England · Agenda for Change · 3.3% pay award from 1 April 2026

Band 8d NHS pay 2026/27

Band 8d covers directors and the most senior clinical and managerial leaders below board level. It has three pay steps across roughly five years.

Director of operationsChief pharmacistDirector of allied health professions

Band 8d 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 step2025/262026/27IncreaseHourly (26/27)
Entry (< 2 years)£91,342£94,356+£3,014£48.25
2+ years£96,941£100,140+£3,199£51.21
Top (5+ years)£105,337£108,814+£3,477£55.65

Band 8d 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 stepGrossPensionIncome taxNat. InsuranceTake-home / yearTake-home / month
Entry (< 2 years)£94,356£11,795 (12.5%)£20,457£3,898£58,207£4,851
2+ years£100,140£12,518 (12.5%)£22,481£4,013£61,128£5,094
Top (5+ years)£108,814£13,602 (12.5%)£25,517£4,187£65,508£5,459
Personalise for Band 8d

Add student loan, switch tax year or turn pension off in the calculator.

Band 8d pay: quick answers

How much does a Band 8d earn in the NHS in 2026/27?+

In England, NHS Band 8d pay in 2026/27 runs from £94,356 at entry to £108,814 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 8d in 2026/27?+

Estimated take-home pay for a full-time Band 8d is roughly £4,851 to £5,459 a month depending on pay step, assuming NHS Pension membership, tax code 1257L and no student loan.

What is the Band 8d hourly rate in 2026/27?+

The full-time equivalent hourly rate for Band 8d ranges from £48.25 to £55.65 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.

How we verify our figures