NHS Staff
Pay Scales 2026/27
Rules last checked
Basic pay, full time, 2026/27
Annual basic pay for a 37.5-hour week from 1 April 2026. You move up a step after the years shown. For your own take-home, use the Pay Calculator for Wales. Band 1† is closed to new entrants.
| Band | Step | Basic pay against the top of band 9 | Annual basic | Years to the next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 closed to new entrants | Every step | £26,300 | ||
| Band 2 | Every step | £26,300 | ||
| Band 3 | Entry | £26,300 | 2 years to the next step | |
| Top | £27,890 | |||
| Band 4 | Entry | £28,819 | 3 years to the next step | |
| Top | £31,626 | |||
| Band 5 | Entry | £32,557 | 2 years to the next step | |
| Intermediate | £35,114 | 2 years to the next step | ||
| Top | £39,631 | |||
| Band 6 | Entry | £40,559 | 2 years to the next step | |
| Intermediate | £42,805 | 3 years to the next step | ||
| Top | £48,841 | |||
| Band 7 | Entry | £50,129 | 2 years to the next step | |
| Intermediate | £52,712 | 3 years to the next step | ||
| Top | £57,365 | |||
| Band 8a | Entry | £58,379 | 2 years to the next step | |
| Intermediate | £61,317 | 3 years to the next step | ||
| Top | £65,723 | |||
| Band 8b | Entry | £67,583 | 2 years to the next step | |
| Intermediate | £71,952 | 3 years to the next step | ||
| Top | £78,530 | |||
| Band 8c | Entry | £80,698 | 2 years to the next step | |
| Intermediate | £85,611 | 3 years to the next step | ||
| Top | £92,984 | |||
| Band 8d | Entry | £95,773 | 2 years to the next step | |
| Intermediate | £101,643 | 3 years to the next step | ||
| Top | £110,448 | |||
| Band 9 | Entry | £114,475 | 2 years to the next step | |
| Intermediate | £121,377 | 3 years to the next step | ||
| Top | £131,732 |
Welsh Government, Pay Letter AfC(W) 02/2026, Annex 1.
What is paid on top of basic
Unsocial hours
A percentage of each hour's basic pay, plus any long-term recruitment and retention premium, added on top. Saturdays and weeknights: all day Saturday, and weekdays after 8pm and before 6am. Sundays and public holidays: all day Sunday and on public holidays. The Pay Calculator turns these into pounds.
| Band | Saturdays and weeknightson top of basic pay | Sundays and public holidayson top of basic pay |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | +47% | +94% |
| Band 2 | +41% | +83% |
| Band 3 | +35% | +69% |
| Bands 4 to 9 | +30% | +60% |
NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook, Section 2 (Wales), Table 2(a).
Overtime
Time and a half above 37.5 hours a week, and double time on a general public holiday. Part-time staff are paid their normal rate up to 37.5 hours. Bands 1 to 7 are paid overtime; bands 8a to 9 are not.
NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook, Section 3.
Sources
- Welsh Government, Pay Letter AfC(W) 02/2026, the pay bands and pay step points from 1 April 2026 (Annex 1).
- NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook, unsocial hours (Section 2 (Wales)) and overtime (Section 3).
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