NHS Pay Rises Year by Year: Agenda for Change Awards Since 2021
How NHS pay has moved in recent years, how each award is decided, and what it means for your payslip when an award is late.
Updated · 4 min read
Try it with your own numbersNHS Pay Rise CalculatorNHS pay awards are announced every year, but the size, timing and shape of each award can vary a lot. Looking at recent years helps explain why your pay is what it is now, and why awards often arrive months after April with a lump of back pay.
How Agenda for Change pay awards are decided
For staff in England, the process usually runs like this:
- The government gives evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB), an independent body, including what it says is affordable.
- Trade unions and employers give evidence on recruitment, retention, workload and the cost of living.
- The NHSPRB makes a recommendation in a report to the government.
- The government decides whether to accept it, then publishes the award.
- NHS Employers publishes a pay circular with the new pay scales, and payroll teams apply it.
Pay years run from 1 April. When an award is announced after April, it is backdated, so staff receive arrears for the months already worked.
Recent awards at a glance
| Pay year | Award for most Agenda for Change staff |
|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 3% |
| 2022/23 | £1,400 flat rise for most staff, with adjustments at some points |
| 2023/24 | 5%, plus a one-off non-consolidated payment |
| 2024/25 | 5.5% |
| 2025/26 | 3.6% |
| 2026/27 | 3.3% |
Each year the lowest pay points have also been adjusted where needed to stay above the National Living Wage. That is why Band 1 closed to new staff and why Band 2 now has a single pay point.
Consolidated and non-consolidated payments
The difference matters:
- A consolidated award is built into your salary. It increases your pay permanently and counts towards future rises, overtime rates, unsocial hours, pension and sick pay.
- A non-consolidated payment is a one-off sum. It does not change your salary going forward, and it is usually not pensionable.
The 2023/24 settlement included both: a 5% consolidated rise and a one-off payment that varied by band.
Why awards are often late, and what back pay means
In several recent years the award was confirmed in the summer or autumn, months after 1 April. When that happens:
- your pay continues at the old rates until payroll applies the new scales
- you then receive arrears for every month since April, usually in one payment
- overtime, enhancements and pension contributions are recalculated for those months too
Because arrears are paid in one month, more tax and National Insurance may be taken from that payslip, and student loan repayments may be higher. Most of this evens out over the tax year. Our back pay guide explains how arrears are taxed, and the back pay calculator estimates the amount.
What a 3.3% rise is worth
For 2026/27, the award of 3.3% added to every pay point. As a rough guide, if pay points rise by 3.3%:
- a salary of £31,048 becomes about £32,073
- a salary of £38,682 becomes about £39,959
- a salary of £47,809 becomes about £49,387
The pay rise calculator shows what any rise means for your take-home pay after tax, NI and pension.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Pay is devolved. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland make their own decisions, so awards, timings and pay scales can differ. The figures on this site are for England.
Common questions
Does the award apply to bank staff? Usually bank rates are updated in line with the award, but the timing depends on your trust.
Is back pay pensionable? Consolidated arrears are pensionable. One-off non-consolidated payments usually are not.
Can I see the official pay scales? NHS Employers publishes the pay circular and scales each year.
How to check you have been paid the new rates
When an award is applied, it is worth checking your payslip:
- Basic pay. Compare your monthly basic pay with the new annual salary for your pay point divided by 12.
- Arrears line. Look for a line showing backdated pay for the months since April.
- Enhancements and overtime. These should also be recalculated at the new hourly rate, including in the arrears.
- Pension contributions. These should be taken from the arrears too, and your tier may change if your pay crosses a threshold.
If anything looks wrong, raise it with payroll in writing. The hourly rate calculator shows the correct hourly rate for your band and step.
See what a rise means for you
Use the pay rise calculator to see the change in your monthly take-home pay.
This guide explains the general rules for staff in England using 2026/27 figures. It is not financial advice. Your employer, payslip or NHS Pensions statement has the final word on your own pay.