NHS Band 7 covers experienced clinical specialists and first-line leaders under Agenda for Change (AfC) for example Ward/Charge Nurses, Advanced/Specialist Practitioners, Senior AHPs, Clinical Team Leaders, and Service Managers.
This page consolidates everything you need: official basic (gross) pay, hourly rates, overtime rules, London weighting (HCAS), pension contribution tiers, and AfC annual leave all based on the confirmed 2025/26 tables.
What is NHS Band 7?
Typical Band 7 roles include:
- Ward/Charge Nurse, Senior Sister, Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Advanced/ Specialist Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Radiographer
- Pharmacy/Pathology Team Leads, Clinical/Service Managers
Progression: Band 7 has three pay points – Entry → Mid (after 2 years) → Top (after a further 3 years) (subject to local appraisal policy).
Gross Pay for Band 7 (England, 2025/26)
Official annual and hourly pay (effective 1 April 2025) from NHS Employers:
| Pay Step | Annual | Monthly (gross) | Weekly (gross) | Base Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | £47,810 | £3,984.17 | £919.42 | £24.45 |
| Mid | £50,273 | £4,189.42 | £966.79 | £25.71 |
| Top | £54,710 | £4,559.17 | £1,052.12 | £27.98 |
Monthly = annual ÷ 12; weekly = annual ÷ 52 (derived from the official annual totals). Hourly rates are published directly by NHS Employers.
Net pay note (accuracy first): take-home varies with tax code, NHS pension tier, student loan, salary sacrifice, and local allowances. To keep this page strictly accurate, we publish official gross and published hourly figures only.
Band 7 Hourly Rates & Overtime (AfC rules)
- Overtime (Bands 1–7): Time-and-a-half (1.5×) for hours worked beyond 37.5 per week.
- General public holidays: Double time (2×) (TOIL may be agreed locally).
Calculated overtime rates from the official Band 7 hourly table (rounded to 2dp):
| Pay Step | Base Hourly | Overtime 1.5× | Public Holiday 2× |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | £24.45 | £36.68 | £48.90 |
| Mid | £25.71 | £38.57 | £51.42 |
| Top | £27.98 | £41.97 | £55.96 |
(Base hourly from NHS Employers; multipliers per AfC Section 3.)
London Weighting (HCAS) – Inner London inclusive pay (England, 2025/26)
NHS Employers also publish Inner London HCAS inclusive totals (annual) and inclusive hourly rates:
| Band 7 (Inner London) | Annual (inclusive) | Hourly (inclusive) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | £56,276 | £28.78 |
| Mid | £58,739 | £30.04 |
| Top | £63,176 | £32.31 |
Outer London & Fringe: HCAS is applied per national rules/caps to produce inclusive totals. For exact Outer/Fringe figures at your pay point, check your Trust’s payroll guidance or the national HCAS documentation.
NHS Pension – Member Contribution Tiers (England, from 1 April 2025)
The pensionable pay ranges (thresholds) were uplifted for 2025/26; the rates are unchanged. Changes are backdated to 1 April 2025.
| Pensionable pay range (annual) | Member rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £13,259 | 5.2% |
| £13,260 – £27,797 | 6.5% |
| £27,798 – £33,868 | 8.3% |
| £33,869 – £50,845 | 9.8% |
| £50,846 – £65,190 | 10.7% |
| £65,191+ | 12.5% |
Which tiers Band 7 hits (England 2025/26):
- Entry (£47,810) → 9.8%
- Mid (£50,273) → 9.8%
- Top (£54,710) → 10.7% (exceeds £50,845 threshold).
Annual Leave & Bank Holidays (AfC)
For full-time AfC staff (pro-rata for part-time):
- 0–5 years: 27 days + 8 public holidays
- 5–10 years: 29 days + 8 public holidays
- 10+ years: 33 days + 8 public holidays
(Agenda for Change Section 13; NHS Employers handbook.)
FAQs – NHS Band 7 (2025/26) – People Also Ask
Conclusion
Band 7 is the step into advanced practice and unit-level leadership. With official 2025/26 pay of £47,810–£54,710 (hourly £24.45–£27.98), time-and-a-half overtime, double-time on public holidays, uplifted pension thresholds, and generous AfC leave, it offers strong career progression and responsibility. Treat this page as your single source of truth every figure is taken directly from NHS Employers and NHSBSA.