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

Last updated: 24 October 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. In Scotland, Band 5 pays £34,544 to £43,039 a year on the 36-hour week, see our Scotland Band 5 pay guide. For every band's figures, see NHS pay bands 2026/27.

Band 5 NHS pay 2026 runs from £32,073 at entry to £39,043 at the top of the band, so the NHS Band 5 salary for 2026/27 covers the full journey from newly qualified to experienced Band 5. Staff ready for the next step can compare Band 6 pay, which starts at £39,959.

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
• Data analyst / business intelligence analyst
• Podiatrist
• Psychological wellbeing practitioner (PWP)
• Research nurse
• Palliative care nurse
• Orthoptist
• Neonatal nurse
• Oncology nurse
• Respiratory physiologist
• Clinical neurophysiologist

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. Assistant psychologists also sit at Band 5: our assistant psychologist pay guide covers their salaries, the fixed-term contract reality and the route to the DClinPsy. Data analysts also commonly sit at Band 5: our NHS data analyst salary guide covers analyst pay at Bands 5 to 7, hourly rates, London weighting and the path to lead analyst roles. Podiatrists are another Band 5 allied health profession: our NHS podiatrist salary guide covers Band 5 to 7 pay, hourly rates and the private-practice comparison. And qualified psychological wellbeing practitioners sit at Band 5 too - see our NHS Talking Therapies pay guide for PWP and high-intensity therapist pay. Research nursing is another Band 5-entry specialty: our NHS research nurse salary guide covers clinical-trial nursing pay at Bands 5 to 7, GCP training and NHS vs academic contracts. Clinical research practitioners are the non-nurse research delivery workforce: our research practitioner pay guide covers Band 5 to 6 practitioner pay, hourly rates, unsocial hours and London weighting. Palliative care nursing is another Band 5-entry route with a clear ladder to Band 7: our palliative care nurse salary guide covers Bands 5 to 7 pay, the honest NHS vs hospice comparison, unsocial hours on 24-hour rotas and London weighting. Chemotherapy nursing is another Band 5-entry specialty: our chemotherapy nurse salary guide covers Band 5 to 6 SACT pay, Saturday lists, local on-call arrangements and unsocial hours. Audiologists are another Band 5-entry healthcare science profession: our NHS audiologist salary guide covers Band 5 to 7 pay, hourly rates, on-call and the private hearing-aid comparison. Cardiac physiologists are another Band 5-entry healthcare science profession: our NHS cardiac physiologist salary guide covers Band 5 to 7 pay, hourly rates, cath-lab on-call and the private cardiac comparison. Orthoptists are another Band 5-entry allied health profession: our NHS orthoptist salary guide covers Band 5 to 6 pay, hourly rates, unsocial hours and London weighting for eye movement and binocular vision specialists. Chaplains are another Band 5-entry profession: our NHS chaplain pay guide covers Band 5 to 6 pay, hourly rates, unsocial hours and London weighting for hospital chaplaincy teams. Community staff nurses are another Band 5 workforce: our community staff nurse salary guide covers Band 5 visiting-nurse pay, mileage, unsocial hours and the step up to district nurse. Renal nurses are another Band 5-entry specialty with a clear ladder to Band 7: our renal nurse salary guide covers Band 5 to 7 pay, dialysis shift patterns, unsocial hours and London weighting. Neonatal nurses are another Band 5-entry specialty with a clear ladder to Band 7: our neonatal nurse salary guide covers Band 5 to 7 pay, 24-hour rota enhancements, the QIS route and London weighting. Endoscopy nurses are another Band 5-entry specialty with a clear ladder to Band 6: our endoscopy nurse salary guide covers Band 5 to 6 pay, weekend lists, on-call availability and London weighting. Ophthalmic nurses are another Band 5-entry specialty with a clear ladder to Band 6: our ophthalmic nurse salary guide covers Band 5 to 6 pay, eye clinic and theatre work, on-call for eye emergencies and London weighting. Sexual health nurses are another Band 5-entry specialty with a clear ladder to Band 7: our sexual health nurse salary guide covers Band 5 to 7 pay, Saturday and evening clinic enhancements, overtime and London weighting. Fertility nurses are another Band 5-entry specialty with a clear ladder to Band 6: our fertility nurse salary guide covers Band 5 to 6 pay, Saturday lists, early-morning clinics, overtime, London weighting and the honest NHS versus private clinic comparison. Stroke nurses are another Band 5-entry specialty with a clear ladder to Band 7: our stroke