NHS Pay Band Calculator - Find Your Band in 60 Seconds
Select your region to get started with our quick pay band finder
NHS Pay Bands 2025/26
Complete breakdown of all NHS pay bands, supplements, and professional rates across the UK.
| Band | Experience | Annual Salary | Example Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1* | All levels | £24,465 | Domestic support worker, housekeeping assistant, driver, nursery assistant |
| Band 2 | All levels | £24,465 | Healthcare assistant, security officer, secretary |
| Band 3 | Under 2 years | £24,937 | Emergency care assistant, clinical coder, OT support |
| 2+ years | £26,598 | Emergency care assistant, clinical coder, OT support | |
| Band 4 | Under 3 years | £27,485 | Assistant practitioner, pharmacy technician, dental nurse |
| 3+ years | £30,162 | Assistant practitioner, pharmacy technician, dental nurse | |
| Band 5 | Under 2 years | £31,049 | Newly qualified nurse, ODP, podiatrist, radiographer |
| 2–4 years | £33,487 | Newly qualified nurse, ODP, podiatrist, radiographer | |
| 4+ years | £37,796 | Newly qualified nurse, ODP, podiatrist, radiographer | |
| Band 6 | Under 2 years | £38,682 | School nurse, paramedic, estates officer, health records manager |
| 2–5 years | £40,823 | School nurse, paramedic, estates officer, health records manager | |
| 5+ years | £46,580 | School nurse, paramedic, estates officer, health records manager | |
| Band 7 | Under 2 years | £47,810 | Communications manager, estates manager, advanced therapist |
| 2–5 years | £50,273 | Communications manager, estates manager, advanced therapist | |
| 5+ years | £54,710 | Communications manager, estates manager, advanced therapist | |
| Band 8a | Under 2 years | £55,690 | Modern matron, project manager, consultant prosthetist |
| 2–5 years | £58,487 | Modern matron, project manager, consultant prosthetist | |
| 5+ years | £62,682 | Modern matron, project manager, consultant prosthetist | |
| Band 8b | Under 2 years | £64,455 | Strategic manager, head of education, service manager |
| 2–5 years | £68,631 | Strategic manager, head of education, service manager | |
| 5+ years | £74,896 | Strategic manager, head of education, service manager | |
| Band 8c | Under 2 years | £76,965 | Head of HR, consultant clinical scientist, consultant paramedic |
| 2–5 years | £81,652 | Head of HR, consultant clinical scientist, consultant paramedic | |
| 5+ years | £88,682 | Head of HR, consultant clinical scientist, consultant paramedic | |
| Band 8d | Under 2 years | £91,342 | Consultant psychologist, chief nurse, chief finance manager |
| 2–5 years | £96,941 | Consultant psychologist, chief nurse, chief finance manager | |
| 5+ years | £105,337 | Consultant psychologist, chief nurse, chief finance manager | |
| Band 9 | Under 2 years | £109,179 | Podiatric consultant, director of estates and facilities |
| 2–5 years | £115,763 | Podiatric consultant, director of estates and facilities | |
| 5+ years | £125,637 | Podiatric consultant, director of estates and facilities |
*Band 1: Closed to new entrants from 1 December 2018.
NHS Pay Bands by Region
Explore pay bands specific to your region. Each area has unique supplements and cost-of-living adjustments.
England
Standard NHS pay rates for England excluding London areas. Most common pay structure across the UK.
England (London & Nearby)
Enhanced pay rates with High Cost Area Supplements (HCAS) for London and surrounding areas.
Wales
NHS Wales pay structure with unique supplements and progression pathways for Welsh healthcare workers.
Scotland
NHS Scotland pay scales with distinctive rates and career progression opportunities in Scottish healthcare.
Northern Ireland
HSC Northern Ireland rates including unique administrative dental positions and regional variations.
View All Pay Bands
Comprehensive overview of all NHS pay bands across the UK.
NHS Pay Band Calculator & Salary Tools 2025/26
Powerful NHS pay band calculators and salary checkers to help you understand your NHS pay scales, calculate take-home pay, and make informed career decisions for 2025/26.
NHS Pay Band Checker
Find your exact NHS pay band 2025/26 by answering a few simple questions about your role, experience, and responsibilities. Covers all NHS pay scales from Band 1 to Band 9.
Why Use Our NHS Pay Band Calculator Tools?
Understanding NHS Pay Band Structure
How NHS Pay Bands Work
NHS pay bands provide a transparent NHS pay scale structure designed to ensure fair compensation across all healthcare roles. This systematic NHS pay band approach was implemented to create consistency and clarity in NHS remuneration, with each band reflecting different levels of responsibility, qualifications, and experience.
Salary progression within each NHS pay band occurs annually based on experience and performance. Once you reach the top of your current band, advancement to higher earnings requires moving to a more senior role through additional qualifications, training, or applying for positions with greater responsibility.
NEWNHS Pay Rise 2025/26: 3.6% Increase
The NHS pay scales 2025/26 feature a significant 3.6% pay rise across all NHS pay bands, representing a substantial investment in NHS workforce retention. This NHS pay scale 25/26 increase affects every Agenda for Change pay band, from Band 2 through Band 9.
