NHS hourly rates 2026/27: every band, with nights, weekends and overtime
The short answer: in England from April 2026, NHS basic hourly rates run from £12.92 at Band 2 to £66.37 at the top of Band 9. A Band 3 starts on £13.17, and a newly qualified Band 5 on £16.40. Nights, weekends and bank holidays are paid on top, and Bands 2 and 3 get bigger enhancements than everyone else.
Hourly rates for every band, 2026/27
These are the England rates from 1 April 2026, for a 37.5-hour week. The night and Saturday column also covers weekday hours between 8pm and 6am.
| Band and step | Salary | Basic | Night or Saturday | Sunday or bank holiday | Overtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £25,272 | £12.92 | £18.22 | £23.64 | £19.38 |
| Band 3 entry | £25,760 | £13.17 | £17.78 | £22.26 | £19.76 |
| Band 3 top | £27,476 | £14.05 | £18.97 | £23.74 | £21.08 |
| Band 4 entry | £28,392 | £14.52 | £18.88 | £23.23 | £21.78 |
| Band 4 top | £31,157 | £15.93 | £20.71 | £25.49 | £23.90 |
| Band 5 entry | £32,073 | £16.40 | £21.32 | £26.24 | £24.60 |
| Band 5 intermediate | £34,592 | £17.69 | £23.00 | £28.30 | £26.54 |
| Band 5 top | £39,043 | £19.97 | £25.96 | £31.95 | £29.96 |
| Band 6 entry | £39,959 | £20.44 | £26.57 | £32.70 | £30.66 |
| Band 6 intermediate | £42,170 | £21.57 | £28.04 | £34.51 | £32.36 |
| Band 6 top | £48,117 | £24.61 | £31.99 | £39.38 | £36.92 |
| Band 7 entry | £49,387 | £25.26 | £32.84 | £40.42 | £37.89 |
| Band 7 intermediate | £51,932 | £26.56 | £34.53 | £42.50 | £39.84 |
| Band 7 top | £56,515 | £28.90 | £37.57 | £46.24 | £43.35 |
| Band 8a entry | £57,528 | £29.42 | £38.25 | £47.07 | – |
| Band 8a intermediate | £60,417 | £30.90 | £40.17 | £49.44 | – |
| Band 8a top | £64,750 | £33.11 | £43.04 | £52.98 | – |
| Band 8b entry | £66,582 | £34.05 | £44.27 | £54.48 | – |
| Band 8b intermediate | £70,896 | £36.26 | £47.14 | £58.02 | – |
| Band 8b top | £77,368 | £39.57 | £51.44 | £63.31 | – |
| Band 8c entry | £79,504 | £40.66 | £52.86 | £65.06 | – |
| Band 8c intermediate | £84,346 | £43.14 | £56.08 | £69.02 | – |
| Band 8c top | £91,609 | £46.85 | £60.91 | £74.96 | – |
| Band 8d entry | £94,356 | £48.26 | £62.74 | £77.22 | – |
| Band 8d intermediate | £100,140 | £51.21 | £66.57 | £81.94 | – |
| Band 8d top | £108,814 | £55.65 | £72.35 | £89.04 | – |
| Band 9 entry | £112,782 | £57.68 | £74.98 | £92.29 | – |
| Band 9 intermediate | £119,583 | £61.16 | £79.51 | £97.86 | – |
| Band 9 top | £129,783 | £66.37 | £86.28 | £106.19 | – |
Overtime is time and a half for Bands 2 to 7, or double time on a public holiday. Bands 8 and 9 have no national right to overtime pay, though some employers pay it locally. You get either the unsocial hours rate or overtime for any hour, not both.
Basic and Sunday rates side by side
Because Bands 2 and 3 get higher percentages, a Sunday hour at Band 2 pays more than a Sunday hour at Band 4:
| Band | Night or Saturday | Sunday or bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | Time plus 41% | Time plus 83% |
| Band 3 | Time plus 35% | Time plus 69% |
| Bands 4 to 9 | Time plus 30% | Time plus 60% |
How the hourly rate is worked out
NHS Employers divides each yearly salary by 37.5 hours and by 52.143 weeks, the average number of weeks in a year. So Band 2: £25,272 ÷ 37.5 ÷ 52.143 = £12.92. Your payslip may show slightly different figures for a part month, because payroll works out pay by the day.
Band 2 is now a single rate, so everyone on it gets the same £12.92. That’s £0.21 above the National Living Wage of £12.71, which rises to £13.21 in April 2027, so Band 2 will need to rise by then to stay above it.
Part-time hours
Part-time staff get the same hourly rate as full-time staff on the same band and step. Your salary is simply worked out pro rata:
| Band and step | 15 hours | 22.5 hours | 30 hours | 37.5 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 entry | £10,109 | £15,163 | £20,218 | £25,272 |
| Band 3 entry | £10,304 | £15,456 | £20,608 | £25,760 |
| Band 4 entry | £11,357 | £17,035 | £22,714 | £28,392 |
| Band 5 entry | £12,829 | £19,244 | £25,658 | £32,073 |
| Band 6 entry | £15,984 | £23,975 | £31,967 | £39,959 |
| Band 7 entry | £19,755 | £29,632 | £39,510 | £49,387 |
If you work extra hours, you’re paid plain time until you reach 37.5 hours in the week, then overtime rates after that. Those extra plain hours count towards your NHS Pension. The NHS part-time pay calculator shows your take-home pay for any hours.
Bank shifts
If you pick up bank shifts, your hourly rate is set by your trust’s bank, not by Agenda for Change directly. Common approaches are paying the bottom of the band for the role, paying your substantive step, or paying a flat rate. Most banks add holiday pay on top, as a percentage of what you earn on each shift. Some trusts pay enhancements for nights and weekends on bank shifts too, and some pay a flat premium instead. Our guide to NHS overtime and bank shifts compares them.
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
The rates above are for England. Wales pays slightly more at every point, Scotland has its own higher scale and a 36-hour week from April 2026, and Northern Ireland sets its own rates. See NHS Wales pay, NHS Scotland pay and HSC Northern Ireland pay.
For nights in particular, read how much extra the NHS pays for night shifts, and for how quickly your rate rises, NHS pay progression.
Rates are NHS Employers’ Agenda for Change pay points for England from 1 April 2026, before tax. Local agreements can differ.
Common questions
What is the NHS Band 2 hourly rate for 2026/27?
£12.92 an hour basic in England from 1 April 2026, based on a 37.5-hour week. Weekday nights and Saturdays pay £18.22 an hour, and Sundays and bank holidays £23.64.
What is the NHS Band 3 hourly rate?
£13.17 an hour on the entry step and £14.05 at the top, which you reach after two years. Nights and Saturdays are paid at time plus 35%, and Sundays and bank holidays at time plus 69%.
What is the Band 5 hourly rate?
£16.40 an hour on the entry step, rising to £19.97 at the top of the band after four years. Hours on weekday nights or Saturdays pay £21.32 on the entry step.
How is the NHS hourly rate worked out?
Your yearly salary is divided by 37.5 hours a week and by 52.143 weeks in a year. NHS Employers publishes the hourly rate alongside each annual salary.
Do NHS bank staff get the same hourly rate?
Bank rates are set by each trust. Many pay the bottom of the band for the role, some pay the step you would be on as a permanent employee, and most add holiday pay on top. Check your trust’s bank rate card.