Agenda for change - pay rates
The following is a guide only to NHS Terms and Conditions of Service (Agenda for Change) pay rates from April 2021. This page has been updated following the 2021/22 pay award announced by the Government in July 2021 (backdated to April 2021).
This pay system covers all staff except doctors, dentists and very senior managers. Each of the nine pay bands has a number of pay points. Staff will normally progress to the next pay point annually until they reach the top of the pay band. In addition to basic pay, there is also extra pay for staff who work in high cost areas such as around London.
Band 1 (Please note that following the 2018 pay deal, band 1 closed to new entrants from 1 December 2018).
£18,546
Examples of roles at band 1 - domestic support worker, housekeeping assistant, driver and nursery assistant.
Band 2
< 2 years' experience £18,546
2+ years £19,918
Examples of roles at band 2 - domestic support worker, housekeeping assistant, driver, nursery assistant, domestic team leader, security officer, secretary/typist and healthcare assistant.
Band 3
<2 years' experience £20,330
2+ years £21,777
Examples of roles at band 3- emergency care assistant, clinical coding officer, estates officer and occupational therapy worker.
Band 4
< 3 years' experience £22,549
3+ years £24,882
Examples of roles at band 4 - assistant practitioner, audio visual technician, pharmacy technician, dental nurse and theatre support worker.
Band 5
<2 years' experience £25,655
2-4 years £27,780
4+ years £31,534
Examples of roles at band 5 (includes many newly qualified clinical professionals) - operating department practitioner (ODP), podiatrist, learning disability nurse, therapeutic radiographer, practice manager and ICT test analyst
Band 6
<2 years' experience £32,306
2-5 years £34,172
5+ years £39,027
Examples of roles at band 6 - school nurse, experienced paramedic, health records manager, clinical psychology trainee and biomedical scientist.
Band 7
<2 years' experience £40,057
2-5 years £42,121
5+ years £45,839
Examples of roles at band 7 - communications manager, estates manager, high intensity therapist and advanced speech and language therapist.
Band 8a
< 5 years' experience £47,126
5+ years £53,219
Examples of roles at band 8a - consultant prosthetist/orthotist, dental laboratory manager, project and programme management, modern matron (nursing) and nurse consultant (mental health nursing).
Band 8b
< 5 years' experience £54,764
5+ years £63,862
Examples of roles at band 8b - strategic management, head of education and training, clinical physiology service manager and head orthoptist.
Band 8c
<5 years' experience £65,664
5+ years £75,874
Examples of roles at band 8c - head of human resources, consultant clinical scientist (molecular genetics/cytogenetics) and consultant paramedic.
Band 8d
<5 years' experience £78,192
5+ years £90,387
Examples of roles at band 8d include consultant psychologist (8c-8d), estates manager, chief nurse and chief finance manager.
Band 9
<5 years' experience £93,735
5+ years £108,075
Examples of roles at band 9 include podiatric consultant (surgery), chief finance manager and director of estates and facilities.
High cost area supplements
| Area | Level (1 April 2021) |
| Inner London | 20% of basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £4,608 and a maximum payment of £7,097 |
| Outer London | 15% of basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £3,898 and a maximum payment of £4,967 |
| Fringe |
5% of basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £1,066 and a maximum payment of £1,845 |
- Find out more about high cost supplements on the NHS Employers website
- Visit the NHS Employers website for the full NHS Terms and Conditions handbook
- Explore the range of roles in health and see what you could earn.