NHS pay scales 2021/22
Annual pay scales for every NHS band in 2021/22, drawn from the official circular for each of the four UK nations. England uplift: 3% on 2020/21 pay scales.
The 2021/22 NHS pay deal
The 2021/22 pay round delivered a 3% consolidated uplift to all pay points in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, following a year in which NHS staff had worked through the most intense phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021/22 deal was decided after the 2020/21 NHS staff had been through the COVID-19 pandemic. The UK Government's initial offer was 1%, which was widely condemned as insulting given the pandemic effort. After ballots and threats of industrial action, the final settlement was 3%, applied retrospectively from 1 April 2021. NHS Employers published the implementation circular in July 2021 with arrears paid in August or September. Scotland made a separate offer earlier in the year that was slightly higher.
Headline figures, 2021/22
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 | £25,655 | — | — | — |
| Band 6 entry | £32,306 | — | — | — |
| Band 7 entry | £40,057 | — | — | — |
What changed in 2021/22
Every pay point moved up by 3%. The pay structure was unchanged from 2020/21. The settlement was applied retrospectively to 1 April 2021 with arrears paid later in the year.
Union response
The 2021/22 round was politically charged because it followed a year in which NHS staff had worked through the COVID-19 pandemic. Unions argued for a substantial real-terms rise to reflect that contribution. The initial 1% government offer was met with public protests outside government buildings. The eventual 3% settlement was higher than the initial offer but below the union ask of 12.5%.
England
3% uplift, effective 2021-04-01
| Band | Minimum | Steps | Maximum | Hourly at top |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 closed | £18,546 | 1 | Single rate | £9.48 |
| Band 2 | £18,546 | 2 | £19,918 | £10.19 |
| Band 3 | £20,330 | 2 | £21,777 | £11.14 |
| Band 4 | £22,549 | 2 | £24,882 | £12.73 |
| Band 5 | £25,655 | 3 | £31,534 | £16.13 |
| Band 6 | £32,306 | 3 | £39,027 | £19.96 |
| Band 7 | £40,057 | 3 | £45,839 | £23.44 |
| Band 8a | £47,126 | 2 | £53,219 | £27.22 |
| Band 8b | £54,764 | 2 | £63,862 | £32.66 |
| Band 8c | £65,664 | 2 | £75,874 | £38.80 |
| Band 8d | £78,192 | 2 | £90,387 | £46.23 |
| Band 9 | £93,735 | 2 | £108,075 | £55.27 |
England pay scales for 2021/22, effective 2021-04-01. Hourly rate uses the 37.5-hour NHS working week. Source: Annual pay scales 2021/22 [Archived] — NHS Employers.
Common questions about 2021/22 NHS pay
- What is the NHS pay scale for 2021/22?
- The 2021/22 NHS pay scale in England applied a 3% consolidated uplift to all Agenda for Change pay points, backdated to 2021-04-01. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each negotiated separately, with the figures shown in the tables below.
- Do all four UK nations pay the same NHS rates in 2021/22?
- 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.
- Did NHS staff get a pandemic bonus?
- Beyond the 3% consolidated rise in 2021/22, there was no separate one-off NHS pandemic bonus in England or Wales. Scotland paid a £500 thank-you payment to all NHS staff in 2020. Some Trusts ran their own internal recognition schemes, but there was no UK-wide bonus scheme.
- Why was the 2021/22 deal controversial?
- The UK Government's opening offer was 1%, which was widely seen as inadequate given the role NHS staff had played during the COVID-19 pandemic. The final 3% settlement was higher but still below the consensus inflation rate for the period and well below the 12.5% union ask. The disconnect between public messaging about NHS staff as 'heroes' during the pandemic and the modest pay offer fed the run of disputes that followed in 2022 and 2023.