Band 8c NHS pay 2026/27
Band 8c covers senior heads of service and consultant-level clinical leaders. It has three pay steps across roughly five years.
Band 8c 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) | £76,965 | £79,504 | +£2,539 | £40.66 |
| 2+ years | £81,652 | £84,346 | +£2,694 | £43.14 |
| Top (5+ years) | £88,682 | £91,609 | +£2,927 | £46.85 |
Band 8c 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) | £79,504 | £9,938 (12.5%) | £15,258 | £3,601 | £50,707 | £4,226 |
| 2+ years | £84,346 | £10,543 (12.5%) | £16,953 | £3,698 | £53,152 | £4,429 |
| Top (5+ years) | £91,609 | £11,451 (12.5%) | £19,495 | £3,843 | £56,820 | £4,735 |
Add student loan, switch tax year or turn pension off in the calculator.
Band 8c pay: quick answers
How much does a Band 8c earn in the NHS in 2026/27?+
In England, NHS Band 8c pay in 2026/27 runs from £79,504 at entry to £91,609 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 8c in 2026/27?+
Estimated take-home pay for a full-time Band 8c is roughly £4,226 to £4,735 a month depending on pay step, assuming NHS Pension membership, tax code 1257L and no student loan.
What is the Band 8c hourly rate in 2026/27?+
The full-time equivalent hourly rate for Band 8c ranges from £40.66 to £46.85 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.