NHS pay scales 2018/19
Annual pay scales for every NHS band in 2018/19, drawn from the official circular for each of the four UK nations.
The 2018/19 NHS pay deal
The 2018/19 pay round was the first year of the 2018-2021 three-year deal, the most significant restructuring of NHS Agenda for Change pay since the scheme was introduced in 2004. It raised entry pay, started closing legacy spine points, and committed the UK Government to three years of above-inflation increases.
The 2018-2021 framework deal was negotiated between the UK Government, NHS Employers and the NHS Staff Council (representing the major trade unions) in early 2018 and ratified by union members in a consultative ballot. The deal was published on 27 March 2018 and applied retrospectively to 1 April 2018. It promised £4.2bn of additional funding over three years and committed to raising the lowest NHS pay rates above the National Living Wage, removing legacy spine points and reforming pay progression.
Headline figures, 2018/19
The most-searched NHS bands are 5, 6 and 7, covering staff nurses, specialist nurses and ward managers. Entry salaries for these bands are shown below for each nation.
| Band | England | Scotland | Wales | N. Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 5 entry | £23,023 | — | — | — |
| Band 6 entry | £28,050 | — | — | — |
| Band 7 entry | £33,222 | — | — | — |
What changed in 2018/19
Band 1 was closed to new entrants from 1 December 2018, with the entry route redirected to Band 2. Many legacy spine points were marked as transitional with a planned end date. Entry pay at every band moved up substantially. The deal set a clear three-year roadmap to reach the consolidated Entry/Intermediate/Top structure that has been in use since 2021/22.
Union response
The deal followed a sustained pay cap that had held NHS pay growth to 1% per year since 2010, well below inflation, and represented a significant breakthrough. Unions including Unison, the RCN and Unite recommended acceptance, though they noted that the deal would not fully restore the cumulative real-terms losses since 2010. Around 76% of those who voted in the consultative ballot supported acceptance.
England
Pay scale, effective 2018-04-01
| Band | Minimum | Steps | Maximum | Hourly at top |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 closed | £17,460 | 1 | Single rate | £8.93 |
| Band 2 | £17,460 | 3 | £18,702 | £9.56 |
| Band 3 | £17,787 | 6 | £20,448 | £10.46 |
| Band 4 | £20,150 | 6 | £23,363 | £11.95 |
| Band 5 | £23,023 | 7 | £29,608 | £15.14 |
| Band 6 | £28,050 | 8 | £36,644 | £18.74 |
| Band 7 | £33,222 | 8 | £43,041 | £22.01 |
| Band 8a | £42,414 | 5 | £49,969 | £25.55 |
| Band 8b | £49,242 | 5 | £59,964 | £30.67 |
| Band 8c | £59,090 | 5 | £71,243 | £36.43 |
| Band 8d | £70,206 | 5 | £85,333 | £43.64 |
| Band 9 | £84,507 | 5 | £102,506 | £52.42 |
England pay scales for 2018/19, effective 2018-04-01. Hourly rate uses the 37.5-hour NHS working week. Source: NHS terms and conditions pay poster 2018/19 — NHS Employers.
Common questions about 2018/19 NHS pay
- What is the NHS pay scale for 2018/19?
- The 2018/19 NHS pay scale applies to all Agenda for Change staff. Each UK nation publishes its own circular. The figures shown are drawn from the relevant official documents.
- Do all four UK nations pay the same NHS rates in 2018/19?
- No. Each nation negotiates its own pay scale. England, Wales and Northern Ireland usually follow the NHS Pay Review Body recommendation, while Scotland negotiates directly between the Scottish Government and trade unions. Differences are usually small at lower bands but can be larger at senior bands.
- What was the 2018 NHS three-year pay deal?
- The 2018-2021 framework agreement was a three-year NHS pay deal negotiated between the UK Government, NHS Employers and the NHS Staff Council in early 2018. It committed £4.2bn of additional pay funding over three years, restructured the Agenda for Change pay scale, raised entry pay above the National Living Wage and closed Band 1 to new entrants.
- Why was the 2018 NHS pay deal a big change?
- Between 2010 and 2018, NHS pay had been held to a 1% per year cap, well below inflation. The 2018 deal was the first multi-year settlement since then to commit to above-inflation increases and the first major restructure of Agenda for Change since it was introduced in 2004. It also began the consolidation of legacy spine points that completed under the 2021/22 scale.