Band 5 (Nurses)
2024/25: £31,048 → 2025/26: £32,168 (+£1,120)
NHS Pay Band 7
2024/25: £47,809 → 2025/26: £49,530 (+£1,721)
Nursing Career Progression Through NHS Pay Bands
Band 5 - Newly Qualified Nurses
Starting point for newly registered nurses with NHS pay band 5 salaries beginning at £32,168 annually (including 2025/26 3.6% pay rise). After 2-4 years of experience, earnings increase to £34,695, with the maximum NHS pay band 5 salary reaching £39,160. This band establishes the foundation for your NHS nursing career under the NHS pay scale system.
Band 6 - Senior Nurses and Specialists
Designed for senior nurses, health visitors, and specialized practitioners. NHS pay band 6 positions start at £40,028annually (reflecting the NHS pay rise), progressing to £48,274 for those with over 5 years of experience. This level typically requires additional qualifications or specialized training within the NHS pay scales structure.
NHS Pay Band 7 - Management and Advanced Practice
Common for ward managers, emergency nurse practitioners, and advanced specialists. NHS pay band 7 salaries range from£49,530 at entry level to £56,680 for experienced professionals (including 3.6% pay rise). These roles combine clinical expertise with leadership responsibilities, making NHS pay band 7 one of the most sought-after career progressions in the NHS pay scale system.
Band 8 & 9 - Senior Leadership Roles
Reserved for exceptionally senior positions including modern matrons and chief nurses. NHS pay band 8a starts at£57,674 (with NHS pay rise included), while Band 8d can reach £109,129 annually.NHS band 9 salary positions begin at £113,149 and can exceed £124,320 with extensive experience and qualifications under the NHS pay scales 2025/26.
NHS Pay Band Career Advancement & Salary Progression
Moving between NHS pay bands requires strategic career development rather than simply accumulating years of service. Advancement typically involves pursuing additional qualifications such as master's degrees, specialized certifications, or professional development courses relevant to your desired role within the NHS pay scale framework.
Gaining experience across different specialisms or care settings enhances your employability and prepares you for higher-band positions. Simply remaining in the same role won't automatically qualify you for promotion - you need to demonstrate new skills acquired in varied contexts across the NHS pay bands system.
Annual pay increases are standard across the NHS pay scales, with the 2025/26 period seeing a substantial 3.6% pay rise. Recent years have seen increases with the current 3.6% for 2025/26, reflecting the government's commitment to maintaining competitive NHS pay band salaries and recognizing the vital contribution of healthcare professionals.
NHS Pay Band Calculator Features 2025/26
Our comprehensive NHS pay scale calculator provides both gross and take-home pay calculations, giving you a complete picture of your potential earnings across all NHS pay bands. The tool accounts for various deductions including income tax, National Insurance contributions, and NHS pension payments, and is fully updated with the NHS pay rise 2025/26 figures.
Results are presented in annual, monthly, and weekly formats to help with financial planning. The calculator is updated immediately following confirmation of new NHS pay band deals, ensuring accuracy with the latestNHS pay scales 2025/26 figures even during negotiation periods when announcements may be delayed.
All calculations are performed locally in your browser with no personal information stored or transmitted, maintaining complete privacy while providing reliable NHS pay band salary projections including the 3.6% pay rise.
NHS Pay Scales vs Private Sector Nursing Salaries
Private sector nursing salaries are unregulated, making direct comparisons with NHS pay bands challenging. While private hospitals may offer slightly higher base salaries, NHS pay scale benefits packages often provide greater overall value including superior pension schemes, comprehensive training opportunities, and job security.
Many private healthcare providers benchmark their nursing salaries against NHS pay scales, resulting in comparable compensation levels. The key difference often lies in benefits, career development opportunities, and the variety of experiences available within the NHS pay band system, especially with the recent NHS pay rise making NHS positions more competitive.
When considering career options, evaluate each position individually based on total compensation, growth potential, and personal career objectives rather than focusing solely on base NHS pay scale figures.
Current NHS Pay Scale Information 2025/26
Minimum Salary Information with NHS Pay Rise
Newly qualified nurses begin their NHS careers at NHS pay band 5 with a starting salary of £32,168 annually (including the 3.6% pay rise). This represents the minimum earning potential for qualified nursing professionals within theNHS pay scale system, significantly improved from the NHS pay band 2024/25 rate of £31,048.
Maximum Earning Potential with 2025/26 Pay Rise
Exceptionally qualified consultant-level nurses can earn over £124,320 annually at NHS band 9 salary positions or specialized roles (including 3.6% pay rise). The NHS pay scales 25/26 with the 3.6% increase make these senior positions more attractive than ever, with NHS band 9 roles offering substantial earning potential that competes effectively with private sector alternatives.
Page Information
2025/26 Official Rates
April 2026
This page contains the most up-to-date NHS pay band information including the 3.6% pay rise for 2025/26. All salary figures are based on official NHS England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland pay scales.