The NHS Band 5 salary, NHS Band 6 salary and NHS Band 7 salary for 2026/27 in England are £32,073–£39,043, £39,959–£48,117 and £49,387–£56,515 respectively. These figures form part of the wider Agenda for Change pay structure, which also covers Bands 2–4 and Bands 8a–9. The 2026/27 rates are effective from 1 April 2026 and apply across many NHS occupations, including nursing, allied health professions, healthcare science, administration and other roles covered by Agenda for Change.
NHS Agenda for Change Pay Bands 2026/27
The table below summarises the basic annual pay scales for England published by NHS Employers for 2026/27.
| Band | 2026/27 basic annual pay |
|---|---|
| Band 2 | £25,272 |
| Band 3 | £25,760–£27,476 |
| Band 4 | £28,392–£31,157 |
| Band 5 | £32,073–£39,043 |
| Band 6 | £39,959–£48,117 |
| Band 7 | £49,387–£56,515 |
| Band 8a | £57,528–£64,750 |
| Band 8b | £66,582–£77,368 |
| Band 8c | £79,504–£91,609 |
| Band 8d | £94,356–£108,814 |
| Band 9 | £112,782–£129,783 |
Band 1 is closed to new entrants. Band 2 has a single basic annual salary point in the published 2026/27 scale, while Bands 3 and 4 have entry and top points. Bands 5–9 have entry, intermediate and top step points.
These are basic England rates. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own current pay arrangements, so readers working outside England should check the relevant devolved NHS pay circular rather than assuming the England figures apply.
How Agenda for Change Works
Agenda for Change is the national pay framework used for most NHS staff. A job is placed into a band according to the responsibilities, knowledge, skills, effort and other demands of the role through the NHS Job Evaluation Scheme.
This means the band is attached primarily to the job, not simply to a person’s years of experience or degree. Two people with the same qualification can therefore be employed at different bands if their posts carry different levels of responsibility.
The structure contains nine main bands, with Band 8 divided into 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d. In practical terms:
- Bands 2–4 include many support, administrative and technical roles.
- Band 5 is a common entry point for registered graduate clinical professions.
- Band 6 often represents a more experienced, specialist or supervisory level.
- Band 7 commonly involves advanced specialist, team-lead or managerial responsibility.
- Bands 8a–8d cover progressively senior clinical, scientific, operational and management positions.
- Band 9 is used for some of the most senior Agenda for Change roles.
Not every occupation follows exactly the same career pathway. A Band 6 biomedical scientist, Band 6 physiotherapist and Band 6 operational manager may have very different day-to-day work even though they share the same basic pay scale.
NHS Band 5 Salary in 2026/27
The NHS Band 5 salary in England is:
- Entry: £32,073
- Intermediate: £34,592
- Top: £39,043
According to the NHS Employers 2026/27 scale, staff are normally eligible to move from the entry point after two years and from the intermediate point after a further two years, subject to the applicable pay progression arrangements.
Band 5 is common in graduate healthcare roles, including many newly registered nurses, allied health professionals and healthcare scientists. It is also used for many non-clinical posts where the evaluated responsibilities fit the band.
A Band 5 salary should not be interpreted as a fixed salary for a profession. The same profession may have Band 5, Band 6, Band 7 and higher posts depending on scope and seniority.
NHS Band 6 Salary in 2026/27
The NHS Band 6 salary in England is:
- Entry: £39,959
- Intermediate: £42,170
- Top: £48,117
The published scale shows two years until eligibility for the intermediate point and a further three years until eligibility for the top point.
Band 6 commonly appears in specialist, senior practitioner, experienced scientific, supervisory and team-lead roles. The exact responsibilities vary widely by profession and employer.
For biomedical scientists specifically, moving from Band 5 to Band 6 may involve greater technical autonomy, specialist competence, additional responsibilities, training duties or evidence of further professional development. Readers interested in the laboratory-specific pathway should see NHS band 5 vs band 6 biomedical scientist rather than using this broad pay page as a substitute for role-specific guidance.
NHS Band 7 Salary in 2026/27
The NHS Band 7 salary in England is:
- Entry: £49,387
- Intermediate: £51,932
- Top: £56,515
The scale shows two years before eligibility for the intermediate step and a further three years before the top step.
Band 7 roles often carry higher-level specialist, leadership, service, training, quality or management responsibilities. However, a Band 7 job in one NHS profession should not be assumed to have the same duties as a Band 7 job in another.
For biomedical science readers, the dedicated biomedical scientist salary uk article is the better place to compare laboratory disciplines, registration requirements and biomedical-scientist career progression.
Bands 8a to 9
Agenda for Change becomes increasingly senior through Bands 8a–8d and Band 9.
