Band 8d pay in Wales, 2026/27
Deputy directors and large-service heads.
- Minimum
- £95,773
- Maximum
- £110,448
- Hourly at top
- £56.48
- Years to top
- 5
| Step | Years from entry | Annual | Hourly (37.5h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | From day one | £95,773 | £48.98 |
| Intermediate | After 2 years | £101,643 | £51.98 |
| Top | After 5 years | £110,448 | £56.48 |
| Full range | £95,773 to £110,448 | £48.98 to £56.48 | |
Wales, 2026/27, effective 2026-04-01. Source: AfC(W) 02/2026 — Agenda for change payscales 2026/2027.
Band 8d in Wales, what the role involves
Band 8d is the senior deputy band. Deputy directors of nursing, deputy chief allied health professionals, directors of a major clinical service line and very senior operational managers typically sit here. Band 8d roles are board-adjacent: the staff reporting directly to an executive director sit at this band.
Whole service line responsibility, multi-million pound budgets, and direct accountability to the executive team. Most Band 8d staff don't do clinical work at all. The role is strategic planning, performance management of large teams of Band 8c and 8b managers, and acting as the executive director's deputy across the service.
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 8d pay in Wales compares to other UK nations
At the top of Band 8d in Wales, staff earn £110,448 per year for 2026/27. Scotland pays Band 8d more at the top of band: £112,426, a difference of £1,978 per year (1.8% more than Wales).
Band 8d pay sits in the £90,000 to £110,000 range across all four nations. The Scottish pay structure caps slightly lower than England at the top step.
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 8d pay in Wales
- What is the Band 8d salary in Wales for 2026/27?
- Band 8d in Wales pays from £95,773 at entry to £110,448 at the top of the scale for 2026/27. Staff progress through 5 years to reach top of band.
- Does Wales pay Band 8d the same as the other UK nations?
- No. Scotland pays Band 8d more at the top of band, with a top rate of £112,426 compared to £110,448 in Wales. The difference is £1,978 per year (1.8%).
- What is the hourly rate for Band 8d in Wales?
- Based on a standard 37.5-hour NHS week, Band 8d entry pay of £95,773 works out at £48.98 per hour, rising to £56.48 per hour at the top of band.
- How is Band 8d 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.