NHS Band 8a Salary 2026/27
NHS Band 8a pay is £57,528 to £64,750 per year in England for 2026/27 under the Agenda for Change pay scales. At the entry step, take home pay is £3,352.53 per month after tax, National Insurance and the NHS pension. Typical Band 8a roles include matrons, principal practitioners and service managers.
Pay scales last verified: 13 August 2026
Band 8a Pay Scale in England
| Experience | Annual Salary | Monthly Take Home | Approx Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 2 years | £57,528 | £3,352.53 | £29.50 |
| 2 to 5 years | £60,417 | £3,476.71 | £30.98 |
| 5+ years | £64,750 | £3,662.95 | £33.21 |
Staff in and around London receive a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% (Fringe), 15% (Outer London) or 20% (Inner London) on top of these figures. Calculate your exact pay with London weighting.
Band 8a Pay Scale in Scotland
| Experience | Annual Salary | Monthly Take Home | Approx Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 5 years | £65,125 | £3,507.98 | £34.79 |
| 5+ years | £70,303 | £3,720.59 | £37.56 |
Band 8a Pay Scale in Wales
| Experience | Annual Salary | Monthly Take Home | Approx Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 2 years | £58,379 | £3,389.11 | £29.94 |
| 2 to 5 years | £61,317 | £3,515.39 | £31.44 |
| 5+ years | £65,723 | £3,704.78 | £33.70 |
Band 8a Pay Scale in Northern Ireland
| Experience | Annual Salary | Monthly Take Home | Approx Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 2 years | £55,690 | £3,264.54 | £28.56 |
| 2 to 5 years | £58,487 | £3,393.75 | £29.99 |
| 5+ years | £62,682 | £3,574.06 | £32.14 |
Take home pay assumes full-time hours, tax code 1257L, NHS pension membership (tiered employee contribution deducted before tax) and no student loan. Figures are per month.
Calculate your exact NHS take home pay
Adjust for part-time hours, London weighting, unsociable hours enhancements, student loans and pension options with our NHS pay calculator.
Use the NHS Pay CalculatorNHS Band 8a Pay FAQs
How much does NHS Band 8a pay in 2026/27?
NHS Band 8a pay in England is £57,528 to £64,750 per year for 2026/27 under Agenda for Change. Typical Band 8a roles include matrons, principal practitioners and service managers. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own Band 8a pay scales, shown in the tables on this page.
What is the Band 8a take home pay per month?
At the entry step of Band 8a in England (£57,528), take home pay is £3,352.53 per month after income tax, National Insurance and the NHS pension contribution. At the top step (£64,750), take home pay is £3,662.95 per month.
How much is NHS Band 8a per hour?
Band 8a in England works out at approximately £29.50 to £33.21 per hour, based on full-time hours of 37.5 per week. London weighting (High Cost Area Supplements) increases this for staff in and around London.
Do these figures include the NHS pension?
Yes. The take home pay figures deduct the NHS pension employee contribution, which is tiered by salary, as well as income tax and National Insurance, using tax code 1257L. Use the NHS pay calculator to adjust for part-time hours, London weighting, student loans or opting out of the pension.