NHS Pay Rise 2026/27: The 3.3% Award Explained
Last updated: 26 September 2026 · Figures verified against NHS Employers announcements, GOV.UK publications and the NHS Pay Review Body's 39th Report.
The 2026/27 award in brief
On 12 February 2026, the government announced it would accept the NHS Pay Review Body's 39th Report recommendation in full: a 3.3% consolidated uplift to all Agenda for Change pay points in England, effective 1 April 2026.
Three things made this award stand out:
- It was paid on time. The uplift appeared in April 2026 salaries — the first time in six years NHS staff have not waited months for their pay rise, and the first time no backpay calculation was needed.
- It beat the official inflation forecast. The Pay Review Body noted the 3.3% sits above the Office for Budget Responsibility's forecast inflation of 2.2% for 2026/27.
- It cost £2.4 billion, added to the Agenda for Change pay bill in England alone.
For Scotland, a separate negotiated deal delivered 3.75%. For Northern Ireland, the same 3.3% was recommended but — as of late August 2026 — had still not been implemented.
What each band gained
The 3.3% applied to every pay point. What it meant in pounds at the top of each band:
| Band | 2025/26 top | 2026/27 top | Annual increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £24,465 | £25,272 | +£807 |
| Band 3 | £26,598 | £27,476 | +£878 |
| Band 4 | £30,162 | £31,157 | +£995 |
| Band 5 | £37,796 | £39,043 | +£1,247 |
| Band 6 | £46,580 | £48,117 | +£1,537 |
| Band 7 | £54,710 | £56,515 | +£1,805 |
| Band 8a | £62,682 | £64,750 | +£2,068 |
| Band 8b | £74,896 | £77,368 | +£2,472 |
| Band 8c | £88,682 | £91,609 | +£2,927 |
| Band 8d | £105,337* | £108,814 | +£3,477 |
| Band 9 | £125,637 | £129,783 | +£4,146 |
*2025/26 Band 8d figure derived from the 3.3% uplift; treat as approximate.
Because the award was consolidated into basic pay, it also lifted unsocial-hours enhancements, overtime rates and High Cost Area Supplements, which are percentage-based. HCAS rose 3.3% too: Inner London 20% (£5,794–£8,746), Outer London 15% (£4,870–£6,137), Fringe 5% (£1,346–£2,270).
How the award was decided
Agenda for Change pay in England is set through the NHS Pay Review Body — an independent body that takes evidence from the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS Employers and trade unions, then recommends an uplift to the government. The government is not obliged to accept the recommendation, but on 12 February 2026 it accepted the 39th Report in full.
The timeline for the 2026/27 round:
- 2025: Evidence submitted to the Pay Review Body by DHSC, NHS Employers and unions.
- 12 February 2026: Government announces acceptance of the 3.3% recommendation.
- 1 April 2026: Uplift effective; paid in April salaries — no backpay required.
Contrast that with the previous year: the 2025/26 award of 3.6% was announced on 22 May 2025, backdated to 1 April 2025 and paid in August salaries with a lump sum of arrears.
NHS pay rise history: the last three years
| Pay year | Award | Announced | Paid | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 5.5% | Summer 2024 | Backdated to 1 Apr 2024, paid with arrears | Above-inflation deal after industrial dispute period |
| 2025/26 | 3.6% | 22 May 2025 | Backdated to 1 Apr 2025, paid Aug 2025 | Arrears could be spread over 8 months for UC claimants |
| 2026/27 | 3.3% | 12 Feb 2026 | On time in April 2026 salaries | First on-time award in six years; £2.4bn pay bill |
Union reaction
The Royal College of Nursing described the 3.3% as below the rate of inflation staff were actually experiencing — the PRB's comparison used forecast inflation of 2.2%, while unions pointed to the higher inflation in workers' bills. The dispute has fed into the wider debate about the future of Agenda for Change itself.
That debate is now formal: the NHS Staff Council received a mandate for structural reform of Agenda for Change in April 2026, and the July 2026 remit letter indicated the mandate could include headline uplifts for 2027/28 and 2028/29 — raising the possibility of a multi-year deal.
