Article

Pay scales for 2025/26

NHS terms and conditions annual, hourly and HCAS pay scales (also known as pay bands or pay rates or payscales) for 2025/26

22 May 2025

Following government's announcement on the 2025/26 pay award, the annual and hourly rates have been updated and can be accessed below inclusive of Higher Cost Area Supplements (HCAS) rates.

Annual pay scales

Band 1*	£24,465
	Entry Step Point	Years until eligible for pay progression	Top step point
Band 2	£24,465	2	£24,465
Band 3	£24,937	2	£26,598
Band 4	£27,485	3	£30,162
	Entry Step Point	Years until eligible for pay progression	Intermediate step point	Years until eligible for pay progression	Top step point
Band 5	£31,049	2	£33,487	2	£37,796
Band 6	£38,682	2	£40,823	3	£46,580
Band 7	£47,810	2	£50,273	3	£54,710
Band 8a	£55,690	2	£58,487	3	£62,682
Band 8b	£64,455	2	£68,631	3	£74,896
Band 8c	£76,965	2	£81,652	3	£88,682
Band 8d	£91,342	2	£96,941	3	£105,337
Band 9	£109,179	2	£115,763	3	£125,637

* Band 1 is closed to new entrants

Hourly rates

Band 1*	£12.51
	Entry Step Point	Years until eligible for pay progression	Top step point
Band 2	£12.51	2	£12.51
Band 3	£12.75	2	£13.60
Band 4	£14.06	3	£15.43
	Entry Step Point	Years until eligible for pay progression	Intermediate step point	Years until eligible for pay progression	Top step point
Band 5	£15.88	2	£17.13	2	£19.33
Band 6	£19.78	2	£20.88	3	£23.82
Band 7	£24.45	2	£25.71	3	£27.98
Band 8a	£28.48	2	£29.91	3	£32.06
Band 8b	£32.96	2	£35.10	3	£38.30
Band 8c	£39.36	2	£41.76	3	£45.35
Band 8d	£46.71	2	£49.58	3	£53.87
Band 9	£55.84	2	£59.20	3	£64.25

* Band 1 is closed to new entrants

HCAS rates (inner)

Annual rate inclusive of HCAS is the higher value of the two. The hourly rate inclusive of HCAS is stated in the hourly value column

Band	Pay step	Annual value	Hourly value
1*	Entry	£30,074	£15.38
2	Entry	£30,074	£15.38
2	Top	£30,074	£15.38
3	Entry	£30,546	£15.62
3	Top	£32,207	£16.47
4	Entry	£33,094	£16.92
4	Top	£36,195	£18.51
5	Entry	£37,259	£19.05
5	Mid	£40,185	£20.55
5	Top	£45,356	£23.20
6	Entry	£46,419	£23.74
6	Mid	£48,988	£25.05
6	Top	£55,046	£28.15
7	Entry	£56,276	£28.78
7	Mid	£58,739	£30.04
7	Top	£63,176	£32.31
8a	Entry	£64,156	£32.81
8a	Mid	£66,953	£34.24
8a	Top	£71,148	£36.39
8b	Entry	£72,921	£37.29
8b	Mid	£77,097	£39.43
8b	Top	£83,362	£42.63
8c	Entry	£85,431	£43.69
8c	Mid	£90,118	£46.09
8c	Top	£97,148	£49.68
8d	Entry	£99,808	£51.04
8d	Mid	£105,407	£53.91
8d	Top	£113,803	£58.20
9	Entry	£117,645	£60.17
9	Mid	£124,229	£63.53
9	Top	£134,103	£68.58

* Band 1 is closed to new entrants

HCAS rates (outer)

Annual rate inclusive of HCAS is the higher value of the two. The hourly rate inclusive of HCAS is stated in hourly value column

Band	Pay step	Annual value	Hourly value
1*	Entry	£29,179	£14.92
2	Entry	£29,179	£14.92
2	Top	£29,179	£14.92
3	Entry	£29,651	£15.16
3	Top	£31,312	£16.01
4	Entry	£32,199	£16.47
4	Top	£34,876	£17.84
5	Entry	£35,763	£18.29
5	Mid	£38,511	£19.70
5	Top	£43,466	£22.23
6	Entry	£44,485	£22.75
6	Mid	£46,764	£23.92
6	Top	£52,521	£26.86
7	Entry	£53,751	£27.49
7	Mid	£56,214	£28.75
7	Top	£60,651	£31.02
8a	Entry	£61,631	£31.52
8a	Mid	£64,428	£32.95
8a	Top	£68,623	£35.09
8b	Entry	£70,396	£36.00
8b	Mid	£74,572	£38.14
8b	Top	£80,837	£41.34
8c	Entry	£82,906	£42.40
8c	Mid	£87,593	£44.80
8c	Top	£94,623	£48.39
8d	Entry	£97,283	£49.75
8d	Mid	£102,882	£52.62
8d	Top	£111,278	£56.91
9	Entry	£115,120	£58.87
9	Mid	£121,704	£62.24
9	Top	£131,578	£67.29

* Band 1 is closed to new entrants

HCAS rates (fringe)

Annual rate inclusive of HCAS is the higher value of the two. The hourly rate inclusive of HCAS is stated in the hourly value column

Band	Pay step	Annual value	Hourly value
1*	Entry	£25,768	£13.18
2	Entry	£25,768	£13.18
2	Top	£25,768	£13.18
3	Entry	£26,240	£13.42
3	Top	£27,928	£14.28
4	Entry	£28,860	£14.76
4	Top	£31,671	£16.20
5	Entry	£32,602	£16.67
5	Mid	£35,162	£17.98
5	Top	£39,686	£20.30
6	Entry	£40,617	£20.77
6	Mid	£42,865	£21.92
6	Top	£48,778	£24.95
7	Entry	£50,008	£25.57
7	Mid	£52,471	£26.83
7	Top	£56,908	£29.10
8a	Entry	£57,888	£29.60
8a	Mid	£60,685	£31.04
8a	Top	£64,880	£33.18
8b	Entry	£66,653	£34.09
8b	Mid	£70,829	£36.22
8b	Top	£77,094	£39.43
8c	Entry	£79,163	£40.49
8c	Mid	£83,850	£42.88
8c	Top	£90,880	£46.48
8d	Entry	£93,540	£47.84
8d	Mid	£99,139	£50.70
8d	Top	£107,535	£55.00
9	Entry	£111,377	£56.96
9	Mid	£117,961	£60.33
9	Top	£127,835	£65.38

* Band 1 is closed to new entrants

Pay scales poster

Download and print a poster version of the 2025/26 pay scales.

Pay scales for 2025/26

Pay scales poster

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