NHS Agenda for Change Pay Bands
Agenda for Change is the pay system used by most NHS staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Staff are placed into one of nine pay bands, each with a set of pay points that form the national NHS pay scales. Rates are updated every April through the annual pay award process.
Your actual take-home pay depends on more than the headline salary. Scotland applies different income tax rates to the rest of the UK, and London staff receive a High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS). Use the band selector below to see how these factors affect your pay.
AfC Pay Bands at a Glance
Salary range for each band with pension and estimated take-home. Click any band for the full breakdown.
NHS Agenda for Change pay bands 2026/27. Grey bars show gross salary range (entry to top of band). Teal bars show salary after NHS Pension contributions. Gold bars show estimated take-home after pension, tax and NI.
Natl Living Wage: £23,810/yr — £12.21/hr × 37.5 hrs/wk
Sources: NHS Employers pay scales 2026/27 · NHS Pension Scheme contribution rates · HMRC income tax rates · National Living Wage rates
| Band | Entry salary | Top salary | Take-home (entry) | Take-home (top) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £25,272 | £25,272 | £20,401 | £20,401 |
| Band 3 | £25,760 | £27,476 | £20,728 | £21,874 |
| Band 4 | £28,392 | £31,157 | £22,486 | £23,884 |
| Band 5 | £32,073 | £39,043 | £24,483 | £28,570 |
| Band 6 | £39,959 | £48,117 | £29,157 | £34,392 |
| Band 7 | £49,387 | £56,515 | £35,206 | £39,708 |
| Band 8a | £57,528 | £64,750 | £40,231 | £43,956 |
| Band 8b | £66,582 | £77,368 | £44,901 | £49,628 |
| Band 8c | £79,504 | £91,609 | £50,707 | £56,820 |
| Band 8d | £94,356 | £108,814 | £58,207 | £65,508 |
| Band 9 | £112,782 | £129,783 | £67,512 | £73,386 |
Related
- NHS Pension Scheme — contribution tiers, NET pay, and how pension affects take-home
- How UK Take-Home Pay Is Calculated — the PAYE deduction pipeline step by step
- NHS Wales Pay — living wage supplement and how it affects lower bands
- NHS Take-Home Pay Calculator — personalised breakdown with student loans, salary sacrifice and Scotland
- NHS Calculator Comparison — how our calculator stacks up against the alternatives