NHS Pay in Wales vs England 2026/27: Band by Band
NHS staff in Wales are paid slightly more than in England at most points in 2026/27. Here is the full comparison, from the official Welsh pay circular.
Updated · 5 min read
Try it with your own numbersNHS Take-Home Pay CalculatorWales uses the same Agenda for Change structure as England: the same bands, pay points and job evaluation. But pay is devolved, so the Welsh Government sets its own scales each year. For 2026/27, both nations gave a 3.3% award from 1 April 2026, but Wales started from a higher base, so most Welsh pay points are a few hundred pounds above England's.
The Welsh figures below come from the official NHS Wales pay circular AfC(W) 02/2026.
Pay scales compared for 2026/27
| Band | Wales entry | England entry | Wales top | England top |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £26,300 | £25,272 | £26,300 | £25,272 |
| Band 3 | £26,300 | £25,760 | £27,890 | £27,476 |
| Band 4 | £28,819 | £28,392 | £31,626 | £31,157 |
| Band 5 | £32,557 | £32,073 | £39,631 | £39,043 |
| Band 6 | £40,559 | £39,959 | £48,841 | £48,117 |
| Band 7 | £50,129 | £49,387 | £57,365 | £56,515 |
| Band 8a | £58,379 | £57,528 | £65,723 | £64,750 |
| Band 8b | £67,583 | £66,582 | £78,530 | £77,368 |
| Band 8c | £80,698 | £79,504 | £92,984 | £91,609 |
| Band 8d | £95,773 | £94,356 | £110,448 | £108,814 |
| Band 9 | £114,475 | £112,782 | £131,732 | £129,783 |
Bands 5 to 9 have an intermediate point too. In Wales, Band 5's middle point is £35,114 and Band 6's is £42,805.
The living wage floor in Wales
Wales pays at least the Living Wage Foundation's real living wage. Because of that, Band 2 and the entry point of Band 3 are both £26,300 in Wales, which is £1,028 a year more than Band 2 in England. The Welsh Government said this means the increase for its lowest-paid staff in 2026/27 ranged from 3.8% to 5.9%.
What the difference means each month
Full time, with the NHS Pension and tax code 1257L (Welsh income tax rates currently match England's):
| Band and step | Wales take-home | England take-home |
|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £1,757 | £1,700 |
| Band 4 entry | £1,898 | £1,874 |
| Band 5 entry | £2,067 | £2,040 |
| Band 6 entry | £2,462 | £2,430 |
| Band 7 entry | £2,974 | £2,934 |
| Band 8a entry | £3,389 | £3,353 |
So the gap is about £25 to £60 a month for most staff, more at the senior bands.
Other differences in Wales
- On-call and sleeping-in allowances. Wales has its own rates. From April 2026 the circular sets the Wales on-call allowance at £26.05 for a weekday or weekend session and £52.08 on a public holiday, and the sleeping-in allowance at £44.82. All rose by 3.3%.
- Bank workers. Bank staff in Wales are paid on the Welsh pay scales, with a minimum of the real living wage, under an all-Wales terms of engagement.
- Pension. Staff in Wales are in the same NHS Pension Scheme as England, with the same contribution tiers and benefits.
- Income tax. Welsh taxpayers have a C at the start of their tax code. Welsh rates are currently the same as England's.
What is the same
Unsocial hours enhancements, overtime rules, annual leave, sick pay and maternity pay follow the same Agenda for Change framework, although some local policies differ between health boards. Pay progression also works the same way: in Bands 5 to 9 you reach the middle point after two years on the band, and the top point after a further two years in Band 5, or three years in Bands 6 to 9.
Using our calculators in Wales
Our calculators use England's pay scales by default. If you work in Wales, choose Enter my salary in the take-home pay calculator and type your Welsh salary from the table above. Tax, NI, pension and student loan deductions are the same.
Moving between Wales and England
Service in NHS Wales counts as NHS service if you move to England, or the other way, for annual leave and sick pay. Your pension continues in the same scheme. Expect your salary to change to the new nation's scale for your band and pay point. Our guide to moving between trusts explains what carries over.
Common questions
Did Wales get the same 3.3% award as England? Yes, 3.3% from 1 April 2026, and it was paid on time.
Why is Welsh pay higher? Wales has made its own decisions in earlier years, including paying the real living wage at the bottom of the scale.
Is NHS Scotland the same as Wales? No. Scotland has its own pay deal, pay scales and a 36-hour week. See our Scotland pay guide.
An example: the same Band 5 nurse in Wales and England
Take two newly qualified nurses on Band 5 in 2026/27, one in Wales and one in England, and follow them up their pay points:
| Pay point | Wales | England | Difference a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | £32,557 | £32,073 | £484 |
| After 2 years | £35,114 | £34,592 | £522 |
| After 4 years | £39,631 | £39,043 | £588 |
Before any future pay awards, the nurse in Wales would earn about £2,600 more in basic pay over their first five years. After tax, National Insurance and pension, the gap is smaller but still noticeable: roughly £25 to £30 a month at Band 5.
Remember that living costs, including housing, differ between areas, so the salary difference is only part of the picture when comparing jobs.
Work out your pay
Use the take-home pay calculator with your Welsh salary to see your monthly take-home.
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.