Short answer: In 2025/26, Band 3 basic pay in England is £24,937 at entry and £26,598 at the top step. That equates to £12.75–£13.60 per hour before any allowances. Overtime is generally time-and-a-half (1.5×) and double time on public holidays.
This guide puts everything on one page: gross and net examples, hourly + overtime, part-time scenarios, pension brackets, and annual leave—so you don’t have to jump around.
What is NHS Band 3?
- Typical roles: Senior Healthcare Support Worker, Clinical Support Worker, Therapy Assistant, Senior Clerical/Administrative roles.
- Contract: Agenda for Change (AfC).
- Progression: Band 3 usually has two pay points (entry → top) with progression time normally 2 years, subject to local appraisal policies.
Band 3 Pay at a Glance (England, 2025/26)
| Pay Step | Annual | Monthly (gross) | Weekly (gross) | Base Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | £24,937 | £2,078.08 | £479.56 | £12.75 |
| Top step | £26,598 | £2,216.50 | £511.50 | £13.60 |
Source for annual/hourly: NHS Employers 2025/26 pay scales (published 22 May 2025).
How these were derived: Monthly = annual ÷ 12; Weekly = annual ÷ 52. Hourly rates are published directly in the 2025/26 tables.
Take-Home (Net) Pay – Worked Examples
Assumptions used (England): tax code 1257L (no adjustments), NHS Pension 6.5% (correct tier for Band 3 pay), no student loan, no other deductions/allowances. Tax and NI thresholds are those in force for 6 Apr 2025–5 Apr 2026.
Full-time (37.5 hrs) Monthly Illustration
| Entry | Top step | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | £2,078.08 | £2,216.50 |
| Pension (6.5%) | £135.08 | £144.07 |
| Income tax | £179.10 | £204.99 |
| National Insurance | £82.41 | £93.48 |
| Net (take-home) | £1,681.50 | £1,773.96 |
Why 6.5% pension? 2025/26 member contribution tiers put Band 3 salaries in the £13,260–£27,797 bracket.
Note: These are realistic illustrations using HMRC 2025/26 thresholds (PA £12,570; NI primary threshold £1,048/month; NI main employee rate 8%). Individual results vary with tax code, student loan, childcare vouchers, salary sacrifice etc.
Hourly & Overtime (Band 3, England 2025/26)
| Pay Step | Base Hourly | Overtime 1.5× | Bank Holiday 2× |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | £12.75 | £19.13 | £25.50 |
| Top step | £13.60 | £20.40 | £27.20 |
Overtime rates follow AfC rules: time-and-a-half for overtime; double time on general public holidays. Trusts may have local arrangements for scheduling/TOIL.
Part-Time Examples (20 hrs/week)
| Entry | Top step | |
|---|---|---|
| Pro-rata annual | £13,299.73 | £14,185.60 |
| Monthly gross | £1,108.31 | £1,182.13 |
| Approx. net / month | £1,031.45 | £1,083.01 |
Why little/no tax at 20 hrs? After pension, taxable income can fall within the personal allowance so tax may be low or £0 (NI and pension still apply). Exact results depend on your circumstances.
London Weighting / HCAS (Location Allowance)
Band 3 staff in designated areas receive Higher Cost Area Supplements (Inner London, Outer London, Fringe). NHS Employers publish inclusive annual and hourly values by band/step each year. Check your Trust/location against the 2025/26 HCAS tables to see your exact uplift.
Tip: HCAS is calculated per the national tables (with minimum/maximum caps). Always refer to the current HCAS section of the official pay scales for precise figures for your band and step.
Pension – Which Rate Applies?
For 2025/26, member contribution tiers (England) are: 5.2%, 6.5%, 8.3%, 9.8%, 10.7%, 12.5%, with revised salary thresholds backdated to 1 April 2025. Most Band 3 staff sit at 6.5%.
Annual Leave (AfC)
Full-time AfC staff are entitled to:
- 27 days on appointment
- 29 days after 5 years’ service
- 33 days after 10 years’ service
…plus 8 public holidays (pro-rata for part-time). This is set out in Section 13 of the AfC Handbook and reinforced in NHS Employers’ 2025 public holiday guidance.
FAQs – NHS Band 3 2025-26 (People Also Ask)
Conclusion – Why Band 3 Matters in 2025/26
Band 3 roles sit at the heart of frontline care and essential admin, offering a clear step up from Band 2 with £24,937–£26,598 basic pay (≈ £12.75–£13.60/hr) in 2025/26. With time-and-a-half overtime (and double time on bank holidays), a typical 6.5% pension contribution tier, and generous AfC leave (27/29/33 days + 8 BH), Band 3 provides a solid balance of responsibility, progression, and financial stability. Actual take-home depends on tax code, pension choices, HCAS (London weighting), and hours worked, but the pathway is straightforward: build experience, demonstrate competencies, and open doors to Band 4 and beyond.
For readers comparing options, use this page as your one-stop hub: start with the salary table, review the net-pay walkthrough, check the hourly + overtime examples, and factor in HCAS if you’re in a qualifying area. Then explore related guides (Band 2, Band 4, Pension, Overtime, and Annual Leave) to plan skills, training, and next steps with confidence.