NHS Band 3 · Agenda for Change 2025/26

NHS Band 3 Salary 2025/26

Senior Healthcare Support Worker. Senior HCA, phlebotomist, medical secretary, pharmacy technician assistant.

Min salary
£24,625
Mid-scale
£25,149
Max salary
£26,282
Pension (emp)
5.1%
← All Bands ↓ Band 2 — £23,975/yr ↑ Band 4 — £27,822/yr

NHS Band 3 Take-Home Pay by City

City Gross (inc. HCAS) Net after pension After 1-bed rent RTI%
London £30,541 £1,996/mo −£54/mo 103%
Manchester £25,149 £1,695/mo £645/mo 62%
Birmingham £25,149 £1,695/mo £845/mo 50%
Edinburgh £25,149 £1,697/mo £597/mo 65%
Glasgow £25,149 £1,697/mo £797/mo 53%
Bristol £25,149 £1,695/mo £345/mo 80%
Leeds £25,149 £1,695/mo £795/mo 53%
Sheffield £25,149 £1,695/mo £870/mo 49%
Newcastle £25,149 £1,695/mo £945/mo 44%
Nottingham £25,149 £1,695/mo £845/mo 50%
Cardiff £25,149 £1,695/mo £795/mo 53%
Aberdeen £25,149 £1,697/mo £647/mo 62%
Liverpool £25,149 £1,695/mo £895/mo 47%
Leicester £25,149 £1,695/mo £895/mo 47%
Oxford £25,149 £1,695/mo £245/mo 86%
Cambridge £25,149 £1,695/mo £195/mo 88%
Reading £25,149 £1,695/mo £345/mo 80%
Brighton £25,149 £1,695/mo £295/mo 83%
York £25,149 £1,695/mo £745/mo 56%
Exeter £25,149 £1,695/mo £695/mo 59%

Net after pension = take-home after income tax, National Insurance, and 5.1% employee pension contribution. RTI% = rent-to-income ratio. London figure includes Inner HCAS of £5,392. Click any city for the full breakdown including council tax, transport, and monthly budget.

NHS Band 3 Pension

Contribution Rates
Employee rate 5.1%
NHS employer rate 23.7%
2015 CARE Scheme

NHS Band 3 staff are in the 2015 Career Average (CARE) defined-benefit scheme. Each year of service builds a guaranteed, inflation-linked pension — paid for life at retirement. The 23.7% NHS employer contribution is effectively additional salary you cannot withdraw early.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NHS Band 3 salary in 2025/26? +
The NHS Band 3 Agenda for Change salary for 2025/26 runs from £24,625 at the minimum to £26,282 at the top of the band, with a mid-scale of £25,149. Staff in Inner London also receive the High Cost Area Supplement of £5,392, making the London mid-scale gross £30,541.
How much does an NHS Band 3 take home after pension? +
At Band 3 mid-scale, the employee NHS pension contribution is 5.1%. In London, at gross £30,541, take-home after income tax, NI, and pension is approximately £1,996/month. Outside London (no HCAS), take-home will be lower — see the city table above.
What does an NHS Band 3 do? +
NHS Band 3 covers the Senior Healthcare Support Worker grade. Senior HCA, phlebotomist, medical secretary, pharmacy technician assistant. 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 3? +
NHS Band 3 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.