nurse salary guide covers Band 5 to 7 pay, hyper-acute unsocial hours, on-call and London weighting. Cath lab nurses are another Band 5-entry specialty with a clear ladder to Band 6: our cath lab nurse salary guide covers Band 5 to 6 pay, unsocial hours, primary PCI on-call rotas and London weighting. Oncology nurses are another Band 5-entry specialty with a clear ladder to Band 6: our oncology nurse salary guide covers Band 5 to 6 pay, ward versus day-unit rotas, unsocial hours and London weighting. Respiratory physiologists are another Band 5-entry healthcare science profession: our respiratory physiologist salary guide covers Band 5 to 7 pay, sleep-service on-call, unsocial hours and London weighting. Clinical neurophysiologists are another Band 5-entry healthcare science profession: our clinical neurophysiologist salary guide covers Band 5 to 7 pay, EEG and nerve conduction work, monitoring on-call and London weighting. Prosthetists and orthotists are another Band 5-entry allied health profession: our prosthetist and orthotist salary guide covers Band 5 to 7 pay, hourly rates, unsocial hours and London weighting for limb and brace specialists. Clinical photographers are another Band 5-entry specialist profession: our clinical photographer salary guide covers Band 5 to 6 pay, hourly rates, unsocial hours, on-call notes and London weighting for medical photography and illustration staff. Retinal screeners are another Band 4 to 5 screening workforce: our retinal screener pay guide covers Band 4 to 5 pay, grading duties, unsocial hours and London weighting for diabetic eye screening staff. Dental hygienists are another Band 5-entry profession: our NHS dental hygienist salary guide covers Band 5 to 6 pay, hourly rates, unsocial hours and London weighting for hygienists and therapists in employed NHS posts. HR advisors are another Band 5-entry corporate profession: our NHS HR advisor salary guide covers Band 5 to 8a pay, hourly rates, pension and London weighting for HR advisors, business partners and HR managers. Biomedical engineers are another Band 5-entry healthcare science profession: our biomedical engineer salary guide covers Band 5 to 7 pay, on-call for device support, unsocial hours and London weighting for medical engineering staff. PALS officers are another Band 4 to 6 corporate workforce: our NHS PALS officer pay guide covers PALS officer, senior PALS officer and PALS manager pay, hourly rates, unsocial hours and London weighting. Procurement staff are another Band 5-entry corporate profession: our NHS procurement manager salary guide covers Band 5 to 7 pay, hourly rates, unsocial hours and London weighting for buyers, senior buyers and procurement managers. Social prescribing link workers are another Band 4 to 5 primary care workforce: see our social prescribing link worker pay guide for the Band 4 to 5 ranges, hourly rates, overtime and London weighting. Smoking cessation advisors are another Band 4 to 5 workforce: see our smoking cessation advisor pay guide for the Band 4 to 5 ranges, hourly rates, overtime and London weighting, including the trust, council and commissioned provider split. Theatre nurses are another Band 5-entry specialty with a clear ladder to Band 6: our theatre nurse hourly rate guide covers Band 5 to 6 hourly pay, night and weekend rates, overtime and on-call pay. Children's nurses are another Band 5-entry specialty with a clear ladder to Band 7: our children's nurse hourly rate guide covers Band 5 to 6 hourly pay, night and weekend rates, overtime and on-call pay.

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.

Use our NHS hourly rate calculator to convert any band's salary to an hourly rate, with overtime and unsocial-hours equivalents. See the full rules and worked examples for NHS unsocial hours pay rates. Our NHS weekend pay rates guide gives the Saturday and Sunday hourly rate at every Band 5 pay step. Our NHS night shift pay guide gives the night hourly rate at every Band 5 pay step, with worked examples for 12-hour night rotas. Our NHS pay rise by band guide shows the 3.3% rise in pounds at every Band 5 pay step, before and after deductions.

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 mainly in the 8.3% employee contribution tier (2026/27 official thresholds: £28,855–£35,155 of actual pensionable pay); the top step (£39,043) sits in the 9.8% tier (£35,156–£52,778). 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.

What is the NHS Band 5 salary in 2026/27?

£32,073 at entry, £34,592 after two years and £39,043 at the top of the band (£16.38–£19.95 an hour), full-time equivalent in England, before any overtime, unsocial-hours enhancements or London weighting.

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.