Agenda for Change · England
NHS Pay Bands 2026/27
The 3.3% pay award applies from 1 April 2026. Find every band and pay step, compare with 2025/26, and see what you'll actually take home after tax, National Insurance, pension and student loan.
Browse by band
Each band page shows every pay step for 2026/27 and 2025/26, hourly rates, and estimated monthly take-home pay.
Band 2
£25,272
Healthcare assistant · Domestic support worker
Band 3
£25,760 – £27,476
Senior healthcare assistant · Emergency care assistant
Band 4
£28,392 – £31,157
Assistant practitioner · Nursery nurse
Band 5
£32,073 – £39,043
Newly qualified nurse · Newly qualified midwife
Band 6
£39,959 – £48,117
Senior staff nurse · Specialist nurse
Band 7
£49,387 – £56,515
Ward manager · Advanced clinical practitioner
Band 8a
£57,528 – £64,750
Modern matron · Consultant nurse (entry)
Band 8b
£66,582 – £77,368
Head of nursing · Consultant psychologist
Band 8c
£79,504 – £91,609
Deputy director of nursing · Head of department
Band 8d
£94,356 – £108,814
Director of operations · Chief pharmacist
Band 9
£112,782 – £129,783
Chief nurse (large trust) · Director of finance
NHS pay scales: 2025/26 vs 2026/27
Annual full-time salaries (England). The 2026/27 column includes the 3.3% award effective 1 April 2026. Estimated take-home assumes NHS Pension membership, tax code 1257L and no student loan.
Figures verified against the official NHS Employers pay scales · Last reviewed 17 July 2026 · How we verify our figures
| Band | Pay step | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Increase | Est. monthly take-home* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | All staff | £24,465 | £25,272 | +£807 | £1,700 |
| Band 3 | Entry (< 2 years) | £24,937 | £25,760 | +£823 | £1,727 |
| Top (2+ years) | £26,598 | £27,476 | +£878 | £1,823 | |
| Band 4 | Entry (< 3 years) | £27,485 | £28,392 | +£907 | £1,874 |
| Top (3+ years) | £30,162 | £31,157 | +£995 | £1,990 | |
| Band 5 | Entry (< 2 years) | £31,049 | £32,073 | +£1,024 | £2,040 |
| 2+ years | £33,487 | £34,592 | +£1,105 | £2,177 | |
| Top (4+ years) | £37,796 | £39,043 | +£1,247 | £2,381 | |
| Band 6 | Entry (< 2 years) | £38,682 | £39,959 | +£1,277 | £2,430 |
| 2+ years | £40,823 | £42,170 | +£1,347 | £2,548 | |
| Top (5+ years) | £46,580 | £48,117 | +£1,537 | £2,866 | |
| Band 7 | Entry (< 2 years) | £47,810 | £49,387 | +£1,577 | £2,934 |
| 2+ years | £50,273 | £51,932 | +£1,659 | £3,078 | |
| Top (5+ years) | £54,710 | £56,515 | +£1,805 | £3,309 | |
| Band 8a | Entry (< 2 years) | £55,690 | £57,528 | +£1,838 | £3,353 |
| 2+ years | £58,487 | £60,417 | +£1,930 | £3,477 | |
| Top (5+ years) | £62,682 | £64,750 | +£2,068 | £3,663 | |
| Band 8b | Entry (< 2 years) | £64,455 | £66,582 | +£2,127 | £3,742 |
| 2+ years | £68,631 | £70,896 | +£2,265 | £3,863 | |
| Top (5+ years) | £74,896 | £77,368 | +£2,472 | £4,136 | |
| Band 8c | Entry (< 2 years) | £76,965 | £79,504 | +£2,539 | £4,226 |
| 2+ years | £81,652 | £84,346 | +£2,694 | £4,429 | |
| Top (5+ years) | £88,682 | £91,609 | +£2,927 | £4,735 | |
| Band 8d | Entry (< 2 years) | £91,342 | £94,356 | +£3,014 | £4,851 |
| 2+ years | £96,941 | £100,140 | +£3,199 | £5,094 | |
| Top (5+ years) | £105,337 | £108,814 | +£3,477 | £5,459 | |
| Band 9 | Entry (< 2 years) | £109,179 | £112,782 | +£3,603 | £5,626 |
| 2+ years | £115,763 | £119,583 | +£3,820 | £5,835 | |
| Top (5+ years) | £125,637 | £129,783 | +£4,146 | £6,115 |
*Estimate for guidance only. Your payslip will differ with unsocial hours enhancements, High Cost Area Supplement, tax code or student loans — run your own numbers.
Pay guides
All guides →The NHS Pay Rise 2026/27 Explained
Agenda for Change staff in England receive a 3.3% pay rise from 1 April 2026. Here is what it means for every band.
Read guide →What Is Agenda for Change?
Agenda for Change is the pay system covering over a million NHS staff. Here is how bands, steps and the annual award fit together.
Read guide →NHS Pension Contributions Explained
NHS staff pay between 5.2% and 12.5% of pay into the NHS Pension, depending on earnings. Here is how the tiers work in 2026/27.
Read guide →Frequently asked questions
What is the NHS pay rise for 2026/27?+
The 2026/27 Agenda for Change pay award for England is 3.3%, effective from 1 April 2026. For example, Band 5 entry pay rises from £31,049 to £32,073 and Band 6 top pay rises from £46,580 to £48,117.
What are NHS pay bands?+
Most NHS staff (except doctors, dentists and very senior managers) are paid under the Agenda for Change system, which groups jobs into bands 1 to 9 based on responsibility and skill. Each band contains pay steps that staff progress through with experience.
How much does a Band 5 nurse earn in 2026/27?+
A Band 5 nurse in England earns £32,073 at entry, £34,592 after two years, and £39,043 at the top of the band in 2026/27. Take-home pay after tax, National Insurance and pension contributions is roughly £2,150–£2,540 per month.
How is NHS take-home pay calculated?+
Take-home pay is your gross salary minus NHS Pension contributions (5.2%–12.5% depending on pay), income tax (20%/40%/45% after the £12,570 personal allowance), National Insurance (8% between £12,570 and £50,270, 2% above), and any student loan repayments.
When do NHS staff move up a pay step?+
Staff move to the next pay step automatically once they reach the required years of service, subject to a successful pay step review. Bands 2–4 have two steps; bands 5–9 have three steps, with progression typically after 2 and then 3 more years.
Do NHS pay bands differ across the UK?+
Yes. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own Agenda for Change rates, so figures differ slightly. The tables on this site show the rates for England.