NHS Band 8A sits at the first tier of senior management and advanced specialist practice under Agenda for Change (AfC) covering roles such as Matron, Clinical/Service Manager, Advanced/Consultant-level AHP leads, and Programme/Operations Managers.
This page brings together the official 2025/26 figures in one place: annual pay, hourly rates, London weighting (HCAS) inclusive totals, pension contribution tier, leave, and progression.
All pay figures below are taken directly from NHS Employers’ 2025/26 pay tables (effective 1 April 2025).
What is NHS Band 8A?
Typical roles include Matron, Service Manager, Senior Operations Manager, Advanced Specialist AHP, and other leadership posts accountable for service quality, budgets and teams. Under AfC, Band 8A has three pay points (Entry → Mid → Top) with 2 years from Entry to Mid and 3 years from Mid to Top (subject to local pay-progression policy).
Band 8A – Basic (England, 2025/26)
Official annual and hourly pay from NHS Employers. Monthly = annual ÷ 12; weekly = annual ÷ 52.
| Pay Step | Annual | Monthly (gross) | Weekly (gross) | Base Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | £55,690 | £4,640.83 | £1,070.96 | £28.48 |
| Mid | £58,487 | £4,873.92 | £1,124.75 | £29.91 |
| Top | £62,682 | £5,223.50 | £1,205.42 | £32.06 |
Accuracy note on “net pay”: take-home varies by tax code, NHS pension, student loan, salary sacrifice and local allowances, so there is no single official net figure. For precision, this guide publishes only confirmed gross and hourly amounts.
Overtime vs Unsocial Hours at Band 8A
- Overtime eligibility: Under AfC Section 3, only Bands 1–7 are eligible for overtime (time-and-a-half; double time on general public holidays). Bands 8–9 are not eligible for contractual overtime; employers often use TOIL (time off in lieu) for excess hours. NHS Employers+2NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin+2
- Unsocial hours (separate from overtime): Where Band 8A roles are rostered within standard hours at nights/weekends, unsocial-hours additions may apply per national rules. Check local rostering/eligibility.
London Weighting (HCAS) – Inclusive Pay (England, 2025/26)
NHS Employers publish Inner, Outer and Fringe inclusive totals (already combining base pay + HCAS). Figures below are official annual totals and the inclusive hourly equivalents.
Inner London (HCAS inclusive)
| Pay Step | Annual (inclusive) | Hourly (inclusive) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | £64,156 | £32.81 |
| Mid | £66,953 | £34.24 |
| Top | £71,148 | £36.39 |
Outer London (HCAS inclusive)
| Pay Step | Annual (inclusive) | Hourly (inclusive) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | £61,631 | £31.52 |
| Mid | £64,428 | £32.95 |
| Top | £68,623 | £35.09 |
Fringe (HCAS inclusive)
| Pay Step | Annual (inclusive) | Hourly (inclusive) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | £57,888 | £29.60 |
| Mid | £60,685 | £31.04 |
| Top | £64,880 | £33.18 |
NHS Pension – Member Contribution Tier (England, 2025/26)
The member-contribution thresholds were uplifted from 1 April 2025 (backdated), while the rates stayed the same. All Band 8A pay points fall in the 10.7% member tier for 2025/26.
| 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% |
Band 8A basic pay (£55,690 – £62,682) therefore sits entirely in 10.7%. (Thresholds set by NHSBSA/DHSC for 2025/26.)
Annual Leave & Public Holidays (AfC)
For full-time AfC staff (pro-rata for part-time):
- 0–5 years: 27 days annual leave + 8 public holidays
- 5–10 years: 29 days + 8 public holidays
- 10+ years: 33 days + 8 public holidays
Public-holiday entitlement is in addition to annual leave and may vary in years with two Easters.
FAQs – NHS Band 8A (2025/26) – People Also Ask
Conclusion
Band 8A is the launch pad into senior NHS leadership and advanced specialist practice. With confirmed 2025/26 basic pay of £55,690–£62,682 (hourly £28.48–£32.06) and HCAS-inclusive totals for London regions, the band balances operational responsibility with strong remuneration and progression.
Overtime is not a national entitlement at 8A, but unsocial-hours additions may apply where eligible, and pension thresholds have been uplifted to protect take-home relative to the AfC award. Use this page as a single source of truth every number is from the official NHS Employers/NHSBSA materials for 2025/26.