Guides

NHS pay, explained properly

Short, accurate guides to how NHS pay works in England — written around the 2026/27 figures.

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.

Agenda for Change is the pay system covering over a million NHS staff. Here is how bands, steps and the annual award fit together.

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.

From gross salary to what lands in your bank account: pension, income tax, National Insurance and student loans, step by step.

When do you move up within your band, how much extra is it worth, and what can delay a pay step?

Which plan are you on, what will you repay in 2026/27, and how do NHS pay rises change your deductions?