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NHS Pay Bands 2026/27: Salaries, Pay Points and Take Home Pay
NHS pay bands 2026/27 for England: every Band 2 to 9 pay point with hourly rate, pension rate and monthly take-home. Band 5 starts at £32,073.
Quick answer: NHS Agenda for Change pay in England runs from £25,272 at Band 2 to £129,783 at the top of Band 9 for 2026/27, after a 3.3% award from 1 April 2026. A Band 5 nurse starts on £32,073, which is about £2,040.21 a month after pension, tax and National Insurance.
This page lists every Agenda for Change pay band for England with its pay points, hourly rates and monthly take-home, and links to a full guide for each band.
In this guide
Pay bands 2 to 7
| Pay point | Annual pay | Hourly rate | Pension rate | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 entry | £25,272 | £12.92 | 6.5% | £1,700.11 |
| Band 3 entry | £25,760 | £13.17 | 6.5% | £1,727.27 |
| Band 3 top | £27,476 | £14.05 | 6.5% | £1,822.80 |
| Band 4 entry | £28,392 | £14.52 | 6.5% | £1,873.79 |
| Band 4 top | £31,157 | £15.93 | 8.3% | £1,990.32 |
| Band 5 entry | £32,073 | £16.40 | 8.3% | £2,040.21 |
| Band 5 middle | £34,592 | £17.69 | 8.3% | £2,177.41 |
| Band 5 top | £39,043 | £19.97 | 9.8% | £2,380.80 |
| Band 6 entry | £39,959 | £20.44 | 9.8% | £2,429.77 |
| Band 6 middle | £42,170 | £21.57 | 9.8% | £2,547.99 |
| Band 6 top | £48,117 | £24.61 | 9.8% | £2,865.96 |
| Band 7 entry | £49,387 | £25.26 | 9.8% | £2,933.86 |
| Band 7 middle | £51,932 | £26.56 | 9.8% | £3,078.24 |
| Band 7 top | £56,515 | £28.90 | 10.7% | £3,308.99 |
Take-home figures are for full-time staff in England with tax code 1257L, NHS Pension and no student loan. Band 2 has a single pay point in 2026/27.
Pay bands 8a to 9
| Pay point | Annual pay | Hourly rate | Pension rate | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 8a entry | £57,528 | £29.42 | 10.7% | £3,352.53 |
| Band 8a middle | £60,417 | £30.90 | 10.7% | £3,476.71 |
| Band 8a top | £64,750 | £33.11 | 10.7% | £3,662.95 |
| Band 8b entry | £66,582 | £34.05 | 10.7% | £3,741.70 |
| Band 8b middle | £70,896 | £36.26 | 12.5% | £3,863.32 |
| Band 8b top | £77,368 | £39.57 | 12.5% | £4,135.69 |
| Band 8c entry | £79,504 | £40.66 | 12.5% | £4,225.58 |
| Band 8c middle | £84,346 | £43.14 | 12.5% | £4,429.34 |
| Band 8c top | £91,609 | £46.85 | 12.5% | £4,735.00 |
| Band 8d entry | £94,356 | £48.26 | 12.5% | £4,850.60 |
| Band 8d middle | £100,140 | £51.21 | 12.5% | £5,094.01 |
| Band 8d top | £108,814 | £55.65 | 12.5% | £5,459.04 |
| Band 9 entry | £112,782 | £57.68 | 12.5% | £5,626.03 |
| Band 9 middle | £119,583 | £61.16 | 12.5% | £5,834.98 |
| Band 9 top | £129,783 | £66.37 | 12.5% | £6,115.48 |
See the Band 8a guide and the Band 8b to Band 9 guide for detail on the senior bands.
Hourly rates by band
Hourly rates are annual pay divided by 52.143 weeks and 37.5 hours. The entry-point rates for 2026/27 are £12.92 for Band 2, £13.17 for Band 3, £14.52 for Band 4, £16.40 for Band 5, £20.44 for Band 6 and £25.26 for Band 7. Overtime and unsocial hours are calculated from these rates. See our unsocial hours guide and overtime guide.
The 2026/27 pay award
The English award is 3.3% from 1 April 2026. Wales also has 3.3% and Scotland 3.75%, while Northern Ireland follows its own process. The tables on this page are England’s. Our pay rise guide shows what the award means for take-home pay, and the nations guide explains where to find the other scales.
How pay progression works
Most bands have two or three pay points. You move up after a set period, if you meet your employer’s conditions. Bands 2 and 3 take two years, Band 4 takes three, Band 5 takes two then two, and Bands 6 to 9 take two then three. Read the pay progression guide.
London weighting
Staff in London and the surrounding area receive the High Cost Area Supplement: 20% of basic pay in Inner London, 15% in Outer London and 5% in the Fringe, within a minimum and a maximum. At Band 5 entry it adds £6,415 in Inner London. See the London weighting guide and the calculator.
Which band am I?
Your band depends on your job, not your title. Examples: Band 2 for healthcare assistants, Band 3 for senior healthcare assistants, Band 4 for assistant practitioners and nursing associates, Band 5 for newly qualified nurses and many allied health professionals, Band 6 for senior and specialist staff, and Band 7 for advanced practitioners and team leaders. Your contract and job description decide. Our Agenda for Change guide explains how roles are banded.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NHS pay scale for 2026/27?
The NHS pay scale for England in 2026/27 runs from £25,272 at Band 2 to £129,783 at the top of Band 9, after a 3.3% award from 1 April 2026. Each band has between one and three pay points, and the tables on this page list every point with its hourly rate and monthly take-home pay.
What band is a nurse?
A newly qualified nurse is usually Band 5. Experienced and specialist nurses move to Band 6, and advanced or team leader roles are often Band 7 or above, depending on the job description. The band on your contract decides your pay. See our nurse pay guide for take-home figures.
How much is Band 5 take home pay?
Band 5 take home pay is about £2,040.21 a month at the entry point in 2026/27, £2,177.41 at the middle point and £2,380.80 at the top point. That is for a full-time employee in England on tax code 1257L, with NHS Pension and no student loan.
How many pay points does each band have?
Band 2 has one pay point in 2026/27, Bands 3 and 4 have two, and Bands 5 to 9 have three. You usually start at the entry point and move up after a set period if you meet your employer’s conditions. Our pay progression guide covers the timings.
Are these pay bands the same in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
No, the figures on this page are England’s. Each nation publishes its own pay scales and awards. The 2026/27 award is 3.3% in England and Wales and 3.75% in Scotland, and Northern Ireland follows its own process. Check the official scale for your nation before relying on these figures.
Sources
- NHS Employers: pay scales 2026/27
- NHS Business Services Authority: NHS Pension Scheme
- GOV.UK: Income Tax rates and allowances
- Our own sources and methodology page explains how every figure here is calculated.
Last updated: 25 October 2026
Work out your own take-home pay
Enter your band, pay point and hours in the free NHS take home pay calculator for 2026/27.