NHS Band 3 salary 2026/27
NHS Band 3 pays £25,760 to £27,476 a year in England from 1 April 2026, about £1,727 a month after tax, National Insurance and pension at entry and £1,823 at the top. That is £13.17 an hour rising to £14.05. Scotland pays £29,103 at entry on a 36-hour week.
Band 3 pay points and take-home
| England 2026/27 | Salary | Take-home a month | Take-home a week | Per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | £25,760 | £1,727 | £399 | £13.17 |
| After 2 years | £27,476 | £1,823 | £421 | £14.05 |
Full time on 37.5 hours, NHS Pension member, tax code 1257L, no student loan, before shift pay. You move up a step after 2 years in the band, as long as you meet the usual appraisal standards.
Where a Band 3 salary goes
| Band 3 entry, each year | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | £25,760 |
| NHS Pension (6.5%) | £1,674 |
| Income Tax | £2,303 |
| National Insurance | £1,055 |
| Take-home | £20,727 |
Jobs on Band 3
Agenda for Change bands the job, not the profession, so very different roles share the same pay. Typical Band 3 roles include:
- Senior healthcare assistant (clinical duties)
- Emergency care assistant
- Maternity support worker
- Phlebotomist
- Medical secretary or ward clerk (some trusts)
- Pharmacy assistant
- 999 call handler (some services)
Band 3 shift pay is lower than Band 2
Band 3 gets time plus 35% for nights and Saturdays and plus 69% for Sundays, against plus 41% and plus 83% on Band 2. So someone moving from Band 2 to Band 3 entry on the same rota can see little or no rise at first: Band 2 on a typical rota takes home about £1,912 a month, Band 3 entry about £1,904. Many re-banding agreements keep Band 2 enhancement rates until you reach the top of Band 3, so ask about pay protection.
The top of Band 3 comes after two years and is worth about £96 a month more after deductions.
Band 3 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 | £25,760 to £27,476 | £1,727 | £13.17 |
| Scotland | 36 hours | £29,103 to £31,409 | £1,907 | £15.50 |
| Wales | 37.5 hours | £26,813 to £27,890 | £1,786 | £13.71 |
| Northern Ireland | 37.5 hours | £24,937 to £26,598 | £1,678 | £12.75 |
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 3
In England, Band 3 gets time plus 35% for nights (8pm to 6am) and Saturdays, and time plus 69% 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 3 entry grosses £29,579 and takes home about £1,904 a month. Overtime is paid at time and a half (£19.76 an hour at entry) and double time on bank holidays.
| High Cost Area Supplement | Gross a year | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| Inner London (20%) | £31,554 | £2,012 |
| Outer London (15%) | £30,630 | £1,962 |
| Fringe (5%) | £27,106 | £1,802 |
Part-time Band 3 pay
Pay is pro rata to your contracted hours. On 22.5 hours, Band 3 entry pays £15,456 a year, about £1,154 a month after deductions. On 30 hours, Band 3 entry pays £20,608 a year, about £1,440 a month after deductions. The NHS part-time calculator works it out for any hours.
Band 3 or Band 4: what the next band is worth
Band 4 starts at £28,392, £916 above the top of Band 3. Moving from Band 3 entry to Band 4 entry adds about £147 a month after tax and pension, but from the top of Band 3 it adds only £51 a month at first. The bigger gain is the Band 4 ceiling of £31,157. See NHS Band 4 salary.
Other bands: Band 2, 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 3 NHS salary in 2026/27?
In England, Band 3 pays £25,760 to £27,476 a year full time from 1 April 2026. Scotland pays £29,103 to £31,409.
How much does Band 3 take home a month?
About £1,727 a month at entry in England after Income Tax, National Insurance and the NHS Pension, rising to £1,823 at the top of the band. Shift pay and London weighting are extra.
What is the Band 3 hourly rate?
£13.17 an hour at entry in England, based on a 37.5-hour week, and £14.05 at the top.
How long does it take to reach the top of Band 3?
2 years in England. Moving up depends on meeting the normal appraisal standards.
What is the difference between Band 2 and Band 3?
Band 2 support workers do personal care. Band 3 adds delegated clinical tasks such as observations, blood tests and ECGs, and Band 3 admin roles carry more responsibility.