NHS pay rise 2026/27 and 2027/28.
Agenda for Change staff in England received a 3.3% rise from 1 April 2026. The 2027/28 award has not been announced.
2026/27: 3.3% confirmed
The government announced the award on 12 February 2026, accepting the NHS Pay Review Body’s recommendation in full. It applies to Agenda for Change pay in England from 1 April 2026. The table compares 2025/26 and 2026/27 full-time basic pay for every band and step.
Swipe across the table to see every column →
| Band and step | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 · single salary | £24,465 | £25,272 | +£807 (+3.3%) |
| Band 2 · single salary | £24,465 | £25,272 | +£807 (+3.3%) |
| Band 3 · entry | £24,937 | £25,760 | +£823 (+3.3%) |
| Band 3 · top | £26,598 | £27,476 | +£878 (+3.3%) |
| Band 4 · entry | £27,485 | £28,392 | +£907 (+3.3%) |
| Band 4 · top | £30,162 | £31,157 | +£995 (+3.3%) |
| Band 5 · entry | £31,049 | £32,073 | +£1,024 (+3.3%) |
| Band 5 · intermediate | £33,487 | £34,592 | +£1,105 (+3.3%) |
| Band 5 · top | £37,796 | £39,043 | +£1,247 (+3.3%) |
| Band 6 · entry | £38,682 | £39,959 | +£1,277 (+3.3%) |
| Band 6 · intermediate | £40,823 | £42,170 | +£1,347 (+3.3%) |
| Band 6 · top | £46,580 | £48,117 | +£1,537 (+3.3%) |
| Band 7 · entry | £47,810 | £49,387 | +£1,577 (+3.3%) |
| Band 7 · intermediate | £50,273 | £51,932 | +£1,659 (+3.3%) |
| Band 7 · top | £54,710 | £56,515 | +£1,805 (+3.3%) |
| Band 8a · entry | £55,690 | £57,528 | +£1,838 (+3.3%) |
| Band 8a · intermediate | £58,487 | £60,417 | +£1,930 (+3.3%) |
| Band 8a · top | £62,682 | £64,750 | +£2,068 (+3.3%) |
| Band 8b · entry | £64,455 | £66,582 | +£2,127 (+3.3%) |
| Band 8b · intermediate | £68,631 | £70,896 | +£2,265 (+3.3%) |
| Band 8b · top | £74,896 | £77,368 | +£2,472 (+3.3%) |
| Band 8c · entry | £76,965 | £79,504 | +£2,539 (+3.3%) |
| Band 8c · intermediate | £81,652 | £84,346 | +£2,694 (+3.3%) |
| Band 8c · top | £88,682 | £91,609 | +£2,927 (+3.3%) |
| Band 8d · entry | £91,342 | £94,356 | +£3,014 (+3.3%) |
| Band 8d · intermediate | £96,941 | £100,140 | +£3,199 (+3.3%) |
| Band 8d · top | £105,337 | £108,814 | +£3,477 (+3.3%) |
| Band 9 · entry | £109,179 | £112,782 | +£3,603 (+3.3%) |
| Band 9 · intermediate | £115,763 | £119,583 | +£3,820 (+3.3%) |
| Band 9 · top | £125,637 | £129,783 | +£4,146 (+3.3%) |
For take-home pay at the new rates, see the NHS pay bands page or the NHS pay calculator.
2027/28: where the pay round stands
- The government has asked the NHS Pay Review Body for recommendations on Agenda for Change pay for 2027/28.
- Evidence from the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, published 19 October 2026, says their financial plans currently allow for a 2.4% uplift. Other parties, including unions, submit their own evidence.
- No award has been announced as at 27 October 2026. Pay awards normally apply from 1 April; when it is confirmed, this page and the band pages will be updated.
NHS pay rise questions
How much is the NHS pay rise for 2026/27?
3.3% for Agenda for Change staff in England, from 1 April 2026. For example, the Band 5 entry step went from £31,049 to £32,073 and the Band 6 entry step from £38,682 to £39,959.
When was the 2026/27 NHS pay rise announced?
The government announced it on 12 February 2026, accepting the NHS Pay Review Body's recommendation in full. The new rates apply from 1 April 2026.
Has the 2027/28 NHS pay rise been announced?
Not as at 27 October 2026. The Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England's evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body, published 19 October 2026, says their financial plans currently allow for a 2.4% uplift. That is a planning assumption, not an award: the review body has not yet made its recommendation.
Does a pay rise change my NHS Pension contribution?
It can. Contribution tiers are based on your actual annual pensionable pay, and NHSBSA says the 2026 tier thresholds were increased in line with CPI rather than the pay award. A rise that takes you over a threshold moves you to a higher rate on all of your pensionable pay.