NHS Band 3 · Agenda for Change 2026/27

NHS Band 3 Salary 2026/27

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

Min salary
£25,438
Mid-scale
£25,979
Max salary
£27,149
Pension (emp)
5.1%
← All Bands ↓ Band 2 — £24,766/yr ↑ Band 4 — £28,740/yr
Updated April 2026 — 3.3% Agenda for Change pay award
2025/26 range
£24,625 – £26,282
+3.3%
2026/27 range
£25,438 – £27,149
+£813 at entry

NHS Band 3 Take-Home Pay by City

City Gross (inc. HCAS) Net after pension After 1-bed rent RTI%
London £31,549 £2,052/mo −£98/mo 105%
Manchester £25,979 £1,742/mo £692/mo 60%
Birmingham £25,979 £1,742/mo £892/mo 49%
Edinburgh £25,979 £1,744/mo £644/mo 63%
Glasgow £25,979 £1,744/mo £844/mo 52%
Bristol £25,979 £1,742/mo £392/mo 77%
Leeds £25,979 £1,742/mo £842/mo 52%
Sheffield £25,979 £1,742/mo £917/mo 47%
Newcastle £25,979 £1,742/mo £992/mo 43%
Nottingham £25,979 £1,742/mo £892/mo 49%
Cardiff £25,979 £1,742/mo £842/mo 52%
Aberdeen £25,979 £1,744/mo £694/mo 60%
Liverpool £25,979 £1,742/mo £942/mo 46%
Leicester £25,979 £1,742/mo £942/mo 46%
Oxford £25,979 £1,742/mo £292/mo 83%
Cambridge £25,979 £1,742/mo £242/mo 86%
Reading £25,979 £1,742/mo £392/mo 77%
Brighton £25,979 £1,742/mo £342/mo 80%
York £25,979 £1,742/mo £792/mo 55%
Exeter £25,979 £1,742/mo £742/mo 57%

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 £5,570. 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 2026/27? +
The NHS Band 3 Agenda for Change salary for 2026/27 runs from £25,438 at the minimum to £27,149 at the top of the band, with a mid-scale of £25,979. Staff in Inner London also receive the High Cost Area Supplement of £5,570, making the London mid-scale gross £31,549.
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 £31,549, take-home after income tax, NI, and pension is approximately £2,052/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.