NHS Health Records Assistant salary, 2026/27
Health records assistants support the management of patient records, including filing, retrieval, scanning and quality assurance. The role is being reshaped by the move to electronic patient records but remains a common entry route into NHS admin and information roles. Most posts are Band 2 or 3.
- Range (England)
- £25,272 to £27,476
- Typical bands
- Band 2, Band 3
- Hourly entry
- £12.92
- Hourly top
- £14.05
Health Records Assistant pay by band, England 2026/27
The table below shows the entry and top step at each band Health Records Assistants are typically paid on. Most Health Records Assistants move through the bands over the course of their career as they take on more senior or specialist responsibilities.
Health Records Assistant salary after tax, 2026/27
The figures below show Health Records Assistant 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 2 | £20,401 | £20,401 | £1,700 | Full breakdown |
| Band 3 | £20,727 | £21,874 | £1,823 | 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.
Health Records Assistant career pay progression
Most Health Records Assistants 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 Step timeline
Band 2 £25,272 gross
Top step net: £20,401 a year (£1,700/month). Single pay point.
- 2 Step timeline
Band 3 £25,760 to £27,476 gross
Top step net: £21,874 a year (£1,823/month). 2 steps; 2 years from entry to top.
Across the typical Health Records Assistant career on the 2026/27 England scale, gross pay rises by £2,204 a year from entry on Band 2 (£25,272) to the top of Band 3 (£27,476). National pay deals add a further cost-of-living rise on top each April.
Health Records Assistant 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 Health Records Assistant on?
- NHS Health Records Assistants sit at Band 2 or Band 3 depending on experience and the specific responsibilities of the role. Newly qualified Health Records Assistants 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 Health Records Assistant earn in 2026/27?
- On the 2026/27 England pay scale, an NHS Health Records Assistant earns between £25,272 and £27,476 a year gross, depending on band and step. At the lowest entry rate that works out to roughly £12.92 an hour, and at the top rate roughly £14.05 an hour. Take-home pay after tax, NI and the NHS pension contribution is typically 70% of the gross figure. Scottish Health Records Assistants earn between £26,696 and £31,409 on the equivalent Scottish scale.
- Where can I find Health Records Assistant 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 Health Records Assistant salary after tax?
- An NHS Health Records Assistant starting on Band 2 (£25,272 gross) takes home around £20,401 a year after income tax, employee National Insurance and the NHS pension contribution — about £1,700 a month. At the top of Band 3 (£27,476 gross), take-home pay rises to £21,874 a year, or £1,823 a month. The figures exclude student loan repayments, unsocial hours and London weighting.
- Does Health Records Assistant get London weighting?
- Only at NHS Trusts in England inside one of the three London weighting (HCAS) zones. Health Records Assistants 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 Health Records Assistants don't receive a London weighting equivalent.