The NHS pay rise 2026 will be paid in April 2026 salaries, with a 3.3% consolidated increase applied from 1 April 2026 for most Agenda for Change (AfC) staff in England and Wales.
This means your uplift should appear directly in your April payslip rather than as delayed backpay later in the year. The award follows the NHS Pay Review Body recommendation and covers around 1.4 million NHS workers.
Key points you need to know:
- Increase: 3.3% consolidated uplift to basic salary
- Payment date: Reflected in April 2026 pay
- Effective from: 1 April 2026
- Coverage: AfC Bands 1–9 (England, Wales and NI)
- Potential extras: Further structural reforms may bring additional backdated changes
But what does this actually mean for your band, your take-home pay, and the wider NHS workforce in 2026? Let’s break it down clearly.
What Is the NHS Pay Rise for 2026/27 and What Has Been Confirmed So Far?
The NHS pay rise 2026/27 is a 3.3% consolidated increase applied to all Agenda for Change pay bands (Bands 1–9). A consolidated uplift means the increase is permanently added to your basic salary, rather than being a one-off bonus.
This matters because it affects:
- Your basic monthly pay
- Unsocial hours enhancements (calculated as a percentage of basic pay)
- Overtime rates
- Pensionable pay and future pension benefits
The UK Government accepted the recommendation of the independent NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) in full. The award is intended to be above the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast inflation rate of 2.2% for 2026/27.
However, the reaction has been mixed. As one union representative put it:
“Having an increase on time for once is only small comfort.”
While many staff welcome timely payment, some unions argue that the percentage does not fully restore real-terms pay lost over previous years.
Still, the central confirmation remains clear: this year’s uplift is set to be delivered on time from April.
When will the NHS Pay Rise 2026 Be Paid in Your Salary?
If you are searching specifically for NHS pay rise 2026 when will it be paid, the expected timeline is straightforward.
The uplift takes effect from 1 April 2026 and should appear in your April 2026 payslip, processed through the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system for most NHS organisations in England and Wales.
Why April Payment Matters?
In previous years, NHS pay awards were sometimes delayed until summer or later. That led to:
- Backpay lump sums
- Higher tax deductions in a single month
- Confusion over pension contributions
- Payroll processing errors
For 2026/27, the aim is to avoid those issues entirely.
Below is a simplified implementation timeline:
| Date | Milestone | What It Means for You |
| 5 February 2026 | PRB report submitted | Independent recommendation delivered |
| 12 February 2026 | Government acceptance | 3.3% award confirmed |
| 1 April 2026 | Pay rates effective | New salary scales legally start |
| End of April 2026 | Payment in salary | Increase appears in payslip |
If payroll deadlines are met locally, you should not require backpay for the base 3.3% award, as it is designed to be paid on time
Who Will Benefit from the NHS Pay Rise 2026?
The 3.3% increase applies to staff employed under Agenda for Change terms and conditions, which covers the vast majority of NHS employees.
This includes most NHS roles, such as:
- Registered nurses and midwives
- Healthcare assistants
- Paramedics and ambulance staff
- Physiotherapists and occupational therapists
- Radiographers and allied health professionals
- Administrative and clerical staff
- Porters, estates, and facilities teams
If you are employed on an AfC contract, the increase should apply automatically without the need for a separate application or request.
However, some roles operate under different arrangements.
For example:
- Some GP practice staff are not directly employed under national AfC agreements
- Doctors and dentists follow separate pay review processes
- Scotland has separate negotiated arrangements
In Northern Ireland, although the 3.3% recommendation applies, there is currently less certainty around the precise payment timeline due to funding and budget pressures.
What are the New NHS Pay Bands for 2026/27?
Below are the updated annual salary ranges effective from 1 April 2026 in England. These figures already include the 3.3% consolidated uplift.
NHS Annual Pay Scales 2026/27 (England)
| Band | Entry | Intermediate | Top |
| Band 2 | £25,272 | — | £25,272 |
| Band 3 | £25,760 | — | £27,476 |
| Band 4 | £28,392 | — | £31,157 |
| Band 5 | £32,073 | £34,592 | £39,043 |
| Band 6 | £39,959 | £42,170 | £48,117 |
| Band 7 | £49,387 | £51,932 | £56,515 |
| Band 8a | £57,528 | £60,417 | £64,750 |
| Band 8b | £66,582 | £70,896 | £77,368 |
| Band 8c | £79,504 | £84,346 | £91,609 |
| Band 8d | £94,356 | £100,140 | £108,814 |
| Band 9 | £112,782 | £119,583 | £129,783 |
Band 1 is closed to new entrants.
These revised scales reflect the full integration of the 3.3% uplift into base salary, ensuring that pay progression points and top-of-band earnings rise accordingly.
How Does London Weighting (HCAS) Affect Your Pay?
If you work in London or surrounding areas, your earnings will also include a High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS), commonly known as London weighting.
HCAS is calculated as a percentage of your basic salary and can significantly increase your total annual pay.
High-Cost Area Supplements 2026/27
| Zone | Percentage | Example Impact (Band 5 Entry) |
| Inner London | 20% | £38,488 annually |
| Outer London | 15% | £36,943 annually |
| Fringe | 5% | £33,677 annually |
HCAS is calculated as a percentage of your basic salary and significantly affects total earnings.
As one Band 6 nurse in Outer London explained:
“It’s not just about the percentage rise – it’s how it interacts with London weighting that makes the real difference.”
