NHS Band 2 pay 2026/27
Band 2 pays £25,272 a year in England from 1 April 2026 — about £1,700 a month take-home at entry, or £12.92 an hour.
- Entry
- £25,272
- a year, full time
- Top of band
- £25,272
- single pay point
- Take-home
- £1,700
- a month at entry
- Hourly
- £12.92
- at entry, 37.5 hours
Pay points
| Pay point | Annual | Monthly (gross) | Take-home a month | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | £25,272 | £2,106 | £1,700 | £12.92 |
Full time, 37.5 hours, England. Take-home after 2026/27 income tax, National Insurance and NHS pension, outside London. Source: NHS Employers pay scales 2026/27.
With London weighting
- Fringe
- £26,618 (+£1,346)
- Outer London
- £30,142 (+£4,870)
- Inner London
- £31,066 (+£5,794)
At the entry point, with the 2026/27 High Cost Area Supplement.
Part time
- 30 hours a week
- £20,218 · £1,419/month take-home
- 22.5 hours a week
- £15,163 · £1,137/month take-home
At the entry point, pro rata on 37.5 hours.
On top of basic pay
| Hours worked | Enhancement | Hourly at entry |
|---|---|---|
| Standard hours | — | £12.92 |
| Saturdays, and weekdays 8pm–6am | +41% | £18.22 |
| Sundays and public holidays | +83% | £23.65 |
| Overtime | Time and a half (double on public holidays) | £19.39 |
Annual leave is 27 days on appointment, 29 days after five years, 33 days after ten years, plus 8 public holidays. The NHS Pension Scheme adds an employer contribution of 23.7% of pay on top of salary. Source: NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook.
Band 2 against the bands either side
- Band 3 starts at £25,760 — £488 a year more than Band 2 at entry.
You move up a band by applying for a role that has been evaluated at the higher band — not by time served. Time served moves you up the pay points within your band. Training such as a degree apprenticeship, a registered qualification or advanced practice training is usually what opens the next band.
Typical Band 2 roles
- Healthcare assistant
- Porter
- Domestic or housekeeping assistant
Common questions
- How much is NHS Band 2 pay in 2026/27?
- Band 2 is £25,272 a year for a full-time 37.5-hour week in England, from 1 April 2026.
- How much does a Band 2 take home a month?
- About £1,700 a month at entry after income tax, National Insurance and NHS pension, outside London.
- What is the Band 2 hourly rate?
- £12.92 an hour at entry, based on 37.5 hours a week. Unsocial hours, overtime and London weighting are paid on top.
- How much extra does a Band 2 get for nights and weekends?
- Band 2 unsocial hours are paid at time plus 41% on Saturdays and weekday nights (8pm to 6am), and time plus 83% on Sundays and public holidays. At the entry point that is about £18.22 and £23.65 an hour.
- Does Band 2 get paid overtime?
- Yes. Overtime beyond 37.5 hours a week is paid at time and a half — about £19.39 an hour at entry — and double time on public holidays. Part-time staff are paid plain time for extra hours until they pass 37.5 hours in the week.
- What jobs are Band 2?
- Typical Band 2 roles include healthcare assistant, porter, domestic or housekeeping assistant. Every NHS role is banded by job evaluation, so the same title can sit in different bands at different trusts.