Band 8a NHS pay 2026/27
Band 8a covers matrons, consultant practitioners and senior managers. It has three pay steps across roughly five years.
Band 8a pay steps
Full-time annual salary (37.5 hours/week, England). The 2026/27 rates include the 3.3% award effective 1 April 2026.
| Pay step | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Increase | Hourly (26/27) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry (< 2 years) | £55,690 | £57,528 | +£1,838 | £29.42 |
| 2+ years | £58,487 | £60,417 | +£1,930 | £30.90 |
| Top (5+ years) | £62,682 | £64,750 | +£2,068 | £33.11 |
Band 8a take-home pay 2026/27
Estimated deductions at each pay step, assuming NHS Pension membership, standard tax code (1257L), no student loan and no other deductions.
| Pay step | Gross | Pension | Income tax | Nat. Insurance | Take-home / year | Take-home / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry (< 2 years) | £57,528 | £6,155 (10.7%) | £7,981 | £3,161 | £40,230 | £3,353 |
| 2+ years | £60,417 | £6,465 (10.7%) | £9,013 | £3,219 | £41,720 | £3,477 |
| Top (5+ years) | £64,750 | £6,928 (10.7%) | £10,561 | £3,306 | £43,955 | £3,663 |
Add student loan, switch tax year or turn pension off in the calculator.
Band 8a pay: quick answers
How much does a Band 8a earn in the NHS in 2026/27?+
In England, NHS Band 8a pay in 2026/27 runs from £57,528 at entry to £64,750 at the top step (full-time, 37.5 hours a week), including the 3.3% Agenda for Change pay award.
What is the monthly take-home pay for a Band 8a in 2026/27?+
Estimated take-home pay for a full-time Band 8a is roughly £3,353 to £3,663 a month depending on pay step, assuming NHS Pension membership, tax code 1257L and no student loan.
What is the Band 8a hourly rate in 2026/27?+
The full-time equivalent hourly rate for Band 8a ranges from £29.42 to £33.11 before deductions, based on 37.5 hours a week.
Sources & data checks
Salaries on this page are the official Agenda for Change pay scales for England published by NHS Employers. Deductions are calculated from HMRC 2026/27 tax and National Insurance thresholds and the NHS Pension member contribution tiers. Every figure is re-checked by an independent calculation before publication — last reviewed 17 July 2026.