NHS Band 5 Pay 2026/27: Salary, Hourly Rate & Career Guide

Last updated: 26 September 2026 · Figures verified against the NHS Employers 2026/27 pay circular.

By the NHS Bands Pay editorial team

Band 5 salary 2026/27

Band 5 has three pay steps. Hourly rates are annual salary ÷ 52.2 ÷ 37.5, the standard NHS calculation. All figures are full-time equivalent (37.5 hours a week) for England under Agenda for Change (see what is Agenda for Change); Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own awards — see NHS Scotland pay bands. For every band's figures, see NHS pay bands 2026/27.

Source: NHS Employers 2026/27 pay award; rates also published by Health Careers NHS.

2025/26 vs 2026/27

The NHS pay rise 2026/27 of 3.3% added roughly £1,024 a year at entry and £1,247 at the top of the band.

Typical Band 5 roles

Band 5 is the registered-professional entry band. Common roles include:

• Newly qualified / staff nurse
• Midwife (newly qualified)
• Paramedic (newly qualified)
• Physiotherapist
• Occupational therapist
• Radiographer (diagnostic and therapeutic)
• Dietitian
• Biomedical scientist
• Speech and language therapist

A newly qualified nurse starts at the bottom of Band 5: £32,073 in 2026/27 (£16.38 an hour), before any unsocial-hours enhancements or London weighting.

Pay progression in Band 5

Band 5 has three pay steps, linked to experience and subject to a satisfactory appraisal plus statutory and mandatory training:

• Entry: under 2 years — £32,073
• Intermediate: 2+ years — £34,592
• Top of band: 5+ years — £39,043

It therefore takes around 5 years to reach the top of Band 5. Note that structural reform of Agenda for Change is under discussion, including a review of Band 5 nursing roles — worth watching for future changes to progression.

Moving from Band 5 to NHS Band 6 pay requires appointment to a Band 6 post (for example, junior sister/charge nurse, specialist practitioner or newly qualified advanced roles) — it is not automatic with service. See the band 5 vs band 6 FAQ below for whether the step up is worth it.

Band 5 hourly rates, overtime and unsocial hours

• Overtime: time-and-a-half for hours above 37.5 a week; double time for overtime on bank holidays. At the top of Band 5, an overtime hour is worth about £29.93 (£19.95 × 1.5).
• Unsocial hours (Section 2): bands 4–9 receive +30% for Saturday and weekday night shifts (8pm–6am) and +60% for Sundays and public holidays. A Sunday shift at the top of Band 5 is therefore worth about £31.92 an hour before overtime rules — see Band 5 overtime and night rates for worked examples.
• Part-time staff: additional hours above contracted hours up to 37.5 are paid at plain time; overtime rates apply only above 37.5.

See the full rules and worked examples for NHS unsocial hours pay rates.

Band 5 with London weighting (HCAS)

In 2026/27, inner London HCAS is 20% of basic salary between a £5,794 minimum and £8,746 maximum. For a Band 5 at entry (£32,073), 20% is £6,415 — inside the range, so it applies in full, giving roughly £38,488 total. Outer London (15%, £4,870–£6,137) and fringe (5%, £1,346–£2,270) follow the same principle. Details: NHS London weighting 2026/27.

Pension and leave

• Pension: Band 5 salaries sit in the 8.3% employee contribution tier (2025/26 official thresholds: £27,798–£33,868 of whole-time equivalent pensionable pay; 2026/27 thresholds not yet published). The employer contributes 23.7% — a major part of total reward.
• Annual leave: 27 days plus 8 bank holidays on appointment, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years (pro rata for part-time).

Frequently asked questions

How much do NHS Band 5 get paid in 2026/27?

Between £32,073 at entry and £39,043 at the top of the band (£16.38–£19.95 an hour), full-time equivalent in England, plus any overtime, unsocial-hours enhancements or London weighting.

How much does a newly qualified nurse get paid?

A newly qualified nurse starts at the bottom of Band 5: £32,073 a year (£16.38 an hour) in 2026/27 in England, before enhancements and London weighting.

What is the Band 5 hourly rate?

£16.38 an hour at entry, £17.67 after two years and £19.95 at the top of the band in 2026/27, calculated as annual salary ÷ 52.2 ÷ 37.5.

How long does it take to reach the top of Band 5?

Around 5 years' experience: entry (under 2 years), intermediate (2+ years), top (5+ years), subject to appraisal and mandatory training.

What is the difference between Band 5 and Band 6 pay?

In 2026/27, Band 5 runs £32,073–£39,043 while Band 6 runs £39,959–£48,117. The top of Band 5 and the entry of Band 6 are close (£39,043 vs £39,959), but Band 6 offers a higher ceiling of £48,117.

Can Band 5 staff negotiate salary?

Starting pay is fixed at the bottom of Band 5 under Agenda for Change, but trusts can recognise relevant prior experience for the intermediate step, and enhancements (unsocial hours, overtime, HCAS) vary with your actual shifts.

Do Band 5 staff get unsocial hours pay?

Yes: +30% for Saturday and weekday night shifts, +60% for Sundays and public holidays, under Section 2 of the Agenda for Change handbook.

This is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the NHS. Figures are full-time equivalent (37.5 hours/week) for England. Always check your trust's ESR record and your payslip for your actual pay.