NHS Band 8a salary 2026/27.
In England, Band 8a pays £57,528 at entry, £60,417 after 2 years, £64,750 after a further 3 years from 1 April 2026. Full time, that is £4,794 to £5,396 a month before deductions, or roughly £3,353 to £3,663 take-home.
Roles at this band include, for example: Senior manager, consultant AHP. Your contract and job description set your actual band.
Band 8a pay steps 2026/27
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| Pay step | Annual | Monthly | Hourly | Years before next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | £57,528 | £4,794 | £29.42 | 2 |
| Intermediate | £60,417 | £5,035 | £30.90 | 3 |
| Top | £64,750 | £5,396 | £33.11 | — |
You become eligible for the next step after the years shown, if you meet the pay progression requirements in your terms and conditions.
Band 8a take-home pay
Estimated for a full, steady tax year, full time, paying into the NHS Pension, with a standard tax code. Income tax is the annual figure divided by 12.
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| Pay step | Gross | NHS Pension | Income tax | National Insurance | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | £4,794 | £513 (10.7%) | £665 | £263 | £3,353 |
| Intermediate | £5,035 | £539 (10.7%) | £751 | £268 | £3,477 |
| Top | £5,396 | £577 (10.7%) | £880 | £275 | £3,663 |
Band 8a part-time pay
Pay is pro rata to a 37.5-hour week. The NHS Pension tier is based on your actual pensionable pay, so part-time staff can pay a lower contribution rate.
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| Weekly hours | Entry step | Top step |
|---|---|---|
| 37.5 hours | £3,353 | £3,663 |
| 30 hours | £2,754 | £3,071 |
| 22.5 hours | £2,173 | £2,371 |
| 15 hours | £1,574 | £1,735 |
For other hours, or to compare two working patterns, use the NHS pay calculator.
Your NHS Pension at Band 8a
At £57,528 you pay 10.7% of pensionable pay. Contributions reduce taxable pay but not National Insurance. In the 2015 Scheme, each year of full-time pay builds 1/54 of that pay as pension: about £1,065 a year at £57,528 and £1,199 at £64,750, before revaluation.
Estimate your NHS Pension at Band 8a →
Band 8a pay rise
The 2026/27 award was 3.3%, from 1 April 2026. See the NHS pay rise page for 2027/28.
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| Pay step | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | £55,690 | £57,528 | +£1,838 (+3.3%) |
| Intermediate | £58,487 | £60,417 | +£1,930 (+3.3%) |
| Top | £62,682 | £64,750 | +£2,068 (+3.3%) |
Band 8a pay questions
How much is NHS Band 8a per hour?
Band 8a is £29.42 an hour at the entry step and £33.11 at the top step in 2026/27 (England, published rates).
What is Band 8a take-home pay per month?
Full time and paying into the NHS Pension, estimated take-home is about £3,353 a month at the entry step and £3,663 at the top step, after income tax, National Insurance and pension contributions, with a standard tax code. Payslips can differ with enhancements, HCAS, student loans or salary sacrifice.
How long does it take to reach the top of Band 8a?
You become eligible for each step after a set time in the band: £57,528 at entry, £60,417 after 2 years, £64,750 after a further 3 years. That is 5 years in total, provided you meet the pay progression requirements.
How much NHS Pension does Band 8a pay?
At £57,528 the member contribution rate is 10.7% of pensionable pay. In the 2015 Scheme, a year of full-time pay at £57,528 builds about £1,065 a year of pension, before revaluation.
Did Band 8a get a pay rise in 2026/27?
Yes. The 3.3% award from 1 April 2026 took the entry step from £55,690 in 2025/26 to £57,528.