| Band | Entry | Top |
|---|---|---|
Gross annual salaries for each Agenda for Change band in Northern Ireland, entry to top of band. These are the NHSPRB-recommended rates for 2026/27, subject to NI Executive confirmation. Click a band to open it in our pay and pension calculator. Source: NHS Employers, AfC pay scales 2026/27.
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The 2026/27 Pay Rise
3.3% recommended
NHSPRB pay rise recommendation for AfC staff from 1 April 2026
The NHS Pay Review Body recommended a 3.3% consolidated uplift for all AfC bands from 1 April 2026. England and Wales have confirmed and are paying the award.
In Northern Ireland, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has committed to proceeding with the 3.3% uplift but formal confirmation depends on the NI Executive budget settlement. The 2025/26 award followed a similar pattern: announced in November 2025 and paid in February 2026 with backpay to April 2025.
How Pay Works in Northern Ireland
Health and Social Care (HSC) staff in Northern Ireland are paid under the Agenda for Change framework. The standard 37.5-hour working week, annual leave entitlements and core AfC terms all apply. Your employer is one of the six HSC organisations rather than an NHS trust, but this doesn’t affect your pay band or terms.
Pay is set on the recommendation of the NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB). The NI Health Minister decides whether to accept the recommendation, which has sometimes meant a delay of several months before the award is confirmed and paid.
Pay Supplements
There are no HCAS zones in Northern Ireland. Staff receive basic AfC rates without any area supplements. HCAS is an England-only provision for London and surrounding areas.
Unsocial hours and overtime
Northern Ireland follows the standard AfC handbook for unsocial hours and overtime. The 37.5-hour week applies, with hours above that treated as overtime.
On-call and sleep-in
On-call and sleeping-in allowances are expected to increase by 3.3% in line with the main AfC pay award. Official allowance tables for Northern Ireland have not been published yet.
Tax
Northern Ireland uses the same income tax rates as England and Wales. See our income tax guide for a full breakdown of bands and thresholds.
Pension
HSC staff in Northern Ireland belong to the HSC Pension Scheme, administered by the Business Services Organisation (BSO). It is a defined benefit scheme with the same contribution tiers and benefits as the wider UK NHS pension, using a NET pay arrangement (contributions come out before tax).