NHS Pay Bands 2026/27 — Complete Salary Guide

NHS pay bands are the framework used to set salaries for most non-medical staff under the Agenda for Change (AfC) system. There are nine bands, numbered 2 to 9, with Band 8 split into four sub-bands (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d). Each band corresponds to a level of responsibility, skill, and qualification.

Within each band, there are multiple pay steps (sometimes called spine points). You typically move up one step each year, provided you meet the required competencies — this is called incremental progression. Once you reach the top of your band, your pay only changes when a new pay award is announced.

The band your role falls into is determined by a job evaluation process, not by your employer or manager alone. Every NHS role is scored against a set of factors including knowledge, responsibility, effort, and working conditions. This ensures consistency across the NHS — a Band 5 nurse in London should be on the same pay scale as one in Manchester (though London weighting may apply on top).