NHS Northern Ireland Pay 2026/27: Bands, Salaries & Award Status
Last updated: 26 September 2026 · Figures verified against the NHS Employers 2026/27 pay circular.
Where things stand
The NHS Pay Review Body's 39th Report recommended a 3.3% consolidated uplift for Agenda for Change staff across the UK, including Northern Ireland — adding an estimated £120 million to the Northern Ireland pay bill. In England and Wales the award was accepted and paid on time from April 2026. For the UK-wide picture, see our guide to the NHS pay rise 2026/27.
In Northern Ireland, the position is different:
- The Health Minister has signalled intent to implement the award but warned of budget-driven delay.
- As of late August 2026, Health and Social Care (HSC) staff were still awaiting the 2026/27 uplift, nearly five months after it took effect elsewhere.
- The Royal College of Nursing in Northern Ireland is planning a statutory strike ballot in autumn 2026 over pay — with pay parity with the rest of the UK a central issue.
This is not new: Northern Ireland has a history of delayed pay awards compared with England, and each delay reopens the parity debate. Until the Department of Health confirms implementation, the figures below — the 2025/26 scale — remain the latest confirmed pay rates for Northern Ireland.
Latest confirmed pay scale: 2026/27 vs 2025/26
Because the 2026/27 award is not yet implemented, Northern Ireland staff are paid on the 2025/26 scale (the 3.6% award, which matched England). Key bands, full-time equivalent, 37.5-hour week:
| Band | 2025/26 confirmed (entry → top) | Hourly | Illustrative 3.3% (not confirmed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £24,465 (spot) | £12.50 | £25,272 |
| Band 3 | £24,937 → £26,598 | £12.74 → £13.59 | £25,760 → £27,476 |
| Band 4 | £27,485 → £30,162 | £14.04 → £15.41 | £28,392 → £31,157 |
| Band 5 | £31,049 → £37,796 | £15.86 → £19.31 | £32,073 → £39,043 |
| Band 6 | £38,682 → £46,580 | £19.76 → £23.80 | £39,959 → £48,117 |
| Band 7 | £47,810 → £54,710 | £24.42 → £27.95 | £49,387 → £56,515 |
| Band 9 | £107,537 → £125,637 | £54.94 → £64.18 | £112,782 → £129,783 |
The right-hand column shows what the 3.3% recommendation would produce — it matches the confirmed England/Wales 2026/27 scale, since Northern Ireland matched England in 2025/26. These illustrative figures are not in payment and must not be presented as live.
What happens if the 3.3% is approved
If and when the Department of Health implements the award:
- It would be backdated to 1 April 2026, under standard Agenda for Change practice.
- Staff would receive the consolidated uplift in their monthly pay plus a lump sum of arrears covering April onwards — for example, roughly £520 in arrears for a Band 5 nurse at the top of the band over five months of delay.
- Employers have previously offered the option to spread arrears over several months, which can matter for Universal Credit claimants — ask your trust's payroll team about this if backpay is announced.
Watch for the Department of Health's formal announcement and your trust's payroll communications — that is the moment the illustrative figures above become real.
The pay parity issue
Pay parity — the principle that HSC staff in Northern Ireland should not earn less than colleagues doing the same jobs under Agenda for Change in England and Wales — is the thread running through every Northern Ireland pay round. Each delayed award reopens it, and unions argue that persistent gaps damage recruitment and retention in an already stretched service. The RCN's planned autumn 2026 statutory ballot is the sharpest expression of that frustration: if members vote for action, Northern Ireland could see nursing strikes over pay.
What this means for your take-home right now
Until implementation is confirmed, plan your finances on the 2025/26 figures in the table above. Do not factor the 3.3% into mortgage applications, loan affordability or spending plans. If the award lands, the backdated lump sum will be welcome — but it is not guaranteed income until the Department of Health says so. Pension contributions, tax and student loan deductions continue to be calculated on your actual (2025/26-scale) pay.
Frequently asked questions
Has the 2026/27 NHS pay rise been paid in Northern Ireland?
No. As of late August 2026, the 3.3% uplift recommended by the NHS Pay Review Body had not been implemented for Health and Social Care staff in Northern Ireland. Staff remain on the 2025/26 pay scale. Check this page for updates — the status box at the top is updated whenever the position changes.
When will Northern Ireland HSC staff get the 2026/27 pay rise?
There is no confirmed date. The Health Minister has signalled intent to implement the 3.3% recommendation but warned of budget-driven delay. We will update the status box at the top of this page as soon as the Department of Health makes an announcement.
Will the Northern Ireland pay award be backdated?
If implemented, yes — standard Agenda for Change practice is for awards to be backdated to 1 April, so staff would receive arrears covering every month since April 2026 as a lump sum.
Why is Northern Ireland's pay award delayed when England's was on time?
Pay is devolved, and Northern Ireland's health budget position has meant ministerial sign-off has lagged behind England and Wales. The Pay Review Body recommendation covers Northern Ireland, but implementation requires a Department of Health decision and funding.
What is the RCN strike ballot about?
The Royal College of Nursing in Northern Ireland is planning a statutory strike ballot in autumn 2026, with pay — including the delayed 2026/27 award and wider pay parity with the rest of the UK — as the central issue.
What is the current Band 5 salary in Northern Ireland?
The latest confirmed figures are the 2025/26 scale: Band 5 pays £31,049 at entry rising to £37,796 at the top of the band (£15.86–£19.31 an hour). The illustrative 3.3% figures (£32,073–£39,043) are not yet in payment.
Where can I check the official position?
Watch for announcements from the Department of Health (Northern Ireland), the NHS Pay Review Body, and your trade union (RCN, UNISON, Unite). Your HSC trust's payroll team will communicate the implementation date to staff directly.
Sources
- NHS Pay Review Body 39th Report 2026 (recommendation covering Northern Ireland)
- Nursing Times — NHS pay award reporting, 12 February 2026
- Nursing Times — Northern Ireland pay delay and strike ballot reporting, 26 August 2026
- RCN — Northern Ireland pay campaign communications