NHS Pay Scales 2025/26 – Confirmed 3.6% Pay Rise (Updated May 2025)

Key Announcements

Pay Rise Details

• Confirmed increase: 3.6% across all Agenda for Change bands
• Implementation: Expected to begin in July/August 2025 payroll
• Backdating: Will be applied retroactively from April 2025
• Coverage: Applies to all NHS staff under Agenda for Change contracts

Factors Influencing the Pay Decision

The Government’s 3.6% decision was based on three primary considerations:

Government Recommendations

• Department of Health and Social Care initially recommended 2.8% in December 2024
• Final decision made by independent NHS Pay Review Body
• Minimum award expectation was set at 2.8%

Budget Allocations

• NHS budget for 2025/26 includes provisions for 3-4% staffing cost increases
• Some variation accounts for different staff groups outside Agenda for Change
• National Minimum Wage changes also factored into Band 2 adjustments

Economic Environment

• Consumer Price Index stood at 2.6% for December 2024
• Below-inflation increases would likely trigger industrial action
• Higher increases (above 5%) deemed unrealistic due to economic constraints
• UK economic growth limitations influenced final decision

Union Relations and Strike Prevention

• Previous Conservative government faced significant NHS strikes
• Prime Minister’s target: 92% of routine operations within 18 weeks by March 2029
• Union response to 2.8% recommendation was notably negative
• Strikes would jeopardize operation backlog reduction goals

Implementation Timeline

Announcement Date: May 22, 2025

Effective Date: April 1, 2025 (retroactive)

Expected Payroll Start: July/August 2025

Recent years have seen consistent delays in pay rise announcements, necessitating backdated payments. This year’s May announcement follows the established pattern of late confirmation.

Band 2 and 3 Special Adjustments

National Living Wage Alignment (January 2025 announcement)

• Separate from main pay negotiations
• Guaranteed implementation regardless of main pay deal progress

Temporary Increases Applied:

• Band 2: 2.35% increase to £24,169 minimum salary
• Band 3 (under 2 years): 2.3% increase to £24,625 minimum salary
• Additional benefit: Staff receive further uplift from main 3.6% pay rise

Detailed Pay Scale Projections

Band 1

• Status: No longer used for new contracts
• Current staff: Paid equivalent to Band 2 rates
• Historical context: Phased out but some legacy contracts remain

Band 2

Staff roles: Healthcare assistants, administrative assistants, catering staff

Starting salary: £23,614 (2024/25) → £24,464 (2025/26)

Pay progression: No incremental steps within band

Years of experience	National pay 2024/25	Confirmed National pay 2025/26	Predicted Inner London pay 2025/26	Predicted Outer London pay 2025/26	Predicted Fringe pay 2025/26
0+	£23,614	£24,464	£30,045	£29,152	£25,743

Band 3

Staff roles: Healthcare assistants (various specialties)

Starting salary: £24,072 (2024/25) → £24,939 (2025/26)

Progression: Two-year increment to higher rate

Years of experience	National pay 2024/25	Confirmed National pay 2025/26	Predicted Inner London pay 2025/26	Predicted Outer London pay 2025/26	Predicted Fringe pay 2025/26
0-2	£24,072	£24,939	£30,519	£29,626	£26,216
2+	£25,674	£26,599	£32,178	£31,284	£27,902

Band 4

Staff roles: Office coordinators, communications assistants

Starting salary: £26,529 (2024/25) → £27,484 (2025/26)

Progression: Three-year increment period

Years of experience	National pay 2024/25	Confirmed National pay 2025/26	Predicted Inner London pay 2025/26	Predicted Outer London pay 2025/26	Predicted Fringe pay 2025/26
0-3	£26,529	£27,484	£33,062	£32,169	£28,830
3+	£29,114	£30,162	£36,159	£34,844	£31,639

Band 5

Staff roles: Newly qualified nurses, allied health professionals

Starting salary: £29,970 (2024/25) → £31,049 (2025/26)

Progression: Two incremental steps (2 years, then 4+ years)

Note: 4+ years represents average NHS nurse salary

Years of experience	National pay 2024/25	Confirmed National pay 2025/26	Predicted Inner London pay 2025/26	Predicted Outer London pay 2025/26	Predicted Fringe pay 2025/26
0-2	£29,970	£31,049	£37,223	£35,731	£32,570
2-4	£32,324	£33,488	£40,147	£38,474	£35,128
4+	£36,483	£37,796	£45,312	£43,424	£39,648

Band 6

Staff roles: Occupational therapists, senior/specialist nurses

Starting salary: £37,339 (2024/25) → £38,682 (2025/26)

Progression: Two incremental steps (2 years, then 5+ years)

Years of experience	National pay 2024/25	Confirmed National pay 2025/26	Predicted Inner London pay 2025/26	Predicted Outer London pay 2025/26	Predicted Fringe pay 2025/26
0-2	£37,339	£38,682	£46,373	£44,441	£40,577
2-5	£39,404	£40,824	£48,941	£46,720	£42,824
5+	£44,961	£46,580	£54,992	£52,470	£48,730

Band 7

Staff roles: Clinical pharmacists, communications managers, service managers

Starting salary: £46,148 (2024/25) → £47,809 (2025/26)

