Nurses in England on Agenda for Change contracts received a 3.3% pay rise from 1 April 2026. These are the 2026/27 annual salaries before tax for a full-time, 37.5-hour week.
| Band | Entry | Intermediate | Top |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £25,272 (single point) | ||
| Band 3 | £25,760 | — | £27,476 |
| Band 4 | £28,392 | — | £31,157 |
| Band 5 (newly qualified nurse) | £32,073 | £34,592 | £39,043 |
| Band 6 (senior/specialist nurse) | £39,959 | £42,170 | £48,117 |
| Band 7 (ward manager/advanced) | £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 |
On top of basic pay
- High Cost Area Supplement in and around London.
- Unsocial hours enhancements for nights, weekends and bank holidays. These can add a lot for ward nurses.
- NHS Pension, with a generous employer contribution.
- Pay moves up within each band over time, from entry to top.
What about 2027–28?
The government has proposed a 2.4% rise from April 2027, which would lift Band 5 entry to roughly £32,840. Unions are pushing for more.
Next step: How to move from Band 5 to Band 6
Source: Agenda for Change 2026/27 pay points for England, as published by PayPrecision; 3.3% uplift effective 1 April 2026 (Nursing Times).