NHS pay bands 2026/27, Band 2 to Band 9
| Band | Points | Bottom of band | Top of band | Take-home a month, bottom | Take-home a month, top |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHS Band 2 | 1 | £25,272 | £25,272 | £1,700 | £1,700 |
| NHS Band 3 | 2 | £25,760 | £27,476 | £1,727 | £1,823 |
| NHS Band 4 | 2 | £28,392 | £31,157 | £1,874 | £1,990 |
| NHS Band 5 | 3 | £32,073 | £39,043 | £2,040 | £2,381 |
| NHS Band 6 | 3 | £39,959 | £48,117 | £2,430 | £2,866 |
| NHS Band 7 | 3 | £49,387 | £56,515 | £2,934 | £3,309 |
| NHS Band 8a | 3 | £57,528 | £64,750 | £3,353 | £3,663 |
| NHS Band 8b | 3 | £66,582 | £77,368 | £3,742 | £4,136 |
| NHS Band 8c | 3 | £79,504 | £91,609 | £4,226 | £4,735 |
| NHS Band 8d | 3 | £94,356 | £108,814 | £4,851 | £5,459 |
| NHS Band 9 | 3 | £112,782 | £129,783 | £5,626 | £6,115 |
Take-home is after income tax, National Insurance and the tiered pension contribution, on the standard tax code with no student loan. Unsocial hours payments, overtime and recruitment premia are excluded, and they can be a large part of pay in shift-working roles.
Every pay point, band by band
Each point has its own page, because the pension tier, the tax band and the student loan position can all differ between two points in the same band.
NHS Band 2
- Single point: £25,272
NHS Band 3
NHS Band 4
NHS Band 5
NHS Band 6
NHS Band 7
NHS Band 8a
NHS Band 8b
NHS Band 8c
NHS Band 8d
NHS Band 9
Pension contribution tiers
The rate is set by actual annual pensionable pay for the post, not by the full-time equivalent, so a part-time contract can sit in a lower tier than the band suggests. Contributions come off before income tax.
| Pensionable pay | Member contribution |
|---|---|
| Up to £13,259 | 5.2% |
| £13,259 to £28,854 | 6.5% |
| £28,854 to £35,155 | 8.3% |
| £35,155 to £52,778 | 9.8% |
| £52,778 to £67,668 | 10.7% |
| Above £67,668 | 12.5% |
Source: NHS Employers, NHS Pension Scheme member contributions.
High cost area supplements
A supplement is paid on top of basic pay in and around London, as a percentage of basic pay between a cash floor and a cash ceiling. It is pensionable and counts towards the pension tier.
| Area | Percentage of basic pay | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inner London | 20% | £5,794 | £8,746 |
| Outer London | 15% | £4,870 | £6,137 |
| Fringe | 5% | £1,346 | £2,270 |
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Agenda for Change covers the whole United Kingdom, but each country negotiates its own pay scale, so the cash figures on these pages apply to England. The band structure is broadly similar, but the values and the number of points in a band can differ in the same year, and Scotland has in some years agreed a different number of points. Check your own country's circular before relying on a figure. Income tax also differs in Scotland, which the Scottish income tax calculator covers.
Work out your own figure
These pages are the clean case: full-time hours, the standard tax code and no student loan. Open the NHS pay calculator to set your own band, point, hours, London area and student loan plan, or read the guide to the 2026/27 NHS pay bands for how the scale is put together.