NHS Agenda for Change Pay Scales 2026/27
Agenda for Change Pay Scales — England
| Band | 2025/26 (annual) | 2026/27 (projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £24,465 | £25,272 |
| Band 3 | £24,937 – £26,598 | £25,760 – £27,476 |
| Band 4 | £27,485 – £30,162 | £28,392 – £31,157 |
| Band 5 | £31,049 – £37,796 | £32,073 – £39,043 |
| Band 6 | £38,682 – £46,580 | £39,959 – £48,117 |
| Band 7 | £47,810 – £54,710 | £49,387 – £56,515 |
| Band 8a | £55,690 – £62,682 | £57,528 – £64,750 |
| Band 8b | £64,455 – £74,896 | £66,582 – £77,368 |
| Band 8c | £76,965 – £88,682 | £79,504 – £91,609 |
| Band 8d | £91,342 – £105,337 | £94,356 – £108,814 |
| Band 9 | £109,179 – £125,637 | £112,782 – £129,783 |
About the 2026/27 Agenda for Change pay award
Agenda for Change (AfC) is the national pay system covering more than a million NHS staff — nurses, healthcare assistants, paramedics, allied health professionals, administrative and support staff. It does not cover doctors and dentists, who are paid on separate contracts.
Each NHS pay year runs from 1 April to 31 March. The 2026/27 scales above apply a projected 3.3% uplift to the confirmed 2025/26 rates. The actual award for 2026/27 is set following recommendations from the NHS Pay Review Body and a decision by the government, and is typically announced part-way through the year.
Most bands have more than one pay point. Staff start at the entry point for their band and progress to higher points after a set number of years, subject to a satisfactory annual appraisal. Bands 2 and the entry points were restructured in recent years, so Band 2 is now effectively a single rate.
These figures are for England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland negotiate their NHS pay separately and have different scales — the take-home pay calculator covers all four nations.
Work out your take-home pay
The salaries above are gross figures, before deductions. Your actual take-home pay depends on your pension scheme contributions, income tax, National Insurance, student loan plan, and any additional payments such as unsocial hours enhancements or High Cost Area Supplements.
Use the free NHS take-home pay calculator to see your exact monthly and annual take-home pay for your band, pay point and circumstances on either the 2025/26 or 2026/27 scale.