For the 2026/27 financial year, the Government has announced it has accepted in full the Agenda for Change (AfC) Pay Review Body recommendation of a 3.3% pay rise. This affects the majority of NHS staff on AfC contracts, including many clinical, support and operational roles.
If you want to see what this means for your net pay (after tax, NI and pension), you can run your numbers here: NHS take-home pay and for Scotland: NHS take-home pay Scotland.
💡 Quick note on calculators
The headline pay rise is a gross change. Your take-home can rise by less due to pension, student loan deductions, and tax thresholds. If you do overtime or unsocial hours, the change can also affect your payroll calculations in different ways.
1. What Has Been Announced?
The Government has accepted in full the recommendation of the Agenda for Change (AfC) Pay Review Body for a 3.3% pay rise for 2026/27.
The uplift applies to approximately 1.4–1.5 million NHS staff covered under the Agenda for Change framework, including:
- Nurses
- Midwives
- Allied Health Professionals (AHPs)
- Healthcare support workers
- Administrative staff
- Porters and estates staff
Doctors, dentists and very senior managers are not covered by this award.
📌 Key point
This is the first time in six years that the pay increase will be reflected in April pay packets.
2. When Will It Be Paid?
The Government has asked NHS Business Services Authority to ensure staff paid through ESR receive the uplift in April 2026 pay packets.
This is notable because recent years often involved later implementation (and sometimes backpay), whereas 2026/27 is expected to be reflected from April.
🔎 Practical check
If your payslip does not reflect the rise in April, it could be due to payroll timing, contract variations, or local processing. Comparing your gross monthly pay year-on-year is usually the quickest way to spot changes.
3. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: What We Know
The announcement states England will implement the award, and the Welsh Government has indicated it will do the same.
For Northern Ireland, the pay review body recommendation also applies, but implementation is dependent on budget decisions.
For Scotland, staff should use a Scotland-specific take-home calculator to estimate net pay correctly because Scotland has different Income Tax rates and thresholds for non-savings income: NHS take-home pay Scotland.
4. Inflation Context (Forecast vs Current)
The Government has described the uplift as a “real terms” increase, referencing the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast inflation of around 2.2% for 2026/27.
Some unions have publicly disagreed with this framing, noting that current CPI inflation has been reported around 3.4% (a backwards-looking measure over the past year), and describing the award as below inflation.
In simple terms: one comparison uses an inflation forecast for the year ahead, and the other uses inflation already observed over the last year. Both comparisons are common in public-sector pay debates.
5. What Does 3.3% Mean in Cash Terms?
A 3.3% increase means the following approximate annual uplift:
- £25,000 → +£825 per year
- £30,000 salary → increase of £990 per year
- £40,000 salary → increase of £1,320 per year
- £50,000 salary → increase of £1,650 per year
To convert your annual salary into an hourly estimate: NHS Salary to Hourly. To reverse the calculation: NHS Hourly to Salary.
Exact take-home impact depends on tax, National Insurance, NHS pension contributions and student loan repayments.
You can calculate your updated net pay using: NHS Take-Home Pay Calculator.
6. Why Your Take-Home May Rise by Less Than 3.3%
Even if your gross pay rises by 3.3%, your net pay might rise by a smaller percentage due to:
- Income Tax (especially if part of your pay crosses a threshold)
- National Insurance deductions
- NHS pension contributions (tiered contribution rates can make changes non-linear)
- Student loan repayments (a percentage above the threshold)
- Salary sacrifice (e.g., cycle to work, childcare vouchers where applicable)
For the quickest realistic estimate of your new monthly take-home: NHS Take-Home Pay Calculator.
⚠️ Scotland reminder
If you live in Scotland, use the Scotland calculator: NHS take-home pay Scotland. Scottish Income Tax bands can change your net pay versus England/Wales.
7. NHS Pay Bands 2026/27 – Gross Salary & Approx Take Home Pay
Below are typical NHS band salaries after the 3.3% uplift, with estimated monthly take-home pay. Exact results depend on pension rate and student loan plan.
| NHS Band | Annual Salary (£) | Estimated Take Home (Monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1(closed to new entrants) | £25,272(entry) | £1,700 – £1,800 |
| Band 2 | £25,272(entry) | £1,700 – £1,800 |
| Band 3 | £25,760(entry) – £27,476(top) | £1,750 – £1,950 |
| Band 4 | £28,392(entry) – £31,157(top) | £1,900 – £2,150 |
| Band 5 (Nurse/AHP) | £32,073(entry) – £34,592(middle) – £39,043 (top) | £2,150 – £2,250 - £2,550 |
| Band 6 (Highly Searched) | £39,959(entry) – £42,170(middle) - £48,117 (top) | £2,500 – £2,650 - £2,950 |
| Band 7 | £49,387(entry) – £51,932(middle) - £56,515 (top) | £3,050 – £3,150 - £3,350 |
| Band 8a | £57,528(entry) – £60,417(middle) - £64,750 (top) | £3,400 – £3,550 - £3,700 |
| Band 8b | £66,582(entry) – £70,896(middle) - £77,368 (top) | £3,800 – £4,000 – £4,250 |
| Band 8c | £79,504(entry) – £84,346(middle) - £91,609 (top) | £4,350 – £4,600 – £4,900 |
| Band 8d | £94,356(entry) – £100,140(middle) - £108,814 (top) | £5,050 – £5,300 – £5,650 |
| Band 9 | £112,782(entry) – £119,583(middle) - £129,783 (top) | £5,850 – £6,150 – £6,600 |
For personalised figures:
- NHS Take Home Pay
- NHS Take Home Pay Scotland
- NHS Salary to Hourly
- NHS Hourly to Salary
- NHS Monthly to Hourly
8. Agenda for Change Reform
The Government has also committed to working with the NHS Staff Council on reforming the Agenda for Change pay structure.
Details of structural reform have not yet been confirmed.
9. Key Takeaways
- 3.3% pay rise confirmed for Agenda for Change staff
- Applies to around 1.4–1.5 million NHS workers
- Effective from April 2026 pay packets
- Doctors and dentists not included in this award
- Government describes it as above forecast inflation
- Some unions argue it remains below current inflation levels
10. Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to all NHS staff?
It applies to staff covered under Agenda for Change. Doctors, dentists and senior managers are covered by separate review bodies.
Will this affect my take-home pay significantly?
The impact depends on tax band, NHS pension contribution rate, and student loan repayments. Use the NHS Take-Home Pay Calculator to see exact figures.
Is Scotland included?
Pay arrangements may differ slightly by nation. Scottish staff should use: NHS Scotland Take-Home Pay.
11. Summary
The headline 2026/27 NHS Agenda for Change award is a 3.3% increase, expected to be paid from April 2026. To understand what you will actually receive each month, the most reliable approach is to calculate your take-home pay using your salary point, pension rate and any student loan plan.
Start here: NHS Take-Home Pay, NHS Take-Home Pay Scotland, NHS Salary to Hourly, NHS Hourly to Salary, NHS Monthly to Hourly.