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NHS Agenda for Change Pay Bands

David Mohamad · 24 March 2026

Agenda for Change is the pay system used by most NHS staff in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It covers over one million employees across more than 350 job roles, from healthcare assistants to senior managers.

Staff are placed into one of nine pay bands (Band 2 to Band 9) based on their role. Each band has a set of pay points that staff progress through based on years of experience. Band 1 closed to new entrants in December 2018.

How Pay Progression Works

New starters enter at the bottom of their band. Progression to the next pay point happens after a set number of years, provided performance standards are met. The top pay point is the maximum for that band — further increases require moving to a higher band through promotion or regrading.

Pay rates are updated each April. The 2025/26 rates reflect a 3.6% uplift on the previous year.

NHS Pension

All AfC staff are automatically enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme. Contribution rates are tiered based on pensionable pay, ranging from 5.2% to 12.5%. The scheme uses a NET pay arrangement, meaning contributions reduce your taxable income but not your National Insurance.

This matters for take-home pay calculations: two people on the same salary will have different pension deductions if they fall into different tiers.

Pay Bands (2025/26)

Each band page shows the full take-home breakdown for every pay point: gross salary, pension, tax, NI, and net pay.

  • Band 2Healthcare assistants, porters, cleaners
    £24,465
  • Band 3Senior healthcare assistants, admin staff
    £24,937–£26,598
  • Band 4Assistant practitioners, senior admin
    £27,485–£30,162
  • Band 5Newly qualified nurses, midwives, therapists
    £31,049–£37,796
  • Band 6Senior nurses, specialist practitioners
    £38,682–£46,580
  • Band 7Team leaders, advanced practitioners
    £47,810–£54,710
  • Band 8aPrincipal practitioners, service managers
    £55,690–£62,682
  • Band 8bSenior managers, consultant practitioners
    £64,455–£74,896
  • Band 8cAssociate directors, heads of service
    £76,965–£88,682
  • Band 8dDeputy directors, clinical directors
    £91,342–£105,337
  • Band 9Directors, chief officers
    £109,179–£125,637

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