Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NHS Band 2 salary in 2026/27?
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The NHS Band 2 Agenda for Change salary for 2026/27 runs from £24,394 at the minimum to
£25,139 at the top of the band, with a mid-scale of £24,766.
Staff in Inner London also receive the High Cost Area Supplement of £5,570, making the London mid-scale gross £30,336.
How much does an NHS Band 2 take home after pension?
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At Band 2 mid-scale, the employee NHS pension contribution is 5.1%.
In London, at gross £30,336, take-home after income tax, NI, and pension is approximately
£1,985/month. Outside London (no HCAS), take-home will be lower — see the city table above.
What does an NHS Band 2 do?
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NHS Band 2 covers the Healthcare Support Worker grade. Entry-level clinical support roles: healthcare assistant, porter, domestic and catering staff.
The AfC framework defines the band by the skills, responsibility, and knowledge required — not just the job title.
How does the NHS pension work for Band 2?
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NHS Band 2 staff are enrolled in the 2015 CARE (Career Average) scheme.
The employee contribution is 5.1% of pensionable pay. The NHS employer adds 23.7%.
Each year of service accrues a guaranteed, inflation-linked annual pension of 1/54th of that year's pensionable pay.
This is a defined-benefit scheme — your pension is not subject to investment risk.