uplift + 36-hour week. NHS Scotland agreed a higher 3.75% pay award for 2026/27, and staff also moved to a shorter 36-hour working week from April 2026 with no reduction in salary. Hourly rates below are calculated using the 36-hour week. Scotland also has a separate income tax system — use the NHS Pay Calculator and select Scotland for an accurate take-home figure.

Annual salaries effective 1 April 2026 (3.75% increase). Full-time equivalent based on 36 hrs/week from April 2026.

BandEntryStep 2TopHourly (Entry)Typical Roles
Band 2£26,084£26,084£13.93/hrHCA, Support Worker
Band 3£26,659£28,438£14.23/hrSenior Support, Admin
Band 4£31,537£34,303£16.84/hrAssistant Practitioner
Band 5£33,218£35,834£40,453£17.74/hrStaff Nurse, Paramedic
Band 6£41,344£44,826£49,896£22.08/hrSenior Nurse, Specialist
Band 7£51,170£54,585£58,561£27.31/hrAdvanced Practitioner
Band 8a£59,594£63,221£67,124£31.83/hrConsultant, Senior Mgmt
Band 8b£68,952£73,688£80,226£36.81/hrHigher Management
Band 8c£82,350£88,572£94,958£43.97/hrSenior Leadership
Band 8d£97,675£104,599£112,775£52.17/hrExecutive Director
Band 9£116,754£125,371£134,428£62.36/hrCEO, Top Executive

Wales — AfC Pay Bands 2026/27

Welsh NHS salaries reflect the 3.3% uplift. Wales operates a 37.5-hour working week. No London Weighting applies in Wales.

BandEntryTopHourly (Entry)Typical Roles
Band 2£25,654£25,654£13.12/hrHCA, Support Worker
Band 3£26,021£27,744£13.31/hrSenior Support, Admin
Band 4£28,819£31,626£14.74/hrAssistant Practitioner
Band 5£32,426£39,455£16.58/hrStaff Nurse, Paramedic
Band 6£40,350£48,625£20.64/hrSenior Nurse, Specialist
Band 7£49,929£57,107£25.54/hrAdvanced Practitioner
Band 8a£58,101£65,451£29.72/hrConsultant, Senior Mgmt
Band 8b£67,266£78,220£34.41/hrHigher Management
Band 8c£80,319£92,559£41.08/hrSenior Leadership
Band 8d£95,389£109,948£48.79/hrExecutive Director
Band 9£113,988£131,255£58.29/hrCEO, Top Executive

Northern Ireland — AfC Pay Bands 2026/27

Health and Social Care Northern Ireland (HSCNI) salaries mirror the England 3.3% award. 37.5-hour working week. Confirm final figures with HSCNI directly.

BandEntryTopHourly (Entry)Typical Roles
Band 2£25,272£25,272£12.92/hrHCA, Support Worker
Band 3£25,760£27,476£13.17/hrSenior Support, Admin
Band 4£28,392£31,157£14.52/hrAssistant Practitioner
Band 5£32,073£39,043£16.40/hrStaff Nurse, Paramedic
Band 6£39,912£48,155£20.41/hrSenior Nurse, Specialist
Band 7£49,387£56,526£25.26/hrAdvanced Practitioner
Band 8a£57,498£64,771£29.41/hrConsultant, Senior Mgmt
Band 8b£66,580£77,404£34.05/hrHigher Management
Band 8c£79,524£91,643£40.67/hrSenior Leadership
Band 8d£94,386£108,804£48.27/hrExecutive Director
Band 9£112,780£129,821£57.68/hrCEO, Top Executive
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Calculate Your Take-Home Pay

See your exact 2026/27 net pay after tax, NI, pension and all deductions — for any band and any UK nation.

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London Weighting (HCAS)

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View 2025/26 Pay Scales

Need the previous year's reference figures? See the archived 2025/26 Agenda for Change pay tables.

2025/26 Scales
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Bank Shift Calculator

Estimate your extra earnings from bank shifts including unsocial hours enhancements for nights and weekends.

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