Pay Rates
Agenda for Change Pay Rates
View the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook known as Agenda for Change for the full terms and conditions of NHS employment.
Emergency Medical Technicians
Click here to read more on the Pay Journey Update for an EMT previously capped in Band 5
The table below shows the values of the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service (Agenda for Change) pay points from 1 April 2026. Full details of the pay arrangements are available in the NHS terms and conditions of service handbook.
Spine points are no longer used following the 2018 changes to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service.
NHS Pay Scales 2026/27 (from 1 April 2026)
| Band | Entry step | Intermediate step | Top step |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 and Band 2 is a single spot salary, so neither progresses. Within the other bands, progression from the entry step through to the top step is based on years of experience, as set out in the NHS Terms and Conditions handbook. Figures reflect the 2026/27 pay award and exclude any High Cost Area Supplement (see below).
Source: NHS Employers — pay scales for 2026/27 (Agenda for Change, England, effective 1 April 2026).
High cost area supplements from 1 April 2026
High cost area supplements (HCAS) — London weighting — are paid on top of basic salary as a percentage, subject to a minimum and maximum payment.
| Area | Supplement | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inner London | 20% of basic salary | £5,794 | £8,746 |
| Outer London | 15% of basic salary | £4,870 | £6,137 |
| Fringe | 5% of basic salary | £1,346 | £2,270 |
Source: NHS Employers — pay scales for 2026/27 (Annex 9, effective 1 April 2026). Which zone applies to a post is set out in Annex 8 of the NHS Terms and Conditions handbook.
Download Annex 9 showing all rates since 2004 - 2017
Arrangements for Redundancy PayShared Parental Leave and Flexible Working
You have Free access to LRD Payline – Unison’s online pay and conditions database
To start using it today email pay@lrd.org.uk for your username and password.
Last updated 28 December 2022
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