The 2026/27 ranges are:
- Band 8a: £57,528–£64,750
- Band 8b: £66,582–£77,368
- Band 8c: £79,504–£91,609
- Band 8d: £94,356–£108,814
- Band 9: £112,782–£129,783
These bands can include consultant-level healthcare scientists, senior service managers, heads of department, senior operational leaders and other roles whose job-evaluation scores meet the relevant band.
A higher band is not simply a reward for staying in the NHS for a certain number of years. Progression to a higher band normally requires obtaining a role that has been evaluated at that higher level.
Pay Steps and Progression Within a Band
It is important to distinguish pay-step progression within a band from promotion to another band.
For example, a Band 6 employee can progress through the Band 6 pay steps while remaining in the same substantive role. Moving from Band 6 to Band 7 is different: that usually means obtaining a Band 7 post or having a post formally evaluated at that level.
NHS Employers publishes the years until eligibility for progression at each step. Eligibility does not mean that every employee automatically moves on the same date regardless of local employment circumstances. Employers apply the Agenda for Change terms and their pay-progression processes.
When comparing jobs, look at the actual advertised band, employment status, hours and any local additions rather than simply comparing the headline maximum salary.
London and High-Cost-Area Supplements
Some NHS staff working in designated high-cost areas receive a High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) on top of basic pay. NHS Employers publishes separate inner London, outer London and fringe rates.
This means two employees in the same Agenda for Change band can have different total annual pay depending on work location.
HCAS should not be confused with a different national pay band. A Band 6 post remains Band 6; the supplement adjusts pay because of the designated location.
If you are comparing an NHS role in London with one elsewhere in England, use the current HCAS-inclusive table for the relevant area rather than adding an old percentage from a previous year.
Which NHS Professions Use These Pay Bands?
Agenda for Change applies across a wide range of NHS roles rather than being limited to a single profession. Examples include many posts in:
- nursing
- physiotherapy
- radiography
- occupational therapy
- healthcare science
- biomedical science
- pharmacy support and some pharmacy roles
- administration
- informatics
- estates and facilities
- operational and service management
There are exceptions. Doctors, dentists and some very senior managers have different contractual pay arrangements, so Agenda for Change should not be used as a universal NHS salary table for every worker.
What Biomedical Scientists Should Read Next
This page is intentionally broad because people searching NHS Band 5 salary, NHS Band 6 salary or NHS Band 7 salary may work in many different professions.
If you are specifically considering a biomedical science career, read biomedical scientist salary uk for role-specific information on biomedical scientist pay, and NHS band 5 vs band 6 biomedical scientist for the difference in laboratory responsibility and progression.
Those pages answer a different search question from this one: this article explains the national pay framework, while the biomedical-science articles explain how particular laboratory jobs fit within it.
Key Points
- The 2026/27 England pay scales are effective from 1 April 2026.
- Band 5 is £32,073–£39,043.
- Band 6 is £39,959–£48,117.
- Band 7 is £49,387–£56,515.
- Agenda for Change covers many NHS professions, not just biomedical science.
- Pay steps within a band are different from promotion to a higher band.
- High-cost-area supplements can change total pay in eligible locations.
- Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland publish their own current arrangements.
References
- NHS Employers. Pay scales for 2026/27. https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/pay-scales-202627
- NHS Employers. NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook. https://www.nhsemployers.org/publications/tchandbook
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your results.
Biomedical Scientist Salary UK: NHS Pay Bands
NHS Band 5 vs Band 6 Biomedical Scientist
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NHS Band 5 salary in 2026/27?
In England, the 2026/27 Band 5 basic annual pay scale is £32,073 at entry, £34,592 at the intermediate step and £39,043 at the top step. Different arrangements apply in the devolved NHS systems.
What is the NHS Band 6 salary in 2026/27?
In England, Band 6 basic annual pay is £39,959 at entry, £42,170 at the intermediate step and £48,117 at the top step for 2026/27.
What is the NHS Band 7 salary in 2026/27?
In England, Band 7 basic annual pay is £49,387 at entry, £51,932 at the intermediate step and £56,515 at the top step for 2026/27.
Do NHS staff automatically move from Band 5 to Band 6?
No. Pay-step progression within Band 5 is different from promotion to Band 6. Moving to Band 6 usually requires obtaining a post evaluated at Band 6 or a formal change in the job’s evaluated responsibilities.
Are NHS pay bands the same in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
No. The figures on this page are the 2026/27 Agenda for Change basic pay scales for England. The devolved NHS systems publish their own current pay circulars and rates.
Does London weighting increase an NHS Band 6 or Band 7 salary?
Eligible posts in designated high-cost areas can receive a High Cost Area Supplement in addition to basic pay. The amount depends on whether the workplace falls within the relevant inner, outer or fringe area and on the current NHS Employers scale.