Article

Pay scales for 2026/27

NHS terms and conditions annual, hourly and HCAS pay scales (also known as pay bands or pay rates or payscales) for 2026/27, effective from 1 April.

12 February 2026

Following government's announcement on the 2026/27 pay award, the annual and hourly rates have been updated and can be accessed below inclusive of Higher Cost Area Supplements (HCAS) rates.

Please note that these rates are effective from 1 April 2026. The NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook will be updated on 1 April 2026 to reflect the new rates.

Annual pay scales

Band 1*	£25,272
	Entry Step Point	Years until eligible for pay progression	Top step point
Band 2	£25,272	2	£25,272
Band 3	£25,760	2	£27,476
Band 4	£28,392	3	£31,157
	Entry Step Point	Years until eligible for pay progression	Intermediate step point	Years until eligible for pay progression	Top step point
Band 5	£32,073	2	£34,592	2	£39,043
Band 6	£39,959	2	£42,170	3	£48,117
Band 7	£49,387	2	£51,932	3	£56,515
Band 8a	£57,528	2	£60,417	3	£64,750
Band 8b	£66,582	2	£70,896	3	£77,368
Band 8c	£79,504	2	£84,346	3	£91,609
Band 8d	£94,356	2	£100,140	3	£108,814
Band 9	£112,782	2	£119,583	3	£129,783

* Band 1 is closed to new entrants

Hourly rates

Band 1*	£12.92
	Entry Step Point	Years until eligible for pay progression	Top step point
Band 2	£12.92	2	£12.92
Band 3	£13.17	2	£14.05
Band 4	£14.52	3	£15.93
	Entry Step Point	Years until eligible for pay progression	Intermediate step point	Years until eligible for pay progression	Top step point
Band 5	£16.40	2	£17.69	2	£19.97
Band 6	£20.44	2	£21.57	3	£24.61
Band 7	£25.26	2	£26.56	3	£28.90
Band 8a	£ 29.42	2	£30.90	3	£33.11
Band 8b	£34.05	2	£36.26	3	£39.57
Band 8c	£40.66	2	£43.14	3	£46.85
Band 8d	£48.26	2	£51.21	3	£55,65
Band 9	£57.68	2	£61.16	3	£66.37

* 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	£31,066	£15.89
2	Entry	£31,066	£15.89
2	Top	£31,066	£15.89
3	Entry	£31,554	£16.14
3	Top	£33,270	£17.01
4	Entry	£34,186	£17.48
4	Top	£37,389	£19.12
5	Entry	£38,488	£19.68
5	Mid	£41,511	£21.23
5	Top	£46,852	£23.96
6	Entry	£47,951	£24.52
6	Mid	£50,604	£25.88
6	Top	£56,863	£29.08
7	Entry	£58,133	£29.73
7	Mid	£60,678	£31.03
7	Top	£65,261	£33.38
8a	Entry	£66,274	£33.89
8a	Mid	£69,163	£35.37
8a	Top	£73,496	£37.59
8b	Entry	£75,328	£38.52
8b	Mid	£79,642	£40.73
8b	Top	£86,114	£44.04
8c	Entry	£88,250	£45.13
8c	Mid	£93,092	£47.61
8c	Top	£100,355	£51.32
8d	Entry	£103,102	£52.73
8d	Mid	£108,886	£55.69
8d	Top	£117,560	£60.12
9	Entry	£121,528	£62.15
9	Mid	£128,329	£65.63
9	Top	£138,529	£70.85

* Band 1 is closed to new entrants

Minimum and maximum HCAS payment figures:

20 per cent of basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £5,794 and a maximum payment of £8,746

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	£30,142	£15.42
2	Entry	£30,142	£15.42
2	Top	£30,142	£15.42
3	Entry	£30,630	£15.66
3	Top	£32,346	£16.54
4	Entry	£33,262	£17.01
4	Top	£36,027	£18.42
5	Entry	£36,943	£18.89
5	Mid	£39,781	£20.34
5	Top	£44,900	£22.96
6	Entry	£45,953	£23.50
6	Mid	£48,307	£24.70
6	Top	£54,254	£27.75
7	Entry	£55,524	£28.40
7	Mid	£58,069	£29.70
7	Top	£62,652	£32.04
8a	Entry	£63,665	£32.56
8a	Mid	£66,554	£34.04
8a	Top	£70,887	£36.25
8b	Entry	£72,719	£37.19
8b	Mid	£77,033	£39.40
8b	Top	£83,505	£42.71
8c	Entry	£85,641	£43.80
8c	Mid	£90,483	£46.27
8c	Top	£97,746	£49.99
8d	Entry	£100,493	£51.39
8d	Mid	£106,277	£54.35
8d	Top	£114,951	£58.79
9	Entry	£118,919	£60.82
9	Mid	£125,720	£64.30
9	Top	£135,920	£69.51

* Band 1 is closed to new entrants

Minimum and maximum HCAS payment figures:

15 per cent of basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £4,870 and a maximum payment of £6,137

HCAS rates (fringe)

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	£26,618	£13.61
2	Entry	£26,618	£13.61
2	Top	£26,618	£13.61
3	Entry	£27,106	£13.86
3	Top	£28,850	£14.75
4	Entry	£29,812	£15.25
4	Top	£32,715	£16.73
5	Entry	£33,677	£17.22
5	Mid	£36,322	£18.58
5	Top	£40,996	£20.97
6	Entry	£41,957	£21.46
6	Mid	£44,279	£22.64
6	Top	£50,387	£25.77
7	Entry	£51,657	£26.42
7	Mid	£54,202	£27.72
7	Top	£58,785	£30.06
8a	Entry	£59,798	£30.58
8a	Mid	£62,687	£32.06
8a	Top	£67,020	£34.28
8b	Entry	£68,852	£35.21
8b	Mid	£73,166	£37.42
8b	Top	£79,638	£40.73
8c	Entry	£81,774	£41.82
8c	Mid	£86,616	£44.30
8c	Top	£93,879	£48.01
8d	Entry	£96,626	£49.42
8d	Mid	£102,410	£52.37
8d	Top	£111,084	£56.81
9	Entry	£115,052	£58.84
9	Mid	£121,853	£62.32
9	Top	£132,053	£67.53