NHS Pay
NHS Pay Bands vs the £13.21 National Living Wage (April 2027)
Independent guidance — not affiliated with NHS England or DHSC
This page is for NHS staff on the lowest Agenda for Change bands, and anyone who wants to know whether the new National Living Wage overtakes any NHS pay points. It uses the 2026/27 England pay scale and the Budget's announced rate. FrontlinePay is independent.
Short answer
From 1 April 2027 the National Living Wage is £13.21 an hour, which is about £25,831 a year on a 37.5-hour week. On today's scale that is above 3 of the 6 points in Bands 1 to 4: Bands 1 and 2, and the bottom of Band 3. The government's evidence for 2027/28 plans for a 2.4% uplift, which would lift those points above the new rate by a few pence an hour. That is arithmetic on a planning figure, not an award: nothing has been announced.
National Living Wage, April 2027
£13.21
Up 3.9% from £12.71 (Treasury, 28 Oct 2026)
Bands 1 and 2 today
£12.92
An hour on a 37.5-hour week, our conversion
Points below £13.21 today
3 of 6
Bands 1 to 4, before any award
Which points are below £13.21
| Pay point | Annual, 2026/27 | Hourly | Against £13.21 | With 2.4% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | £25,272 | £12.92 | Below, short by about £559 a year | £13.23 (above) |
| Band 2 | £25,272 | £12.92 | Below, short by about £559 a year | £13.23 (above) |
| Band 3, bottom point | £25,760 | £13.17 | Below, short by about £71 a year | £13.49 (above) |
| Band 3, top point | £27,476 | £14.05 | Above | £14.39 (above) |
| Band 4, bottom point | £28,392 | £14.52 | Above | £14.87 (above) |
| Band 4, top point | £31,157 | £15.93 | Above | £16.32 (above) |
England scale for 2026/27. Wales and Northern Ireland use the same scale; Scotland has its own, see Scotland Band 2. "With 2.4%" multiplies each point by 1.024, the government's planning figure for 2027/28.
What a 2.4% award would do
The government's evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body, published on 19 October 2026, says its plans currently plan for a pay uplift of 2.4%. Applied to the bottom of Band 2, that is about £25,879 a year, around £13.23 an hour: above £13.21, but only by pence. If the final award were lower than 2.4%, the lowest points could sit under the minimum wage until they are uplifted. The review body, not the government's planning figure, makes the recommendation, and no date has been published. See NHS pay award 2027/28.
How we worked it out
Hourly pay is annual pay divided by 37.5 hours and 52.143 weeks, which is our conversion for a full-time Agenda for Change week. The National Living Wage figure and the 3.9% rise come from the Treasury's Budget 2026 press release. Pay points come from NHS Employers' 2026/27 tables. We have not added unsocial hours, overtime or High Cost Area Supplement, none of which count towards the minimum wage comparison here.
What happened last time
The review body's 39th report notes that interim uplifts had to be applied to Bands 1 and 2 from 1 April 2025, so that pay stayed compliant before its recommendation could be implemented. We do not know whether that will be needed for April 2027. A staff member on the lowest points who is paid below the minimum wage should raise it with payroll and, if it is not corrected, ACAS or HMRC.
ℹCheck your own pay
Use the NHS Pay Calculator for your band, point and take-home, and the hourly pay rates by band page for every band.
Free download: 2026/27 Agenda for Change pay scales
One page, every band, annual and hourly. We'll also email you when a pay award, back pay date or pay-scale change is confirmed.
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NHS Pay Calculator
Your take-home for your band and point.
NHS Pay Rise Calculator
Your salary for any percentage you enter, as a what-if.
Related guides
NHS Pay Award 2027/28: Government Plans 2.4%
The review body round and what is not known.
Budget 2026: What Changed for NHS Pay and Pensions
What the Budget decided, with sources.
NHS Band 2 Salary 2026/27
The Band 2 pay point and take-home.
NHS Band 3 Salary 2026/27
Both Band 3 pay points.
NHS Hourly Pay Rates by Band
Every band as an hourly rate.
Frequently asked questions
What is the National Living Wage from April 2027? +
Will any NHS pay bands fall below the National Living Wage in April 2027? +
What happened last time the National Living Wage overtook the bottom pay point? +
Does this use 37.5 hours? +
General information as of 29 October 2026. FrontlinePay is independent and not affiliated with the NHS, DHSC or HM Treasury. Source for the National Living Wage: HM Treasury, Budget 2026 press release, GOV.UK.
Free download: 2026/27 Agenda for Change pay scales
One page, every band, annual and hourly. We'll also email you when a pay award, back pay date or pay-scale change is confirmed.
Free. Independent, not affiliated with the NHS. Every email has an unsubscribe link. See our privacy policy.