NHS Clinical Audit Officer salary, 2026/27

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 salary after tax, 2026/27

The figures below show Clinical Audit Officer take-home pay — the cash that lands in your bank account after income tax, employee National Insurance and the NHS pension contribution on the 2026/27 England scale. They exclude London weighting, unsocial hours and overtime. The band-level take-home pages have the full step-by-step breakdown and London weighting variants.

Assumes full-time pay, standard NHS Pension membership and no student loan. Open the band's take-home page for London weighting variants, or use the calculator to add part-time hours, student loan, or HCAS.

Clinical Audit Officer career pay progression

Most Clinical Audit Officers progress through more than one band over their career. The path below shows the typical pay journey on the 2026/27 England scale, from entry at the lowest banding to the top step at the highest. Promotion between bands depends on additional qualifications, experience or moving into a more senior post; it isn't automatic.

1. 1

   Band 4 £28,392 to £31,157 gross

   Top step net: £23,884 a year (£1,990/month). 2 steps; 3 years from entry to top.

   Step timeline
2. 2

   Band 5 £32,073 to £39,043 gross

   Top step net: £28,570 a year (£2,381/month). 3 steps; 4 years from entry to top.

   Step timeline

Across the typical Clinical Audit Officer career on the 2026/27 England scale, gross pay rises by £10,651 a year from entry on Band 4 (£28,392) to the top of Band 5 (£39,043). National pay deals add a further cost-of-living rise on top each April.

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.

What is an NHS Clinical Audit Officer salary after tax?

An NHS Clinical Audit Officer starting on Band 4 (£28,392 gross) takes home around £22,485 a year after income tax, employee National Insurance and the NHS pension contribution — about £1,874 a month. At the top of Band 5 (£39,043 gross), take-home pay rises to £28,570 a year, or £2,381 a month. The figures exclude student loan repayments, unsocial hours and London weighting.

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.