NHS Wales Pay Scales 2026/27
Gross / yr
£26,300–£131,732
Take-home / yr
£21,088–£74,029
These are the latest published 2026/27 figures, including the 3.3% award from 1 April 2026. The lowest points rise further, to the Living Wage floor.
| Role | Pay point | Gross salary | Net take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | Year 1 | £26,300 | £21,088 |
| Band 2 | Year 3+ | £26,300 | £21,088 |
| Role | Pay point | Gross salary | Net take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 3 | Year 1 | £26,300 | £21,088 |
| Band 3 | Year 3+ | £27,890 | £22,150 |
| Role | Pay point | Gross salary | Net take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 4 | Year 1 | £28,819 | £22,771 |
| Band 4 | Year 4+ | £31,626 | £24,190 |
| Role | Pay point | Gross salary | Net take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 5 | Year 1 | £32,557 | £24,799 |
| Band 5 | Year 3 | £35,114 | £26,470 |
| Band 5 | Year 5+ | £39,631 | £28,947 |
| Role | Pay point | Gross salary | Net take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 6 | Year 1 | £40,559 | £29,542 |
| Band 6 | Year 3 | £42,805 | £30,983 |
| Band 6 | Year 6+ | £48,841 | £34,856 |
| Role | Pay point | Gross salary | Net take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 7 | Year 1 | £50,129 | £35,682 |
| Band 7 | Year 3 | £52,712 | £37,486 |
| Band 7 | Year 6+ | £57,365 | £40,146 |
| Role | Pay point | Gross salary | Net take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 8a | Year 1 | £58,379 | £40,669 |
| Band 8a | Year 3 | £61,317 | £42,185 |
| Band 8a | Year 6+ | £65,723 | £44,458 |
| Role | Pay point | Gross salary | Net take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 8b | Year 1 | £67,583 | £45,417 |
| Band 8b | Year 3 | £71,952 | £46,893 |
| Band 8b | Year 6+ | £78,530 | £50,215 |
| Role | Pay point | Gross salary | Net take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 8c | Year 1 | £80,698 | £51,310 |
| Band 8c | Year 3 | £85,611 | £53,791 |
| Band 8c | Year 6+ | £92,984 | £57,514 |
| Role | Pay point | Gross salary | Net take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 8d | Year 1 | £95,773 | £58,923 |
| Band 8d | Year 3 | £101,643 | £61,887 |
| Band 8d | Year 6+ | £110,448 | £66,334 |
| Role | Pay point | Gross salary | Net take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 9 | Year 1 | £114,475 | £68,334 |
| Band 9 | Year 3 | £121,377 | £70,612 |
| Band 9 | Year 6+ | £131,732 | £74,029 |
How NHS Wales Pay Is Set
Wales and England both use Agenda for Change as the pay system for most non-medical NHS staff. The framework defines NHS Wales pay bands, progression structure and core terms including the standard 37.5-hour working week and harmonised annual leave.
Wales uses the same NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB) as England as its independent pay review body for AfC staff. But the Welsh Government decides independently how to respond to those recommendations and can diverge in the detailed pay deal. In practice, Wales has increasingly done so, applying larger uplifts for those on lower incomes to maintain the living wage floor.
The 2026/27 Pay Rise
3.3%
Consolidated pay rise for NHS Wales AfC staff from 1 April 2026
The Welsh Government accepted the NHSPRB’s 39th Report recommendation in full on 12 February 2026. The 3.3% applies to all AfC pay points and is consolidated into basic salary, meaning it counts towards pension and overtime calculations.
The 2027/28 pay round has started in England: what we know about the 2027/28 pay rise.
Pay Supplements
There are no HCAS zones in Wales. Staff receive basic AfC Wales rates without regional supplements. Some roles may qualify for Recruitment and Retention Premia (RRPs) under the All-Wales RRP Protocol; check your contract or ask your health board’s HR team.
Staff working evenings, nights, weekends and public holidays receive percentage uplifts on basic salary.
On-call and sleeping-in allowances are set by NHS Wales circular AfC(W) 02/2026, uplifted 3.3% from 1 April 2026:
| Allowance | Per session |
|---|---|
| Sleeping in | £44.82 |
| On call, weekday or weekend | £26.05 |
| On call, public holiday | £52.08 |
Rates uplifted 3.3% from 1 April 2026. If called out during an on-call period, time worked is paid at the appropriate overtime or unsocial hours rate.
Income Tax
Since April 2019, Wales has had the power to set its own income tax rates through the Welsh Rates of Income Tax (WRIT). Welsh taxpayers have a “C” prefix on their tax code (e.g. C1257L instead of 1257L).
In practice, Welsh rates are currently aligned with England and Northern Ireland. See our income tax guide for a full breakdown of bands and thresholds.
NHS Pension Scheme
Welsh NHS staff belong to the same NHS Pension Scheme as England, administered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). Wales and England share one scheme, so the contribution tiers are the same: 6 bands rising to 12.5% of pensionable pay.
For a full guide to contribution tiers, accrual rates and how the 2015 scheme works, see the NHS Pension Scheme page.