What is the NHS pay scale for 2023/24?

The 2023/24 NHS pay scale in England applied a 5% consolidated uplift to all Agenda for Change pay points, backdated to 2023-04-01. 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 2023/24?

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.

Why were there NHS strikes in 2022 and 2023?

Inflation in 2022 ran at over 10%, while the 2022/23 pay award had been roughly 4%. Real-terms pay was falling significantly, on top of years of below-inflation settlements since 2010. The combination tipped union ballots over the 50% turnout threshold required by trade union law, leading to the first nationwide RCN strikes in the union's history.

Did NHS staff get a one-off bonus in 2023/24?

Yes. The 2023/24 settlement included a one-off non-consolidated payment of between £1,250 and £1,655 depending on band, paid in two instalments in 2023. The payment did not become part of the substantive pay scale, so it did not feed into future annual uplifts.

Why did Scotland get more than England in 2023/24?

Scotland's deal was negotiated separately by the Scottish Government and Scottish unions, rather than through the UK-wide Pay Review Body. The Scottish offer was 6.5% consolidated plus a one-off payment, compared to England's 5% consolidated. The higher Scottish settlement reflected a deliberate Scottish Government policy of paying NHS staff above the rest-of-UK rate to support recruitment and retention.

NHS pay scales 2023/24

Annual pay scales for every NHS band in 2023/24, drawn from the official circular for each of the four UK nations. England uplift: 5% on 2022/23 pay scales.

The 2023/24 NHS pay deal

The 2023/24 pay round delivered a 5% consolidated uplift for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland delivered a 6.5% consolidated uplift on top of a one-off £387 non-consolidated payment, plus structural pay scale adjustments at Band 8b and above to address pay compression.

The 2023/24 deal followed a turbulent period of NHS pay disputes, including widespread strike action by RCN, Unison and other unions through late 2022 and early 2023. The UK Government's final offer in March 2023 included a 5% consolidated uplift to all Agenda for Change pay points plus a one-off non-consolidated payment of £1,250 to £1,655. The PRB process was effectively pre-empted by the negotiated settlement. Scotland negotiated separately, agreeing a 6.5% consolidated uplift plus £387 non-consolidated, with additional structural adjustments at senior bands.

Headline figures, 2023/24

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	£28,407	£30,229	£28,834	—
Band 6 entry	£35,392	£37,831	£35,922	—
Band 7 entry	£43,742	£46,244	£44,398	—

What changed in 2023/24

The 2023/24 pay scale moved up by 5% in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (6.5% in Scotland) but the structural reform was minimal at lower bands. Scotland made structural adjustments to compress the gap at Band 8b and above. The one-off non-consolidated payment did not feed into future pay scale calculations, so its long-term effect was less than the headline number suggested.

Union response

Industrial action characterised the run-up to the 2023/24 deal. The RCN balloted members for strike action for the first time in its 106-year history, and Unison, Unite and the GMB ran similar ballots. England saw nurse strikes in December 2022 and January, February and May 2023, with ambulance staff also striking. The final settlement was accepted reluctantly by most unions, with the RCN narrowly rejecting it but the broader NHS Staff Council voting to accept on the basis that it was the best achievable outcome.

England

5% uplift, effective 2023-04-01

England pay scale

Band	Minimum	Steps	Maximum	Hourly at top
Band 1 closed	£22,383	1	Single rate	£11.45
Band 2	£22,383	1	Single rate	£11.45
Band 3	£22,816	2	£24,336	£12.45
Band 4	£25,147	2	£27,596	£14.11
Band 5	£28,407	3	£34,581	£17.69
Band 6	£35,392	3	£42,618	£21.80
Band 7	£43,742	3	£50,056	£25.60
Band 8a	£50,952	2	£57,349	£29.33
Band 8b	£58,972	2	£68,525	£35.04
Band 8c	£70,417	2	£81,138	£41.50
Band 8d	£83,571	2	£96,376	£49.29
Band 9	£99,891	2	£114,949	£58.79

England pay scales for 2023/24, effective 2023-04-01. Hourly rate uses the 37.5-hour NHS working week. Source: Pay scales for 2023/24 [Archived] — NHS Employers.

Scotland

6.5% uplift, effective 2023-04-01

Scotland pay scale

Band	Minimum	Steps	Maximum	Hourly at top
Band 1 closed	£23,240	1	Single rate	£11.89
Band 2	£23,362	2	£25,368	£12.97
Band 3	£25,468	2	£27,486	£14.06
Band 4	£27,598	2	£30,019	£15.35
Band 5	£30,229	3	£37,664	£19.26
Band 6	£37,831	3	£46,100	£23.58
Band 7	£46,244	3	£53,789	£27.51
Band 8a	£56,992	2	£61,522	£31.46
Band 8b	£67,285	2	£71,978	£36.81
Band 8c	£79,466	2	£85,181	£43.56
Band 8d	£94,345	2	£98,384	£50.31
Band 9	£111,595	2	£116,428	£59.54

Scotland pay scales for 2023/24, effective 2023-04-01. Hourly rate uses the 37.5-hour NHS working week. Source: PCS(AFC)2024/5 Annex A — 2023/24 baseline rates.

Wales

5% uplift, effective 2023-04-01

Wales pay scale

Band	Minimum	Steps	Maximum	Hourly at top
Band 1 closed	£22,720	1	Single rate	£11.62
Band 2	£22,720	1	Single rate	£11.62
Band 3	£23,159	2	£24,701	£12.63
Band 4	£25,524	2	£28,010	£14.32
Band 5	£28,834	3	£35,099	£17.95
Band 6	£35,922	3	£43,257	£22.12
Band 7	£44,398	3	£50,807	£25.98
Band 8a	£51,706	2	£58,210	£29.77
Band 8b	£59,857	2	£69,553	£35.57
Band 8c	£71,473	2	£82,355	£42.12
Band 8d	£84,825	2	£97,822	£50.03
Band 9	£101,390	2	£116,673	£59.67

Wales pay scales for 2023/24, effective 2023-04-01. Hourly rate uses the 37.5-hour NHS working week. Source: AfC(W) 04/2023 — Agenda for change payscales 2023/2024.

Common questions about 2023/24 NHS pay

What is the NHS pay scale for 2023/24?: The 2023/24 NHS pay scale in England applied a 5% consolidated uplift to all Agenda for Change pay points, backdated to 2023-04-01. 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 2023/24?: 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.
Why were there NHS strikes in 2022 and 2023?: Inflation in 2022 ran at over 10%, while the 2022/23 pay award had been roughly 4%. Real-terms pay was falling significantly, on top of years of below-inflation settlements since 2010. The combination tipped union ballots over the 50% turnout threshold required by trade union law, leading to the first nationwide RCN strikes in the union's history.
Did NHS staff get a one-off bonus in 2023/24?: Yes. The 2023/24 settlement included a one-off non-consolidated payment of between £1,250 and £1,655 depending on band, paid in two instalments in 2023. The payment did not become part of the substantive pay scale, so it did not feed into future annual uplifts.
Why did Scotland get more than England in 2023/24?: Scotland's deal was negotiated separately by the Scottish Government and Scottish unions, rather than through the UK-wide Pay Review Body. The Scottish offer was 6.5% consolidated plus a one-off payment, compared to England's 5% consolidated. The higher Scottish settlement reflected a deliberate Scottish Government policy of paying NHS staff above the rest-of-UK rate to support recruitment and retention.