Detailed salary guides for every NHS pay band. Find annual pay, hourly rates, take-home pay after deductions, and comparisons across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) pay bands determine the salary of the majority of NHS staff in the UK. Each band has a set salary range with pay points that increase with experience. Use the guides below to explore each band in detail.
Updated for the 2026/27 pay year
Entry-level roles including healthcare assistants, domestic support and administrative staff. Includes a full salary calculator with HCAS, pension and tax deductions.
Explore Band 2 → Band 3Covers senior healthcare assistants, pharmacy assistants and administrative officers. Explore full salary breakdown, pay progression, London weighting and take-home pay.
Explore Band 3 → Band 4Technical and associate practitioner roles. Includes unsocial hours rates, London weighting (HCAS), UK-wide salary comparison tables and take-home pay estimates.
Explore Band 4 → Band 5Registered healthcare professional roles including nurses, midwives, paramedics, radiographers and AHPs. Includes pay points, hourly rates, HCAS, unsocial hours and take-home pay.
Explore Band 5 → Band 6Senior and specialist roles including senior nurses, allied health professionals, team leaders and specialist practitioners. Includes pay progression, hourly rates, HCAS, unsocial hours and take-home pay.
Explore Band 6 → Band 7Senior, specialist and leadership roles including ward managers, advanced practitioners, lead therapists and clinical specialists. Includes pay progression, hourly rates, HCAS, unsocial hours and take-home pay.
Explore Band 7 → Band 8Senior clinical, specialist and leadership roles across Bands 8a to 8d. Includes pay points, UK nation comparisons, HCAS, pension contributions and take-home pay.
Explore Band 8 →Use the full NHS Pay Calculator for any band — including tax, National Insurance, pension contributions, HCAS London weighting and unsocial hours.
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