NHS Pay Scales 2026/27
Every Agenda for Change band and pay point for 2026/27, with the monthly take-home each salary produces after NHS pension, income tax and National Insurance.
The full table
Take-home figures assume full-time hours (37.5/week), the NHS Pension at your automatic tier, standard tax code, no student loan. Tap any band in the calculator to model your exact situation — London weighting, part-time hours and unsocial hours all change the answer.
| Band | Pay point | Annual salary | Take-home / month | Pension |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Entry | £25,272 | £1,700.11 | 6.5% |
| 3 | Entry | £25,760 | £1,727.27 | 6.5% |
| 3 | Top | £27,476 | £1,822.80 | 6.5% |
| 4 | Entry | £28,392 | £1,873.79 | 6.5% |
| 4 | Top | £31,157 | £1,990.32 | 8.3% |
| 5 | Entry | £32,073 | £2,040.21 | 8.3% |
| 5 | Intermediate | £34,592 | £2,177.41 | 8.3% |
| 5 | Top | £39,043 | £2,380.80 | 9.8% |
| 6 | Entry | £39,959 | £2,429.78 | 9.8% |
| 6 | Intermediate | £42,170 | £2,547.99 | 9.8% |
| 6 | Top | £48,117 | £2,865.96 | 9.8% |
| 7 | Entry | £49,387 | £2,933.86 | 9.8% |
| 7 | Intermediate | £51,932 | £3,078.24 | 9.8% |
| 7 | Top | £56,515 | £3,308.99 | 10.7% |
| 8a | Entry | £57,528 | £3,352.53 | 10.7% |
| 8a | Intermediate | £60,417 | £3,476.71 | 10.7% |
| 8a | Top | £64,750 | £3,662.95 | 10.7% |
| 8b | Entry | £66,582 | £3,741.70 | 10.7% |
| 8b | Intermediate | £70,896 | £3,863.32 | 12.5% |
| 8b | Top | £77,368 | £4,135.69 | 12.5% |
| 8c | Entry | £79,504 | £4,225.58 | 12.5% |
| 8c | Intermediate | £84,346 | £4,429.34 | 12.5% |
| 8c | Top | £91,609 | £4,735.00 | 12.5% |
| 8d | Entry | £94,356 | £4,850.60 | 12.5% |
| 8d | Intermediate | £100,140 | £5,094.01 | 12.5% |
| 8d | Top | £108,814 | £5,459.04 | 12.5% |
| 9 | Entry | £112,782 | £5,626.03 | 12.5% |
| 9 | Intermediate | £119,583 | £5,835.00 | 12.5% |
| 9 | Top | £129,783 | £6,115.48 | 12.5% |
Scales: Agenda for Change, England, from 1 April 2026. Scotland has a separate settlement (3.75% uplift, 36-hour standard week); Wales and Northern Ireland usually mirror England. Sources: NHS Employers pay scales; HMRC 2026/27 rates for take-home estimates. Estimates only — not financial advice.
How the bands work
Most NHS clinical and support roles sit in Bands 2–9. You join at the entry point and move up pay points with experience — typically after 2 years to intermediate and after a further period to the top of band, subject to your trust's pay progression. Your pension percentage rises with pay in tiers, which is why the jump between some pay points keeps less of a rise than you'd expect — the take-home column shows the real effect.
Pay scale questions
What is the NHS pay rise for 2026/27?
Agenda for Change staff in England received a 3.3% consolidated uplift from 1 April 2026, which produced the scales in the table above. Awards are negotiated per nation, so Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may differ slightly.
How long does it take to reach the top of a band?
Most bands have two or three pay points. Staff typically progress after around 2 years at the entry point and reach the top after 4–5 years in band, subject to meeting pay-progression standards (appraisal and mandatory training up to date).
Why does my take-home jump less than my pay rise?
Because pension tiers, tax and National Insurance all take a share of the increase — and crossing a pension tier boundary (for example at £35,156 or £52,779) raises your contribution rate on all your pay. The calculator shows the exact effect for your move.
Are these the Scotland NHS pay scales?
No — these are England's scales. Scotland agreed a separate deal (3.75% for 2026/27 with a move to a 36-hour week), so Scottish salaries differ slightly. Scottish income tax also has six bands; the main calculator applies them when you select Scotland.