What is the Band 8b salary in Wales for 2026/27?

Band 8b in Wales pays from £67,583 at entry to £78,530 at the top of the scale for 2026/27. Staff progress through 5 years to reach top of band.

Does Wales pay Band 8b the same as the other UK nations?

No. Scotland pays Band 8b more at the top of band, with a top rate of £82,251 compared to £78,530 in Wales. The difference is £3,721 per year (4.7%).

What is the hourly rate for Band 8b in Wales?

Based on a standard 37.5-hour NHS week, Band 8b entry pay of £67,583 works out at £34.56 per hour, rising to £40.16 per hour at the top of band.

Band 8b pay in Wales, 2026/27

Senior service leads and consultant practitioners.

Minimum: £67,583
Maximum: £78,530
Hourly at top: £40.16
Years to top: 5

Calculate take-home pay for Band 8b in Wales

Step	Years from entry	Annual	Hourly (37.5h)
Entry	From day one	£67,583	£34.56
Intermediate	After 2 years	£71,952	£36.80
Top	After 5 years	£78,530	£40.16
Full range		£67,583 to £78,530	£34.56 to £40.16

Wales, 2026/27, effective 2026-04-01. Source: AfC(W) 02/2026 — Agenda for change payscales 2026/2027.

Band 8b in Wales, what the role involves

Band 8b covers senior service leads, consultant practitioners and the head of a smaller clinical service. Senior matrons, consultant nurses, senior service managers and heads of nursing for a specific service typically sit here. The band recognises operational responsibility for a clinical area plus significant strategic input into the wider Trust.

Band 8b roles involve more strategy than direct clinical work. A senior matron or head of nursing for a service area sets the standards and direction for the area, manages the senior team beneath them (the Band 8a matrons or service managers), and represents the service at directorate-level meetings. Consultant practitioners typically spend about a third of their time on direct clinical work and the rest on leadership, research and education.

How NHS pay is set in Wales

NHS Wales follows the same Agenda for Change framework as the rest of the UK but issues its own pay circulars (AfC(W) letters) signed off by the Welsh Government's Health and Social Services Group. Welsh settlements have historically tracked England closely, although the 2025/26 deal pulled Welsh entry rates slightly ahead at the bottom of the scale.

The Welsh Government considers the NHS Pay Review Body recommendation alongside its own pay strategy. Welsh ministers usually adopt the PRB uplift, but they have occasionally gone further or applied it differently for specific bands. Pay circulars are published by the Health and Social Services Group and apply from 1 April with backdated arrears paid later in the year.

How Band 8b pay in Wales compares to other UK nations

At the top of Band 8b in Wales, staff earn £78,530 per year for 2026/27. Scotland pays Band 8b more at the top of band: £82,251, a difference of £3,721 per year (4.7% more than Wales).

Pay rates at Band 8b are broadly aligned across the UK, with Scotland still paying modestly higher. The salary range is wide, reflecting the variety of roles that fit this banding. The Scottish Band 8b structure uses two pay points; the other three nations use three.

Recent NHS pay history in Wales

The 2025/26 settlement applied a 3.6% consolidated uplift, mirroring England in percentage terms. Welsh Band 3 entry was lifted to £25,313 (slightly above England's £24,937), reflecting the Welsh Government's stated commitment to keep the lowest entry rates above the Living Wage Foundation real Living Wage. The 2026/27 deal applied 3.3% on top, again broadly in line with England.

Common questions about Band 8b pay in Wales

What is the Band 8b salary in Wales for 2026/27?: Band 8b in Wales pays from £67,583 at entry to £78,530 at the top of the scale for 2026/27. Staff progress through 5 years to reach top of band.
Does Wales pay Band 8b the same as the other UK nations?: No. Scotland pays Band 8b more at the top of band, with a top rate of £82,251 compared to £78,530 in Wales. The difference is £3,721 per year (4.7%).
What is the hourly rate for Band 8b in Wales?: Based on a standard 37.5-hour NHS week, Band 8b entry pay of £67,583 works out at £34.56 per hour, rising to £40.16 per hour at the top of band.
How is Band 8b pay set in Wales?: The Welsh Government considers the NHS Pay Review Body recommendation alongside its own pay strategy. Welsh ministers usually adopt the PRB uplift, but they have occasionally gone further or applied it differently for specific bands. Pay circulars are published by the Health and Social Services Group and apply from 1 April with backdated arrears paid later in the year.