Band 8c pay in Wales, 2026/27
Heads of profession and senior operational managers.
- Minimum
- £80,698
- Maximum
- £92,984
- Hourly at top
- £47.55
- Years to top
- 5
| Step | Years from entry | Annual | Hourly (37.5h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | From day one | £80,698 | £41.27 |
| Intermediate | After 2 years | £85,611 | £43.78 |
| Top | After 5 years | £92,984 | £47.55 |
| Full range | £80,698 to £92,984 | £41.27 to £47.55 | |
Wales, 2026/27, effective 2026-04-01. Source: AfC(W) 02/2026 — Agenda for change payscales 2026/2027.
Band 8c in Wales, what the role involves
Band 8c covers heads of profession and senior operational managers in larger services. Heads of nursing, heads of allied health professions, senior consultant practitioners and divisional managers typically sit at Band 8c. These roles are predominantly strategic and managerial, with limited or no direct clinical work.
Day-to-day work is strategy, finance, workforce planning and Board-level reporting. Most clinical work has ended by Band 8c. The focus is on leading a whole profession or division within the Trust, managing budgets in the millions, contributing to the executive team's planning, and representing the service in external bodies and inspections.
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 8c pay in Wales compares to other UK nations
At the top of Band 8c in Wales, staff earn £92,984 per year for 2026/27. Scotland pays Band 8c more at the top of band: £97,338, a difference of £4,354 per year (4.7% more than Wales).
Pay aligns closely across nations at Band 8c, with Scotland again slightly higher. The range is wide because the band covers everything from a small Trust head of profession to a divisional director in a large teaching hospital.
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 8c pay in Wales
- What is the Band 8c salary in Wales for 2026/27?
- Band 8c in Wales pays from £80,698 at entry to £92,984 at the top of the scale for 2026/27. Staff progress through 5 years to reach top of band.
- Does Wales pay Band 8c the same as the other UK nations?
- No. Scotland pays Band 8c more at the top of band, with a top rate of £97,338 compared to £92,984 in Wales. The difference is £4,354 per year (4.7%).
- What is the hourly rate for Band 8c in Wales?
- Based on a standard 37.5-hour NHS week, Band 8c entry pay of £80,698 works out at £41.27 per hour, rising to £47.55 per hour at the top of band.
- How is Band 8c 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.