The UK nations at a glance
- England: 3.3%, effective 1 April 2026, paid on time. Full story above.
- Wales: 3.3%, effective 1 April 2026, paid on time — plus a £13.45-an-hour Real Living Wage floor that lifted Band 2 to £26,300. NHS Wales pay 2026/27 →
- Scotland: separate two-year negotiated deal — 4.4% in 2025/26 then 3.75% from 1 April 2026, with an inflation guarantee rechecked in early 2027, plus a move to a 36-hour week. NHS Scotland pay 2026/27 →
- Northern Ireland: 3.3% recommended but not yet implemented (as of late August 2026); RCN planning an autumn strike ballot. NHS Northern Ireland pay status →
2027/28: what to watch
The next pay round is already in motion, and it could look very different from the last three:
- The 2027/28 round opened on 15 July 2026. No percentage has been recommended or announced yet.
- Agenda for Change structural reform talks are live. The Staff Council mandate (April 2026) covers reform of the pay structure itself — including the long-discussed Band 5 nursing role review, with a target of October 2028, and options to lift the lowest bands.
- A multi-year deal is possible. The July 2026 remit letter says the reform mandate may include headline uplifts for 2027/28 and 2028/29.
- Scotland's inflation guarantee recheck lands in early 2027 and could adjust the 2026/27 figure after the fact.
Compare what the award added across the current NHS pay bands in our full 2026/27 band index. For the deeper background on how Agenda for Change pay is set, see our guide.
Frequently asked questions
When was the NHS pay rise 2026/27 announced?
The government announced the 3.3% Agenda for Change award for England on 12 February 2026, accepting the NHS Pay Review Body's 39th Report in full.
When was the 2026/27 NHS pay rise paid?
It was effective from 1 April 2026 and paid on time in April salaries — the first on-time NHS pay award in six years, so no backpay was needed in England and Wales.
Was there any backpay for the 2026/27 award?
No backpay was needed in England and Wales because the award was paid on time. (The previous year's 3.6% award was backdated and paid with arrears in August 2025.) In Northern Ireland, where the 3.3% is not yet implemented, any eventual award would be backdated to 1 April 2026.
How much did a Band 5 nurse get from the 2026/27 rise?
A Band 5 nurse at the top of the band went from £37,796 to £39,043 — an increase of £1,247 a year (£104 a month before deductions). At entry, Band 5 rose from £31,049 to £32,073.
What did the unions say about the 3.3% award?
Unions criticised it as below the inflation staff were experiencing in their household bills, despite the Pay Review Body noting it exceeded forecast inflation of 2.2%. The RCN and other unions have tied the dispute to the wider structural reform of Agenda for Change now under negotiation.
Did Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland get the same rise?
No. Wales matched England at 3.3% (plus a living-wage floor at the bottom of the scale). Scotland negotiated a separate 3.75% deal with a 36-hour week. Northern Ireland's 3.3% was recommended but had not been implemented as of late August 2026.
When is the next NHS pay rise?
The 2027/28 pay round opened on 15 July 2026. No figure has been recommended yet, and structural reform talks could produce a multi-year deal covering 2027/28 and 2028/29.
Sources
- NHS Employers — NHS PRB pay award announcement 2026
- GOV.UK — NHS pay award 2025 to 2026 (Agenda for Change staff)
- NHS Pay Review Body 39th Report 2026
- RCN — pay award reaction, February 2026
- Nursing Times — pay award and Northern Ireland reporting, February and August 2026
- Health Careers NHS — Agenda for Change pay rates
Reviewed and updated on 26 September 2026. Figures are full-time-equivalent gross annual salaries verified against NHS Employers announcements, GOV.UK publications and the NHS Pay Review Body's 39th Report, as listed above. This is an independent information guide and is not affiliated with the NHS, the Department of Health and Social Care or any trade union. The 2027/28 pay round and Agenda for Change reform talks are developing stories — check back for updates.