NHS Band 2 salary 2026/27
NHS Band 2 pays £25,272 a year in England from 1 April 2026, about £1,700 a month after tax, National Insurance and pension. That is £12.92 an hour. Scotland pays £26,696 at entry on a 36-hour week.
Band 2 pay points and take-home
| England 2026/27 | Salary | Take-home a month | Take-home a week | Per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single rate | £25,272 | £1,700 | £392 | £12.92 |
Full time on 37.5 hours, NHS Pension member, tax code 1257L, no student loan, before shift pay.
Where a Band 2 salary goes
| Band 2 , each year | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | £25,272 |
| NHS Pension (6.5%) | £1,643 |
| Income Tax | £2,212 |
| National Insurance | £1,016 |
| Take-home | £20,401 |
Jobs on Band 2
Agenda for Change bands the job, not the profession, so very different roles share the same pay. Typical Band 2 roles include:
- Healthcare assistant or support worker (personal care)
- Hospital porter
- Domestic and housekeeping staff
- Catering assistant
- Receptionist and admin assistant (entry roles)
- Phlebotomist (some trusts)
No pay steps, and the minimum wage is catching up
Band 2 is a single rate: there is no automatic rise for experience, only the annual pay award. The only way to earn more in the same job is to move to Band 3. At £12.92 an hour, Band 2 is now very close to the legal minimum. The National Living Wage for over-21s is £12.71 and rises to £13.21 in April 2027, above the current Band 2 rate, so Band 2 will have to go up by at least that much.
Should you be on Band 3?
Since 2021 the national job profiles say Band 2 healthcare support workers do personal care, and Band 3 adds delegated clinical tasks such as observations, blood glucose checks, taking blood and ECGs. Many trusts have re-banded HCAs who regularly did those tasks, often with back pay. If that sounds like your job, talk to your union rep. See healthcare assistant pay for the detail.
Band 2 pay in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
| Nation | Full-time week | Salary range | Take-home a month at entry | Per hour at entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 37.5 hours | £25,272 | £1,700 | £12.92 |
| Scotland | 36 hours | £26,696 to £28,988 | £1,784 | £14.22 |
| Wales | 37.5 hours | £26,300 | £1,757 | £13.45 |
| Northern Ireland | 37.5 hours | £24,852 | £1,673 | £12.71 |
Scotland has its own pay scales and a 36-hour week from April 2026, so its hourly rate is the highest. Northern Ireland figures are 2025/26 rates while its 2026/27 award waits for approval. Scottish take-home uses Scottish Income Tax.
Shifts, London weighting and overtime on Band 2
In England, Band 2 gets time plus 41% for nights (8pm to 6am) and Saturdays, and time plus 83% for Sundays and bank holidays. On a typical ward-style rota of about 8 night or Saturday hours and 4 Sunday hours a week, Band 2 grosses £29,720 and takes home about £1,912 a month. Overtime is paid at time and a half (£19.39 an hour at entry) and double time on bank holidays.
| High Cost Area Supplement | Gross a year | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| Inner London (20%) | £31,066 | £1,985 |
| Outer London (15%) | £30,142 | £1,935 |
| Fringe (5%) | £26,618 | £1,775 |
Part-time Band 2 pay
Pay is pro rata to your contracted hours. On 22.5 hours, Band 2 pays £15,163 a year, about £1,137 a month after deductions. On 30 hours, Band 2 pays £20,218 a year, about £1,419 a month after deductions. The NHS part-time calculator works it out for any hours.
Band 2 or Band 3: what the next band is worth
Band 3 starts at £25,760, £488 above the top of Band 2. Moving from Band 2 to Band 3 entry adds about £27 a month after tax and pension. See NHS Band 3 salary.
Other bands: Band 3, Band 4, Band 5, Band 6, Band 7, Band 8a, Band 8b, Band 8c, Band 8d, Band 9. For every band in one calculator, use the NHS pay calculator.
Common questions
What is the Band 2 NHS salary in 2026/27?
In England, Band 2 pays £25,272 a year full time from 1 April 2026. Scotland pays £26,696 to £28,988.
How much does Band 2 take home a month?
About £1,700 a month at the single rate in England after Income Tax, National Insurance and the NHS Pension. Shift pay and London weighting are extra.
What is the Band 2 hourly rate?
£12.92 an hour at the single rate in England, based on a 37.5-hour week.
Is Band 2 above the minimum wage?
Yes for now. Band 2 works out at about £12.92 an hour in England in 2026/27, against a National Living Wage of £12.71. The National Living Wage rises to £13.21 from April 2027, so Band 2 will need to rise.
Can Band 2 staff be moved to Band 3?
Yes, if the job includes regular clinical tasks such as observations, blood tests or ECGs. Many trusts have re-banded support workers after union campaigns, often with back pay.