NHS Matron salary, 2026/27
Modern matrons take cross-ward or cross-service responsibility, supervising several Band 7 ward managers and leading on quality, safety and patient experience for a clinical area. The role is consistently graded at Band 8a. Senior matrons and divisional matrons with wider responsibility progress to Band 8b.
- Range (England)
- £57,528 to £64,750
- Typical band
- Band 8a
- Hourly entry
- £29.42
- Hourly top
- £33.11
Matron pay by band, England 2026/27
The table below shows the entry and top step at each band Matrons are typically paid on. Most Matrons move through the bands over the course of their career as they take on more senior or specialist responsibilities.
Matron salary after tax, 2026/27
The figures below show Matron 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 8a | £40,230 | £43,955 | £3,663 | 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.
Matron 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 8a | £65,125 | £70,303 |
Common questions
- What pay band is a Matron on?
- Most NHS Matrons are banded at Band 8a. 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 Matron earn in 2026/27?
- On the 2026/27 England pay scale, an NHS Matron earns between £57,528 and £64,750 a year gross, depending on band and step. At the lowest entry rate that works out to roughly £29.42 an hour, and at the top rate roughly £33.11 an hour. Take-home pay after tax, NI and the NHS pension contribution is typically 70% of the gross figure. Scottish Matrons earn between £65,125 and £70,303 on the equivalent Scottish scale.
- Where can I find Matron 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 Matron salary after tax?
- An NHS Matron starting on Band 8a (£57,528 gross) takes home around £40,230 a year after income tax, employee National Insurance and the NHS pension contribution — about £3,353 a month. At the top of Band 8a (£64,750 gross), take-home pay is £43,955 a year, or £3,663 a month. The figures exclude student loan repayments, unsocial hours and London weighting.
- Does Matron get London weighting?
- Only at NHS Trusts in England inside one of the three London weighting (HCAS) zones. Matrons 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 Matrons don't receive a London weighting equivalent.