NHS Cytology Screener salary, 2026/27
Cytology screeners (also called cervical cytology screeners) examine cervical screening samples for abnormal cells. The role requires the Diploma in Cervical Cytology. Most cytology screeners are at Band 6 across the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.
- Range (England)
- £39,959 to £48,117
- Typical band
- Band 6
- Hourly entry
- £20.44
- Hourly top
- £24.61
Cytology Screener pay by band, England 2026/27
The table below shows the entry and top step at each band Cytology Screeners are typically paid on. Most Cytology Screeners move through the bands over the course of their career as they take on more senior or specialist responsibilities.
Cytology Screener salary after tax, 2026/27
The figures below show Cytology Screener 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.
Gross vs net at the top of each band on the 2026/27 England scale
| Band | Entry net | Top net | Monthly at top | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 6 | £29,157 | £34,391 | £2,866 | Full breakdown |
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.
Cytology Screener 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.
| Band (Scotland) | Entry | Top |
|---|---|---|
| Band 6 | £43,231 | £52,679 |
Common questions
- What pay band is a Cytology Screener on?
- Most NHS Cytology Screeners are banded at Band 6. The exact responsibility level can vary slightly between Trusts, but the banding is consistent across the NHS because the Job Evaluation Scheme produces the same score for the same job description.
- How much does an NHS Cytology Screener earn in 2026/27?
- On the 2026/27 England pay scale, an NHS Cytology Screener earns between £39,959 and £48,117 a year gross, depending on band and step. At the lowest entry rate that works out to roughly £20.44 an hour, and at the top rate roughly £24.61 an hour. Take-home pay after tax, NI and the NHS pension contribution is typically 70% of the gross figure. Scottish Cytology Screeners earn between £43,231 and £52,679 on the equivalent Scottish scale.
- Where can I find Cytology Screener 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 Cytology Screener salary after tax?
- An NHS Cytology Screener starting on Band 6 (£39,959 gross) takes home around £29,157 a year after income tax, employee National Insurance and the NHS pension contribution — about £2,430 a month. At the top of Band 6 (£48,117 gross), take-home pay is £34,391 a year, or £2,866 a month. The figures exclude student loan repayments, unsocial hours and London weighting.
- Does Cytology Screener get London weighting?
- Only at NHS Trusts in England inside one of the three London weighting (HCAS) zones. Cytology Screeners 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 Cytology Screeners don't receive a London weighting equivalent.