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

Band 9 NHS pay 2026/27

Band 9 is the highest Agenda for Change band, covering the most senior strategic leadership roles in the NHS. It has three pay steps across roughly five years.

Chief nurse (large trust)Director of financeChief allied health professional

Band 9 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)£109,179£112,782+£3,603£57.68
2+ years£115,763£119,583+£3,820£61.16
Top (5+ years)£125,637£129,783+£4,146£66.37

Band 9 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)£112,782£14,098 (12.5%)£26,906£4,266£67,512£5,626
2+ years£119,583£14,948 (12.5%)£30,213£4,402£70,020£5,835
Top (5+ years)£129,783£16,223 (12.5%)£35,568£4,606£73,386£6,115
Personalise for Band 9

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

Band 9 pay: quick answers

How much does a Band 9 earn in the NHS in 2026/27?+

In England, NHS Band 9 pay in 2026/27 runs from £112,782 at entry to £129,783 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 9 in 2026/27?+

Estimated take-home pay for a full-time Band 9 is roughly £5,626 to £6,115 a month depending on pay step, assuming NHS Pension membership, tax code 1257L and no student loan.

What is the Band 9 hourly rate in 2026/27?+

The full-time equivalent hourly rate for Band 9 ranges from £57.68 to £66.37 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