NHS Band 1 Pay: Why the Band Is Closed to New Entrants
Last updated: 26 September 2026 · Figures verified against the NHS Employers 2026/27 pay circular.
What happened to Band 1?
Band 1 was the lowest Agenda for Change band, covering roles such as domestics, porters, catering assistants and other support posts. The 2018 Agenda for Change framework agreement — the deal that also restructured pay progression across all bands — closed Band 1 to new entrants with effect from December 2018.
Existing Band 1 staff were given the choice to move to Band 2, and the clear direction of travel since has been the elimination of Band 1 as an active recruitment band. The NHS Staff Council's position is that the skills and responsibilities in these roles warrant Band 2 as the minimum, and the band's closure was part of a wider effort to improve pay at the bottom of the NHS pay structure.
Who is still on Band 1?
A small number of legacy staff may technically remain on Band 1 pay points — typically long-serving employees who chose not to transfer in 2018. Their pay points continue to be uplifted by each year's pay award, including the 2026/27 NHS pay rise, but:
- No trust recruits to Band 1 any more. You will not find Band 1 jobs advertised on NHS Jobs.
- All equivalent roles are now advertised at Band 2. Domestic, portering, catering, housekeeping and healthcare assistant support roles sit at Band 2 as a minimum.
- Over time, natural turnover means the remaining Band 1 cohort keeps shrinking.
Where to look instead: Band 2
For all practical purposes, Band 2 is now the entry point to NHS Agenda for Change employment. In 2026/27, Band 2 is a single spot salary:
| Detail | 2026/27 figure |
|---|---|
| Annual salary (FTE) | £25,272 |
| Hourly rate | £12.91 |
| Pay award | 3.3%, effective 1 April 2026 |
Band 2 staff work 37.5 hours a week full-time, qualify for unsocial-hours enhancements (time plus 44% for nights and Saturdays, time plus 88% for Sundays and bank holidays), and receive time-and-a-half for overtime above 37.5 hours. See our full NHS Band 2 pay guide — Band 2 pay 2026/27 — for take-home pay, hourly rates and career progression to Band 3, and calculate Band 2 take-home pay with the free calculator on our homepage.
Once settled in Band 2, many staff aim at progressing to Band 3 — senior healthcare assistant and senior support worker posts are the usual route.
Frequently asked questions
Is NHS Band 1 still a thing?
Effectively no. Band 1 has been closed to new entrants since December 2018 under the Agenda for Change framework agreement. A small legacy group may remain, but all recruitment for equivalent roles is at Band 2 or above.
What was NHS Band 1 pay?
Band 1 pay points were uplifted with each annual award, but since no new staff join the band, the figures are of historical interest only. Anyone researching entry-level NHS pay should use the current Band 2 figures (£25,272 in 2026/27).
What is the lowest NHS pay band you can join?
Band 2. It is the entry point for Agenda for Change roles, covering support posts such as healthcare assistants, domestics, porters and catering staff.
Why was Band 1 closed?
The 2018 framework agreement recognised that Band 1 roles carried responsibilities warranting Band 2 pay. Closing the band and moving staff up was part of improving pay at the bottom of the NHS pay structure.
Sources: NHS Employers — Agenda for Change 2018 framework agreement; NHS Employers — Agenda for Change pay scales 2026/27, effective 1 April 2026; NHS Staff Council — Agenda for Change handbook.
About this page: figures are checked against the official NHS Employers pay circular for the stated pay year. This page is for general information only. We are an independent information site and are not affiliated with the NHS.