NHS staff on Agenda for Change (AfC) contracts in England got a 3.3% pay award for 2026/27, recommended by the independent NHS Pay Review Body and accepted by the government on 12 February 2026. It takes effect from 1 April 2026, uplifting every AfC pay point across Bands 2-9. Use the NHS Pay Calculator to see your exact take-home for your band, pay point, HCAS zone and student loan plan.
What changed
Every Agenda for Change pay point rose by 3.3% from 1 April 2026. A few examples, comparing the same pay point in 2025/26 and 2026/27:
| Band (entry point) | 2025/26 basic | 2026/27 basic | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 5 | £31,049 | £32,073 | +£1,024 |
| Band 6 | £38,682 | £39,959 | +£1,277 |
| Band 7 | £47,810 | £49,387 | +£1,577 |
| Band 8a | £55,690 | £57,528 | +£1,838 |
Take-home pay: it rises, but not by exactly 3.3%
Gross pay rises by 3.3%, but take-home pay rises by a smaller percentage because income tax, National Insurance, and NHS Pension contributions are calculated on the higher figure too. For a full-time member on Band 5 entry point, enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme, with no HCAS or student loan:
| 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic pay | £31,049 | £32,073 | +£1,024 (+3.3%) |
| NHS Pension (8.3% tier both years) | £2,577.07 | £2,662.06 | +£84.99 |
| Income Tax | £3,180.39 | £3,368.19 | +£187.80 |
| National Insurance | £1,478.32 | £1,560.24 | +£81.92 |
| Take-home (annual) | £23,813.22 | £24,482.51 | +£669.29 (+2.8%) |
The same pattern holds at higher bands: a Band 7 entry point member’s take-home rises from £34,194.50 to £35,206.30 (+£1,011.80), and a Band 8a entry point member’s from £39,174.54 to £40,230.34 (+£1,055.80) — figures engine-computed with the same assumptions (full-time, pension enrolled, no HCAS, no student loan). Run your own band, pay point, hours and student loan plan through the NHS Pay Calculator for an exact figure.
The NHS Pension tier interaction
The NHS Pension Scheme charges member contributions on a tiered, cliff-edge basis — the whole of your annual pensionable pay (basic pay plus HCAS) is charged at a single rate determined by which band it falls into, not a marginal rate like income tax. For 2026/27 (effective 1 April 2026, unchanged for the rest of the year) the tiers are:
| Annual pensionable pay | Contribution rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £13,259 | 5.2% |
| £13,260 - £28,854 | 6.5% |
| £28,855 - £35,155 | 8.3% |
| £35,156 - £52,778 | 9.8% |
| £52,779 - £67,668 | 10.7% |
| £67,669+ | 12.5% |
Because it’s a cliff edge, crossing a tier boundary moves your entire pensionable pay onto the higher rate — not just the amount above the threshold. A pay rise that pushes you just over a boundary can mean a larger pension deduction than the extra gross pay you received.
For 2026/27, this is largely avoided: the tier thresholds were uprated by 3.8% (CPI-linked) from 1 April 2026, which is more than the 3.3% AfC pay award. Checking every AfC pay point against both years’ tier tables shows no standard, full-time pay point crosses a tier boundary purely because of the 2026/27 pay rise. That said, HCAS, unsocial hours enhancements, overtime, or additional increments can still push your actual pensionable pay across a boundary even if your basic pay point alone would not — the NHS Pay Calculator shows your exact tier for your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 3.3% award backdated? Yes, it is effective from 1 April 2026, the start of the 2026/27 NHS pay year, regardless of when your payslip actually reflects it.
Does the pay rise affect my student loan repayments? Yes. Student loan repayments (Plan 1, 2, 4, 5, or Postgraduate) are calculated on your gross pensionable pay, so a higher basic pay means a higher repayment if you’re above your plan’s threshold — see the NHS Pay Calculator for your plan.
Does HCAS also rise by 3.3%? HCAS is a percentage of basic pay (20% inner London, 15% outer London, 5% fringe) subject to minimum and maximum caps, so it moves with your basic pay automatically, subject to those caps.
Will my NHS Pension contribution rate change because of the pay rise? For most staff, no — the pension tier thresholds rose by more (3.8%) than the 3.3% pay award for 2026/27, so a standard pay-point increase alone does not push you into a higher tier. It’s still worth checking if HCAS or enhancements bring your total pensionable pay close to a boundary.