NHS Pay Bands Explained: Agenda for Change Bands 1 to 9 for 2026/27
A clear guide to the NHS pay band system, with every 2026/27 salary, typical jobs in each band and how you move up through the scale.
Updated · 4 min read
Try it with your own numbersNHS Band Salary ComparisonAlmost every NHS employee who is not a doctor, dentist or senior manager is paid on Agenda for Change, the national pay system introduced in 2004. It groups jobs into nine pay bands, each with set pay points. Knowing how the bands work helps you understand your own pay, compare jobs and plan your next step.
How a job gets its band
Bands are not set by job title or qualifications. Each job description is assessed under the NHS Job Evaluation Scheme, which scores 16 factors, including knowledge, responsibility for patients, freedom to act and the physical, mental and emotional effort involved. The total score places the job in a band. Many common roles are matched to national job profiles. If you think your job is in the wrong band, our banding review guide explains what to do.
Every band for 2026/27
These are the full-time salaries in England from 1 April 2026, after the 3.3% pay award:
| Band | Entry | Middle | Top | Hourly at entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £25,272 | £25,272 | £12.92 | |
| Band 3 | £25,760 | £27,476 | £13.17 | |
| Band 4 | £28,392 | £31,157 | £14.52 | |
| Band 5 | £32,073 | £34,592 | £39,043 | £16.40 |
| Band 6 | £39,959 | £42,170 | £48,117 | £20.44 |
| Band 7 | £49,387 | £51,932 | £56,515 | £25.26 |
| Band 8a | £57,528 | £60,417 | £64,750 | £29.42 |
| Band 8b | £66,582 | £70,896 | £77,368 | £34.05 |
| Band 8c | £79,504 | £84,346 | £91,609 | £40.66 |
| Band 8d | £94,356 | £100,140 | £108,814 | £48.25 |
| Band 9 | £112,782 | £119,583 | £129,783 | £57.68 |
Band 1 is closed to new staff. Hourly rates use the NHS method: salary divided by 52.143 weeks and 37.5 hours.
Typical jobs in each band
| Band | Examples |
|---|---|
| Band 2 | healthcare assistant, domestic, porter, receptionist |
| Band 3 | senior healthcare assistant, phlebotomist, ward clerk |
| Band 4 | nursing associate, assistant practitioner, medical secretary |
| Band 5 | newly qualified nurse, physiotherapist, radiographer, paramedic |
| Band 6 | senior staff nurse, specialist therapist, midwife, health visitor |
| Band 7 | ward manager, clinical nurse specialist, team leader |
| Band 8a | matron, advanced clinical practitioner, service manager |
| Bands 8b to 9 | heads of service, consultant practitioners, deputy directors |
The same job title can be banded differently between employers, because banding follows the job description.
How pay steps work
Within each band you move up through the pay points:
- Bands 3 and 4: one step, after two and three years respectively
- Band 5: steps after two years and then two more years
- Bands 6 to 9: steps after two years and then three more years
Since 2019 each step depends on a pay step review, which mainly checks that your appraisal and mandatory training are up to date. Our pay progression guide explains the process, and the pay progression calculator shows your next date.
What else adds to band pay
Your band sets your basic salary, but several things can add to it:
- Unsocial hours for nights, weekends and bank holidays: higher percentages in Bands 2 and 3
- Overtime at time and a half, or double time on public holidays, for Bands 1 to 7
- High cost area supplements in and around London
- On-call payments under local arrangements
Pay in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
All four nations use the Agenda for Change structure, but pay is devolved. Wales pays slightly more than England at most points in 2026/27, Scotland has its own pay deal and scales, and Northern Ireland sometimes implements awards later. See our guides to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Moving up a band
When you are promoted, you usually move to the entry point of the new band. Because the top of one band can be close to the entry of the next, the immediate rise may be smaller than you expect, but the new band's higher ceiling makes the long-term difference. Our guide to comparing pay bands after tax works through real examples.
Common questions
Which band is a newly qualified nurse? Band 5, starting at £32,073 in 2026/27.
Do doctors use these bands? No. Doctors and dentists have their own pay scales.
Are bands the same across the UK? The structure is the same, but salaries differ between the four nations.
What each band takes home
Full time at the entry point of each band in 2026/27, with the NHS Pension and tax code 1257L, no student loan:
| Band | Entry salary | Take-home per month |
|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £25,272 | £1,700 |
| Band 3 | £25,760 | £1,727 |
| Band 4 | £28,392 | £1,874 |
| Band 5 | £32,073 | £2,040 |
| Band 6 | £39,959 | £2,430 |
| Band 7 | £49,387 | £2,934 |
| Band 8a | £57,528 | £3,353 |
| Band 8b | £66,582 | £3,742 |
| Band 8c | £79,504 | £4,226 |
| Band 8d | £94,356 | £4,851 |
| Band 9 | £112,782 | £5,626 |
The gap in take-home pay between bands is smaller than the gap in salary, because tax, National Insurance and pension contributions all rise with pay. Our individual band guides, such as Band 5, Band 6 and Band 7, show every pay point in detail.
Compare bands
Use the band comparison tool to see the take-home difference between any two bands.
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.