NHS pay rise 2026: 3.3% from April
Over 1.4 million NHS staff on Agenda for Change contracts in England received a 3.3% pay rise from 1 April 2026. The government accepted the NHS Pay Review Body's recommendation in full on 12 February 2026, early enough for the money to be in April pay packets rather than backdated months later.
Checked 7 September 2026 · Written ministerial statement, 12 Feb 2026
What 3.3% means in cash
| Band | 2025/26 top | 2026/27 top | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £24,465 | £25,272 | £807 |
| Band 3 | £26,598 | £27,476 | £878 |
| Band 4 | £30,162 | £31,157 | £995 |
| Band 5 | £37,796 | £39,043 | £1,247 |
| Band 6 | £46,580 | £48,117 | £1,537 |
| Band 7 | £54,710 | £56,515 | £1,805 |
| Band 8a | £62,682 | £64,750 | £2,068 |
| Band 8b | £74,896 | £77,368 | £2,472 |
| Band 8c | £88,682 | £91,609 | £2,927 |
| Band 8d | £105,337 | £108,814 | £3,477 |
| Band 9 | £125,637 | £129,783 | £4,146 |
Full step-by-step tables for every band are on the NHS pay bands page.
The structure talks are the part to watch
The award came with a second commitment: funded talks through the NHS Staff Council on reforming the Agenda for Change pay structure itself. The stated aim includes a fairer deal for nurses. Anything agreed will be backdated to 1 April 2026, so some staff could see a second increase on top of the 3.3%. No reform package had been agreed when this page was last checked; we will update it when one is.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Scotland is on its own two-year deal: 4.4% in 2025/26 (after the inflation guarantee triggered) and 3.75% from 1 April 2026, agreed directly with unions rather than through the pay review body. Scottish rates are higher at most bands and sit on a 36-hour standard week. The full table is on the NHS Scotland page. Wales broadly mirrored the England award; Northern Ireland typically confirms its position later in the year.
Common questions
How much is the NHS pay rise for 2026/27?
3.3% for all staff on Agenda for Change contracts in England, effective 1 April 2026. The government accepted the NHS Pay Review Body's recommendation in full on 12 February 2026.
When was the 2026 NHS pay rise paid?
From April 2026 pay packets. It was the earliest a PRB recommendation had been accepted and implemented in six years, so there was no backdating to wait for.
Is the NHS pay rise above inflation?
Yes at the time of the award: 3.3% against the OBR's forecast inflation of 2.2% for 2026/27, so a real-terms increase on that measure.
Will there be more money for some bands?
Possibly. Alongside the award, the government committed to funded talks through the NHS Staff Council on reforming the Agenda for Change pay structure. Any reforms agreed would be backdated to 1 April 2026 and would add to the 3.3% for affected staff. Nothing had been agreed when this page was last checked.
What is the NHS pay rise in Scotland for 2026/27?
3.75%, the second year of the two-year deal agreed through the Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee, on top of Scotland's move to a 36-hour standard week.