For many staff in high-cost areas, that interaction determines the true financial impact of the award.
How Will the NHS Pay Rise 2026 Affect Your Take-Home Pay?
While the headline figure is 3.3%, your actual monthly increase will depend on several personal factors, including:
- Your band and step point
- Pension contribution rate
- Tax code
- National Insurance
- Student loan repayments
Below are simplified illustrations.
Example: Band 5 Nurse (Entry, England)
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
| Gross Salary | £2,673 | £32,073 |
| Income Tax | -£305 | -£3,660 |
| National Insurance | -£223 | -£2,676 |
| NHS Pension | -£222 | -£2,664 |
| Approx. Take Home | £1,923 | £23,076 |
Approximate increase from 3.3%: around £58–£82 per month, depending on tax band and deductions.
Example: Band 3 (Top Point)
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
| Gross Salary | £2,289 | £27,476 |
| Estimated Take Home | ~£1,730 | ~£20,760 |
| Monthly Increase | ~£50–£70 | ~£600–£840 |
These examples are illustrative only. Your actual take-home pay may differ depending on individual circumstances and any additional allowances.
Will There Be Back Pay in 2026?
The 3.3% NHS pay uplift planned for April 2026 is not expected to include back pay, provided it is implemented on schedule. Since the increase would take effect from the start of the new pay year, most staff should see the adjustment applied directly to their salaries without retrospective payments.
However, wider structural reforms are currently being discussed. These include reviews of Band 5 nursing roles, graduate starting pay, and ongoing concerns around pay progression anomalies across different bands. Any formal band re-evaluations introduced during the 2026/27 period could potentially be backdated to 1 April 2026.
Workforce representatives suggest the 3.3% rise may represent a baseline, with further increases possible depending on how negotiations and reforms develop.
What About the National Living Wage?
The National Living Wage will increase to £12.71 per hour from April 2026. Current hourly comparisons:
- Band 2 hourly rate: £12.92
- Band 3 entry rate: £13.17
Although Band 2 remains marginally above the legal minimum, compression at the lower end of the pay structure continues to raise concerns.
Some unions argue that part of the uplift effectively protects minimum wage compliance rather than delivering meaningful progression for the lowest-paid staff.
This issue is one of the drivers behind ongoing structural reform discussions.
How Does 2026 Compare to Previous NHS Pay Awards?
To understand the significance of the 2026/27 NHS pay award, it helps to look at how it compares with recent years.
Over the past few pay cycles, NHS staff have experienced a mix of higher headline percentage increases, delayed payments, and awards that struggled to keep pace with inflation.
While the 3.3% uplift for 2026–27 may appear modest at first glance, its context, particularly inflation levels and payment timing, makes it notably different from previous settlements.
| Financial Year | Pay Award | Inflation (CPI) | Payment Timing |
| 2023–24 | 5% + one-off | 7.5% | Delayed |
| 2024–25 | 5.5% | 3.2% | Late Spring |
| 2025–26 | 3.6% | 2.7% | Summer |
| 2026–27 | 3.3% | 2.2% | April (on time) |
Although the percentage is lower than peak post-pandemic years, the key difference is timely implementation.
Regional Differences: England, Wales and Northern Ireland
The 3.3% NHS pay rise for 2026/27 applies across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but implementation, funding pressures and payroll certainty differ between each nation.
- England: The uplift has been formally accepted and is expected in April 2026 payroll via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR), although organisations remain under tight budgets.
- Wales: The increase also begins from 1 April 2026, with staff continuing to receive a 1.5% Welsh premium, keeping pay slightly above English equivalents.
- Northern Ireland: The recommendation is accepted in principle, but funding constraints mean payroll timing could be less certain, requiring staff to monitor Trust updates.
- Scotland: Not covered by the Pay Review Body, Scotland operates separate multi-year, inflation-linked pay agreements.
Overall, while the headline rise is modest, its early confirmation and alignment with wider reforms provide greater predictability than previous pay cycles.
Conclusion: NHS Pay Rise 2026 – When Will It Be Paid?
To summarise clearly:
- The NHS pay rise 2026 will be paid in April 2026 for most Agenda for Change staff.
- It is a 3.3% consolidated increase effective from 1 April 2026.
- Around 1.4 million NHS workers are covered.
- Structural reforms during 2026/27 could result in additional backdated increases for some groups.
For the first time in several years, the main story is not delayed; it is timely payment.
If you are on an AfC contract in England or Wales, you should expect to see your new salary reflected in your April 2026 payslip.
FAQs About NHS Pay Rise 2026
Will the NHS pay rise for 2026 definitely appear in my April payslip?
If payroll deadlines are met locally, it should appear in April 2026 salaries for AfC staff in England and Wales.
Does the 3.3% increase affect overtime rates?
Yes. Because it is consolidated into basic pay, overtime, and unsocial hours payments linked to basic salary increase proportionally.
Are part-time NHS staff included?
Yes. The percentage applies pro rata based on contracted hours.
Is this pay rise pensionable?
Yes. As a consolidated uplift, it increases pensionable pay.
What if I change bands in 2026?
Your new band salary would reflect the updated 2026/27 pay scale rates.
Does this apply to doctors?
No. Doctors and dentists have separate pay review arrangements.
Will there be further increases later in 2026?
Potentially. Structural reform discussions may result in additional, backdated adjustments for specific groups.
