NHS Band 6 hourly rate, England 2026/27
Band 6 basic hourly pay runs from £20.44 an hour at entry to £24.61 an hour at the top step, calculated on the standard 37.5 hour NHS working week. This is the figure before any unsocial hours enhancement for nights, weekends or bank holidays.
Band 6 hourly rate by step
Band 6 pay is structured with 3 pay points: new starters join on the entry rate, with progression through the band over 5 years.
| Step | Years from entry | Annual | Hourly (37.5h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | From day one | £39,959 | £20.44 |
| Intermediate | After 2 years | £42,170 | £21.57 |
| Top | After 5 years | £48,117 | £24.61 |
What a typical Band 6 shift pays
NHS shifts vary in length depending on the role and the Trust. A ward nurse might do 12 hour day shifts; a clinic-based therapist will typically do 8 hour days; community staff often work a mix. Below is the basic pay for a single shift at the entry step (£20.44 an hour) and the top step (£24.61 an hour). Add the relevant Section 2 enhancement if the shift falls on a weekday night, a weekend or a bank holiday.
| Shift | Paid hours | Entry pay | Top pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 hour shift. Long day shift with an unpaid 30 minute break. | 11.5 | £235.01 | £282.99 |
| 8 hour shift. Standard day shift with an unpaid 30 minute break. | 7.5 | £153.27 | £184.56 |
| Half day (4 hours). Short shift, common in clinics and part time work. | 4 | £81.74 | £98.43 |
Figures are gross pay before tax, National Insurance and the NHS pension contribution. The actual cash hitting your bank account is roughly 30% lower after deductions.
How Band 6 hourly rate compares across the UK
Hourly pay varies between the four UK nations because Scotland negotiates its own pay deal. England, Wales and Northern Ireland follow the Pay Review Body, so their hourly rates are usually identical or very close.
| Nation | Entry hourly | Top hourly |
|---|---|---|
| England | £20.44 | £24.61 |
| Scotland | £22.11 | £26.94 |
| Wales | £20.74 | £24.98 |
| Northern Ireland | £19.78 | £23.82 |
Common questions
- How is the Band 6 hourly rate worked out?
- Hourly pay is calculated from the annual salary divided by the contracted hours over a year. The NHS uses a 37.5 hour week as the standard full time contract, which works out to 1,955 paid hours a year (37.5 hours x 52.143 weeks). At £39,959 a year, that's £20.44 an hour at entry. At the top step of £48,117 it's £24.61 an hour.
- Does the Band 6 hourly rate include unsocial hours pay?
- No. The hourly rate on this page is the basic rate before any unsocial hours enhancement. Section 2 of the Agenda for Change handbook adds a percentage on top for shifts on weekday nights, Saturdays and Sundays. For Band 4 to 9 staff, the enhancement is 30% for weekday nights and Saturdays, 60% for Sundays and bank holidays. See the unsocial hours pay page for the full table.
- Is the Band 6 hourly rate the same in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
- No. Scotland pays more than England at every band. On the 2026/27 Scottish scale, Band 6 entry works out to £22.11 an hour and the top step is £26.94. Wales and Northern Ireland match England's basic rate closely, with small differences at the lower bands.
- Do part time NHS staff get the same hourly rate as full time?
- Yes. Part time staff are paid the same hourly rate as full time staff on the same band and step. The only difference is the number of contracted hours per week. Pension contributions, annual leave entitlement and unsocial hours premia are all calculated pro rata, but the underlying hourly figure stays the same.
- What's the difference between basic hourly rate and enhanced hourly rate?
- Basic hourly rate is what you get for a normal weekday shift between 6am and 8pm. Enhanced hourly rate adds an unsocial hours percentage on top for shifts that fall on weekday nights, Saturdays or Sundays. For a Band 5 nurse on the 2026/27 scale, basic is around £16.40 an hour at entry, the weekday night and Saturday rate is around £21.30, and the Sunday and bank holiday rate is around £26.20.