Agenda for Change pay scales 2026/27
NHS pay for nurses, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists and support staff in England rose by 3.3% from 1 April 2026. Here is every band and pay point, with take-home pay and the locum rate needed to match it.
- Updated for 2026/27
- Official NHS and HMRC figures
- Checked 20 October 2026
| Band | Pay point | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / month | Locum break-even |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | Single point | £25,272 | £12.92 | £1,700 | £13.90 |
| Band 2 | Single point | £25,272 | £12.92 | £1,700 | £13.90 |
| Band 3 | Entry | £25,760 | £13.17 | £1,727 | £14.17 |
| Top | £27,476 | £14.05 | £1,823 | £15.11 | |
| Band 4 | Entry | £28,392 | £14.52 | £1,874 | £15.61 |
| Top | £31,157 | £15.93 | £1,990 | £16.77 | |
| Band 5 | Entry | £32,073 | £16.40 | £2,040 | £17.26 |
| Intermediate | £34,592 | £17.69 | £2,177 | £18.61 | |
| Top | £39,043 | £19.97 | £2,381 | £20.62 | |
| Band 6 | Entry | £39,959 | £20.44 | £2,430 | £21.11 |
| Intermediate | £42,170 | £21.57 | £2,548 | £22.27 | |
| Top | £48,117 | £24.61 | £2,866 | £25.41 | |
| Band 7 | Entry | £49,387 | £25.26 | £2,934 | £26.08 |
| Intermediate | £51,932 | £26.56 | £3,078 | £27.51 | |
| Top | £56,515 | £28.90 | £3,309 | £29.79 | |
| Band 8a | Entry | £57,528 | £29.42 | £3,353 | £30.32 |
| Intermediate | £60,417 | £30.90 | £3,477 | £31.84 | |
| Top | £64,750 | £33.11 | £3,663 | £34.13 | |
| Band 8b | Entry | £66,582 | £34.05 | £3,742 | £35.09 |
| Intermediate | £70,896 | £36.26 | £3,863 | £36.58 | |
| Top | £77,368 | £39.57 | £4,136 | £39.92 | |
| Band 8c | Entry | £79,504 | £40.66 | £4,226 | £41.03 |
| Intermediate | £84,346 | £43.14 | £4,429 | £43.52 | |
| Top | £91,609 | £46.85 | £4,735 | £47.27 | |
| Band 8d | Entry | £94,356 | £48.26 | £4,851 | £48.69 |
| Intermediate | £100,140 | £51.21 | £5,094 | £51.67 | |
| Top | £108,814 | £55.65 | £5,459 | £56.15 | |
| Band 9 | Entry | £112,782 | £57.68 | £5,626 | £58.20 |
| Intermediate | £119,583 | £61.16 | £5,835 | £61.54 | |
| Top | £129,783 | £66.37 | £6,115 | £66.79 |
Hourly rate is the basic rate for a 37.5-hour week (salary ÷ 52.14 weeks ÷ 37.5). Take-home assumes England tax, NHS pension, no student loan. Locum break-even is the PAYE hourly rate that gives the same yearly take-home over the same hours actually worked, with 35 days' paid leave. Use the locum vs salaried calculator for your own figures.
How Agenda for Change pay progression works
Most bands have two or three pay points. You start at the entry point and move up after two or three years, subject to meeting the expected standards of your role. Bands 2 and 1 have a single pay point. Band 1 is closed to new entrants.
Annual leave
Agenda for Change staff get 27 days' annual leave plus 8 public holidays when they start, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years. That paid leave is one reason a locum rate needs to be higher than the salaried hourly rate to break even.
Unsocial hours enhancements
| Band | Saturdays and weekday nights (8pm–6am) | Sundays and public holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | +47% | +94% |
| Band 2 | +41% | +83% |
| Band 3 | +35% | +69% |
| Bands 4 to 9 | +30% | +60% |
Overtime for Bands 1 to 7 is paid at time and a half, or double time on public holidays. Bands 8a and above don't get paid overtime.
Pay by band
Band 1
£25,272
Band 2
£25,272
Band 3
£25,760 to £27,476
Band 4
£28,392 to £31,157
Band 5
£32,073 to £39,043
Band 6
£39,959 to £48,117
Band 7
£49,387 to £56,515
Band 8a
£57,528 to £64,750
Band 8b
£66,582 to £77,368
Band 8c
£79,504 to £91,609
Band 8d
£94,356 to £108,814
Band 9
£112,782 to £129,783
Sources
- Pay scales for 2026/27 (Agenda for Change), NHS Employers. Checked 20 October 2026.
- NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook (version 63), NHS Employers. Checked 20 October 2026.
Last updated .