NHS AfC Pay Bands & Salaries in Northern Ireland 2026/27
Full pay scale for Northern Ireland NHS staff. Click Calculate on your band to set hours, unsocial shifts, tax code, and pension options.
Formerly used for entry-level support roles. Absorbed into Band 2 since 2004.
Healthcare Assistant, Domestic Support Worker, Porter, Catering Assistant
Clinical Support Worker, Maternity Support Worker, Therapy Assistant, Phlebotomist
Nursing Associate, Assistant Practitioner, Dental Nurse, Theatre Support Worker
Registered Nurse, Midwife, Paramedic, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist
Specialist Nurse, Health Visitor, Experienced Paramedic, Biomedical Scientist
Ward Sister, Charge Nurse, Advanced Paramedic, Clinical Pharmacist
Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Matron, Principal Clinical Psychologist
Consultant Healthcare Scientist, General Manager, Lead Pharmacist
Consultant Paramedic, Head of Clinical Service, Deputy Chief Pharmacist
Consultant Pathologist, Deputy Director of Nursing, Chief Pharmacist
Chief Nurse, Director of Clinical Services, Chief Medical Officer
Please note: Showing latest available 2025/26 HSCNI rates. The 2026/27 award is pending.
Frequently asked questions
How is my NHS take-home pay calculated?
We start with your gross annual salary, add any unsocial hours uplifts you enter, then subtract income tax, National Insurance, NHS pension contributions, and student loan repayments. The figures use 2026/27 tax rates from HMRC and NHS Employers.
What is the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system?
Agenda for Change is the NHS grading and pay system used for most staff except doctors, dentists, and some senior managers. Jobs sit in pay bands from Band 2 to Band 9, with pay points that increase with experience.
Are unsociable hours included in the base salary?
No. Nights, weekends, and bank holidays are paid as a percentage uplift on your hourly rate, on top of basic pay. Use the shift inputs on the calculator to estimate what that adds to your annual and monthly pay.
How does the NHS Pension scheme affect my monthly pay?
You pay a tiered contribution based on pensionable pay, from 5.2% up to 12.5%. Because pension comes out before tax, it lowers your income tax bill as well as your take-home pay.
Why are the Northern Ireland pay scales different?
Pay awards in Northern Ireland are implemented by the Department of Health (NI) and the Health and Social Care system (HSCNI). Implementation of the annual AfC pay awards often follows a different timeline compared to the rest of the UK due to local legislative processes at Stormont.
How is my take-home pay calculated under HSCNI?
Your net pay is calculated using the standard UK income tax bands and National Insurance rates set by HMRC. The calculator deducts these, alongside your HSC Pension scheme contributions, from your gross HSCNI Agenda for Change salary.
Is the HSC Pension scheme the same as the NHS Pension scheme?
The HSC Pension Scheme operates on virtually identical principles to the NHS Pension Scheme in England and Wales, including the use of tiered contribution rates based on actual pensionable pay. Our calculator automatically applies the correct contribution tiers for Northern Ireland.
About NHS pay in Northern Ireland
Agenda for Change sets out 9 pay bands for most NHS roles, from Band 2 through to Band 9. Your gross salary depends on your band and how long you have been in post. Take-home pay is lower once income tax, National Insurance, and NHS pension contributions are deducted.
Staff who regularly work nights, Saturdays, or bank holidays receive percentage uplifts on their hourly rate under Section 2 of the NHS Terms and Conditions. Northern Ireland uses the standard UK income tax bands for PAYE. Use the calculator on each band row to model your own circumstances.