Progression: Two incremental steps (2 years, then 5+ years)

Years of experience	National pay 2024/25	Predicted National pay 2025/26	Predicted Inner London pay 2025/26	Predicted Outer London pay 2025/26	Predicted Fringe pay 2025/26
0-2	£46,148	£47,809	£56,220	£53,699	£49,958
2-5	£48,526	£50,273	£58,681	£56,160	£52,419
5+	£52,808	£54,709	£63,113	£60,592	£56,852

Band 8a

Staff roles: HR business partners, advanced nurse practitioners, senior physician associates

Starting salary: £53,754 (2024/25) → £55,690 (2025/26)

Progression: Includes new intermediate step after 2 years (added in previous pay deal)

Note: No automatic progression to Band 8b

Years of experience	National pay 2024/25	Predicted National pay 2025/26	Predicted Inner London pay 2025/26	Predicted Outer London pay 2025/26	Predicted Fringe pay 2025/26
0-2	£53,754	£55,690	£64,093	£61,571	£57,831
2-5	£56,454	£58,486	£66,887	£64,366	£60,625
5+	£60,504	£62,682	£71,079	£68,558	£64,817

Future Changes: Expected modifications to Band 8a contracts to improve attractiveness for Band 7 promotions, particularly regarding unsocial hours payments. However, these changes are unlikely for 2025/26.

Band 8b

Staff roles: Heads of department, consultant pharmacists, senior general managers

Starting salary: £62,215 (2024/25) → £64,455 (2025/26)

Progression: Includes new intermediate step after 2 years

Note: No automatic progression to Band 8c

Years of experience	National pay 2024/25	Predicted National pay 2025/26	Predicted Inner London pay 2025/26	Predicted Outer London pay 2025/26	Predicted Fringe pay 2025/26
0-2	£62,215	£64,455	£72,850	£70,328	£66,588
2-5	£66,247	£68,632	£77,023	£74,501	£70,761
5+	£72,299	£74,902	£83,286	£80,765	£77,025

Band 8c

Staff roles: Associate directors, consultant clinical scientists, nurse consultants Starting salary: £74,290 (2024/25) → £76,964 (2025/26) Progression: Includes new intermediate step after 2 years Note: No automatic progression to Band 8d

Years of experience	National pay 2024/25	Predicted National pay 2025/26	Predicted Inner London pay 2025/26	Predicted Outer London pay 2025/26	Predicted Fringe pay 2025/26
0-2	£74,290	£76,964	£85,347	£82,826	£79,085
2-5	£78,814	£81,651	£90,029	£87,508	£83,768
5+	£85,601	£88,682	£97,054	£94,532	£90,792

Band 8d

Staff roles: Service directors, programme leads, deputy directors Starting salary: £88,167 (2024/25) → £91,341 (2025/26) Progression: Includes new intermediate step after 2 years

Years of experience	National pay 2024/25	Predicted National pay 2025/26	Predicted Inner London pay 2025/26	Predicted Outer London pay 2025/26	Predicted Outer London pay 2025/26
0-2	£88,167	£91,341	£99,710	£97,189	£93,448
2-5	£93,571	£96,940	£105,303	£102,782	£99,041
5+	£101,677	£105,337	£113,692	£111,171	£107,431

Band 9

Staff roles: Clinical directors, programme directors Starting salary: £105,480 (2024/25) → £109,277 (2025/26) Progression: Includes new intermediate step after 2 years

Years of experience	National pay 2024/25	Predicted National pay 2025/26	Predicted Inner London pay 2025/26	Predicted Outer London pay 2025/26	Predicted Outer London pay 2025/26
0-2	£105,480	£109,277	£117,629	£115,107	£111,367
2-5	£111,739	£115,762	£124,107	£121,586	£117,845
5+	£121,270	£125,636	£133,972	£131,450	£127,710

Very Senior Managers: Staff above Band 9 are on separate pay scales negotiated independently from Agenda for Change. Expected increase approximately 3% for 2025/26.

High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) Changes

Current Status

• Major changes: Unlikely for 2025/26
• Future developments: More significant modifications possible in coming years
• Geographic scope: Continues to apply only to London areas
• Increase rate: Same 3.6% uplift as general salaries

HCAS Rate Table 2025/26

HCAS area	Rate of HCAS supplement	Minimum Payment 2024/25	Predicted Minimum Payment 2025/26	Maximum Payment 2024/25	Predicted Maximum Payment 2025/26
Inner London	20%	£5,415	£5,610	£8,171	£8,465
Outer London	15%	£4,552	£4,716	£5,735	£5,941
Fringes	5%	£1,258	£1,303	£2,121	£2,197

Union Calls for Reform

• Trade unions advocate for expanded HCAS coverage
• High-cost areas outside London currently receive no additional support
• Review of 20-year-old HCAS structure being requested

Important Notes

Confirmation Status: All figures confirmed as of May 22, 2025

HCAS Details: Specific High Cost Area Supplement rates still being finalized

Implementation: Updated pay expected to appear in July/August 2025 payroll Backdating: All increases will be applied retroactively to April 1, 2025

This information is current as of the Government announcement on May 22, 2025. Some details may be subject to final confirmation as implementation proceeds.