NHS Pay Rise 2026/27 — Everything You Need to Know

What Is the NHS Pay Rise for 2026/27?

The NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB) recommended a 3.3% consolidated pay increase for all Agenda for Change staff in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland for the 2026/27 financial year. This was confirmed by Health Secretary Wes Streeting on 12 February 2026.

Scotland negotiated separately and received a 3.75% increase for AfC staff.

Key Points:

• ✅ Effective date: 1 April 2026
• ✅ Consolidated: Permanently added to base salary (not a one-off bonus)
• ✅ Covers: All Agenda for Change staff (Bands 2-9)
• ✅ On time: First pay rise paid on schedule since 2020
• ✅ Applies to: Base pay, which increases enhancements, bank pay, and pension calculations

NHS Pay Rise 2026 — Full Band-by-Band Breakdown

Here's how the 3.3% pay rise affects each band from lowest to highest spine point:

Band	Old Salary (2025/26)	New Salary (2026/27)	Annual Increase	Monthly Gain (Take Home)*
Band 2	£22,816 - £23,511	£23,615 - £24,336	+£799 - £825	+£48 - £50
Band 3	£23,511 - £24,834	£24,336 - £25,674	+£825 - £840	+£50 - £51
Band 4	£25,674 - £28,176	£26,530 - £29,114	+£856 - £938	+£52 - £56
Band 5	£29,066 - £35,307	£30,049 - £36,483	+£983 - £1,176	+£59 - £70
Band 6	£35,307 - £43,151	£36,483 - £44,608	+£1,176 - £1,457	+£70 - £87
Band 7	£43,151 - £51,418	£44,608 - £53,134	+£1,457 - £1,716	+£87 - £102
Band 8a	£51,418 - £58,561	£53,134 - £60,504	+£1,716 - £1,943	+£102 - £116
Band 8b	£60,939 - £71,730	£62,970 - £74,098	+£2,031 - £2,368	+£121 - £141
Band 8c	£74,229 - £86,406	£76,702 - £89,253	+£2,473 - £2,847	+£138 - £159
Band 8d	£90,383 - £104,362	£93,385 - £107,806	+£3,002 - £3,444	+£168 - £192
Band 9	£108,075 - £114,094	£111,653 - £117,975	+£3,578 - £3,881	+£200 - £217

*Monthly take-home gain is approximate after tax, NI, and pension deductions. Individual results vary based on tax code and pension tier.

Will the Pay Rise Cover Inflation?

The 3.3% pay rise is below current inflation levels:

• CPI inflation (Feb 2026): 4.2%
• RPI inflation (Feb 2026): 5.1%
• NHS pay rise: 3.3%
• Real-terms cut: -0.9% (CPI) or -1.8% (RPI)

This means that while your salary increases by 3.3%, the cost of living has risen faster. Your purchasing power has decreased slightly compared to last year.

Historical Context

Year	Pay Award	CPI Inflation	Real Terms Change
2020/21	2.8%	0.9%	+1.9%
2021/22	3.0%	3.1%	-0.1%
2022/23	4.0% + £1,400	9.1%	-5.1%
2023/24	5.0%	7.9%	-2.9%
2024/25	5.5%	2.3%	+3.2%
2025/26	3.8%	2.8%	+1.0%
2026/27	3.3%	4.2%	-0.9%

Pension Tier Warning — Check If Your Pay Rise Costs You Extra

The 3.3% pay rise may push some staff into a higher pension contribution tier, reducing the actual gain.

Pension Tier Boundaries 2026/27

Pensionable Pay	Contribution Rate	Risk Zone
Up to £13,259	5.2%	—
£13,260 - £26,831	6.5%	—
£26,832 - £32,691	8.3%	⚠️ Band 4 top points
£32,692 - £50,060	9.8%	⚠️ Band 5 top points
£50,061 - £63,210	10.7%	⚠️ Band 7 mid-points
£63,211 - £74,225	11.6%	⚠️ Band 8b mid-points
£74,226+	12.5%	⚠️ Band 8c+

Example: If your 2025/26 salary was £32,600 and your 2026/27 salary is £33,676, you cross from the 8.3% tier to the 9.8% tier. Your pension contribution increases by 1.5%, costing an extra £42/month.

Scotland Gets 3.75% — What Does That Mean?

Scotland negotiated a separate pay deal through the Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee (STAC):

• Scotland pay award: 3.75% (vs 3.3% in England)
• Extra gain: ~0.45% more than England
• Effective date: 1 April 2026 (same as England)

Example: Band 5 Scotland vs England

Location	Starting Salary 2026/27	Monthly Take Home
England	£30,049	£1,932
Scotland	£30,184	£1,940
Difference	+£135/year	+£8/month

Note: Scotland has higher income tax rates, which reduces the take-home advantage. The £8/month extra is after Scottish tax deductions.

When Will the Pay Rise Appear in My Pay Packet?

April 2026 payslip — This is the first on-time pay rise implementation since 2020.

Timeline:

• ✅ 12 February 2026: NHSPRB recommendation published
• ✅ Same day: Accepted by Health Secretary Wes Streeting
• ✅ 1 April 2026: Pay rise effective date
• ✅ End of April 2026: First payslip with increased salary

No backpay required — Because this was announced and implemented on time, there's no backdating or lump sum payment. Your April payslip simply shows the new higher salary.

What Does 'Consolidated' Mean?

The 3.3% is a consolidated pay increase, which means:

• ✅ Permanently added to your base salary
• ✅ Counts toward pension calculations
• ✅ Affects future pay increments (your spine point increases compound on the new base)
• ✅ Increases bank shift rates and overtime pay (calculated from new hourly rate)
• ✅ Affects unsocial hours enhancements (30%, 60% calculated on new base pay)

Contrast: A non-consolidated payment would be a one-off bonus that doesn't change your base salary.

NHS Pay Rise 2027/28 — What to Expect

The 2027/28 pay award process is already beginning:

NHSPRB Timeline for 2027/28

• Autumn 2026: NHS Employers submit evidence to NHSPRB
• Winter 2026: Trade unions (RCN, Unison, etc.) submit evidence
• February 2027: NHSPRB report expected
• March 2027: Government decision and announcement
• 1 April 2027: Implementation (if on time)

What Pay Rise Could We Expect?

Based on OBR forecasts and economic projections:

• CPI forecast 2027: 2.0% (OBR central estimate)
• Public sector pay guidance: 2.5%-3.5%
• NHS specific factors: Recruitment/retention pressures, strike action risk
• Likely range: 2.5%-4.0%

Does the Pay Rise Apply to Bank Shifts?

Yes — indirectly. The 3.3% increases your substantive salary, which in turn raises your hourly rate used for calculating bank shifts and enhancements.

Example: Band 5 Bank Shift Rate Change

2025/26:
  Annual salary: £29,066
  Hourly rate: £29,066 ÷ 52 ÷ 37.5 = £14.91/hour
  Sunday shift rate: £14.91 × 1.60 = £23.86/hour

2026/27:
  Annual salary: £30,049
  Hourly rate: £30,049 ÷ 52 ÷ 37.5 = £15.41/hour
  Sunday shift rate: £15.41 × 1.60 = £24.66/hour

Gain: +£0.50/hour base rate, +£0.80/hour Sunday rate
            

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