NHS Clinical Audit Officer salary, 2026/27
Clinical audit officers support the design and delivery of clinical audits across NHS Trusts, working alongside clinicians to measure compliance with NICE guidance and national audits. The role typically sits at Band 4 for assistants and Band 5 for full audit officers.
- Range (England)
- £28,392 to £39,043
- Typical bands
- Band 4, Band 5
- Hourly entry
- £14.52
- Hourly top
- £19.97
Clinical Audit Officer pay by band, England 2026/27
The table below shows the entry and top step at each band Clinical Audit Officers are typically paid on. Most Clinical Audit Officers move through the bands over the course of their career as they take on more senior or specialist responsibilities.
Clinical Audit Officer pay in Scotland
Scottish NHS staff are paid on a separate pay scale, negotiated by the Scottish Government rather than the UK Pay Review Body. Scotland consistently pays more than England at every band. The figures below are the Scottish equivalents for the same bands.
Common questions
- What pay band is a Clinical Audit Officer on?
- NHS Clinical Audit Officers sit at Band 4 or Band 5 depending on experience and the specific responsibilities of the role. Newly qualified Clinical Audit Officers usually start on the lowest banding shown, with progression to the higher bands as they take on more senior or specialist work.
- How much does an NHS Clinical Audit Officer earn in 2026/27?
- On the 2026/27 England pay scale, an NHS Clinical Audit Officer earns between £28,392 and £39,043 a year gross, depending on band and step. At the lowest entry rate that works out to roughly £14.52 an hour, and at the top rate roughly £19.97 an hour. Take-home pay after tax, NI and the NHS pension contribution is typically 70% of the gross figure. Scottish Clinical Audit Officers earn between £31,537 and £43,039 on the equivalent Scottish scale.
- Where can I find Clinical Audit Officer jobs in the NHS?
- NHS Jobs (jobs.nhs.uk) lists all current vacancies across the four UK nations. Filter by 'Pay Band' to focus on roles at the band you're interested in. HSC Recruit covers Northern Ireland (jobs.hscni.net) and NHS Scotland Jobs covers Scotland (jobs.scot.nhs.uk). Most Trusts also list vacancies on their own websites alongside the national portal.
- Does Clinical Audit Officer get London weighting?
- Only at NHS Trusts in England inside one of the three London weighting (HCAS) zones. Clinical Audit Officers working at Inner London Trusts get 20% on top of basic pay (minimum £5,794, maximum £8,746 for 2026/27). Outer London is 15%, Fringe is 5%. Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish Clinical Audit Officers don't receive a London weighting equivalent.