This page is dedicated to NHS Scotland pay and avoids mixing England and Wales figures. Scotland has its own agreement and published band rates, and Scottish Income Tax can change take home pay compared with the rest of the UK.

For a personalised net pay estimate using Scottish tax rules, use: NHS Scotland take home pay.

💡 Why Scotland needs its own calculator

The headline uplift is a gross change, but your take home depends on Scottish Income Tax bands, National Insurance, NHS pension contributions and any student loan repayments. A Scotland specific calculator helps avoid incorrect assumptions based on England and Wales tax rates.

Looking for England and Wales?

In England and Wales, the Agenda for Change pay award for 2026/27 is reported as 3.3%. See the England and Wales summary here: NHS pay rise 2026/27 (England and Wales).

1. What Was Agreed in Scotland?

In Scotland, Agenda for Change staff voted to accept a two year pay offer covering 2025/26 and 2026/27. Scottish Government announcements describe the deal as applying to almost 170,000 NHS Agenda for Change staff.

The headline increases described in the agreement are:

  • 2025/26: 4.25% uplift, with an adjustment described as taking it to 4.4% to maintain the inflation margin
  • 2026/27: 3.75% uplift from 1 April 2026

The deal is described as including an inflation guarantee of at least one percentage point above CPI inflation each year.

2. Who Does This Cover?

The agreement applies to NHS Scotland staff governed by Agenda for Change, including:

  • Nurses and midwives
  • Paramedics
  • Allied Health Professionals
  • Porters and support services
  • Other roles on AfC terms and conditions

Doctors and dentists have separate arrangements and are not covered by the AfC deal.

3. When Does the 2026/27 Pay Rise Start?

The 2026/27 uplift in Scotland is due from 1 April 2026. That is the effective date used in the published band tables for 2026/27 pay points and hourly rates.

🔎 Payroll reality check

If you are checking your payslip, compare your gross pay before and after April. Timing can vary by pay cycle, but the agreement sets the effective date as 1 April 2026.

4. NHS Scotland Pay Bands 2026/27: Examples for Bands 2 to 9

Scotland publishes band pay points and an hourly rate alongside annual salary. The table below shows selected, commonly searched points for 2026/27. For exact progression rules and all points, use the official tables and then estimate net pay using the Scotland calculator.

Band Point Annual pay 2026/27 Increase(+3,75%) Hourly rate
Band 1 Point 1 £26,557 £960 £14.15
Band 2 Point 1 £26,696 £965 £14.22
Band 2 Point 2 £28,988 £1,047 £15.44
Band 3 Point 1 £29,103 £1,052 £15.50
Band 3 Point 2 £31,409 £1,135 £16.73
Band 4 Point 1 £31,537 £1,140 £16.80
Band 4 Point 2 £34,303 £1,240 £18.27
Band 5 Point 1 £34,544 £1,249 £18.40
Band 5 Point 2 £36,911 £1,335 £19.66
Band 5 Point 3 £43,039 £1,556 £22.93
Band 6 Point 1 £43,231 £1,563 £23.03
Band 6 Point 2 £45,135 £1,632 £24.04
Band 6 Point 3 £52,679 £1,904 £28.06
Band 7 Point 1 £52,845 £1,910 £28.15
Band 7 Point 2 £54,863 £1,983 £29.23
Band 7 Point 3 £61,466 £2,222 £32.74
Band 8a Point 1 £65,125 £2,353 £34.69
Band 8a Point 2 £70,303 £2,541 £37.45
Band 8b Point 1 £76,888 £2,779 £40.96
Band 8b Point 2 £82,251 £2,973 £43.82
Band 8c Point 1 £90,808 £3,282 £48.38
Band 8c Point 2 £97,338 £3,518 £51.85
Band 8d Point 1 £107,810 £3,897 £57.43
Band 8d Point 2 £112,426 £4,064 £59.89
Band 9 Point 1 £127,521 £4,609 £67.93
Band 9 Point 2 £133,044 £4,808 £70.88

Next step: estimate your monthly net pay using Scottish tax rules: NHS Scotland take home pay.

5. What Usually Changes on Your Payslip After a Pay Uplift?

Even with a fixed percentage uplift, your take home can change differently from your gross pay because deductions can move too. Common items that affect the net result include:

  • Scottish Income Tax, which uses different bands and rates for non savings income
  • National Insurance, which is UK wide but still depends on thresholds
  • NHS pension contributions, which can be tiered
  • Student loan repayments, if you are above the threshold
  • Overtime and enhancements, if your role includes unsocial hours or additional shifts

⚠️ Avoid the wrong calculator

If you live in Scotland, do not use an England and Wales net pay assumption. Use the Scotland calculator here: NHS Scotland take home pay.

6. Internal Links to Other Tools

Your main Scotland specific tool is the NHS Scotland take home calculator: NHS Scotland take home pay.

If you still need conversions for comparisons, these tools are Scotland specific, can be useful for rough planning:

For England & Wales NHS take home estimates: NHS Take Home Pay (England & Wales).

7. Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

What is the NHS Scotland pay rise for 2026/27?

The uplift for 2026/27 under the Scottish two year AfC deal is 3.75% from 1 April 2026.

Who is covered?

Agenda for Change staff in Scotland, including nurses, midwives, paramedics, allied health professionals, porters and other AfC roles.

How do I calculate my NHS Scotland take home pay?

Use: NHS Scotland take home pay. This applies Scottish Income Tax rates and thresholds and includes common deductions like pension.

Why can my take home rise by less than 3.75%?

Deductions can increase too, including Scottish Income Tax, National Insurance, pension contributions and student loan repayments, so net pay changes can differ from the headline gross percentage.

8. Summary

NHS Scotland has a Scotland specific two year Agenda for Change pay deal. For 2026/27, the agreed uplift is 3.75% from 1 April 2026. Because Scotland has different Income Tax bands and rates, the simplest way to understand your new monthly net pay is to calculate it using: NHS Scotland Take Home Pay.