This article includes the 5% pay rise announced in May 2023. It applies to all staff working on NHS pay scales, even those whose unions have not accepted the pay deal. More information about the NHS pay rise for 2023/24 can be found on our news article.
Agenda for Change England Pay Rise – Background
Many staff working in the NHS are employed on standard terms and conditions called Agenda for Change, also known as AfC. Pay is also standardised across much of the NHS.
Agenda for Change pay scales are broken down into a series of NHS pay bands, ranging from band 1 to band 9. Within each pay band, pay can increase depending on years of service.
This article covers Agenda for Change in England. Although Agenda for Change is used in other nations of the UK, pay rates are different. For more details, see our articles on AfC in Scotland, AfC in Wales, and AfC in Northern Ireland.
Each year the Government announces the level of pay increase for the year. In 2022, NHS pay increased by at least £1,400 per person, which averaged out across all pay bands is equivalent to a pay rise of 4%. In 2023 consolidated pay was increased by 5% for most staff, and an additional one-off 3% payment was made to reflect the additional work they had done to support NHS recovery.
Agenda for Change Payscales Table
The table below lists the annual pay you should receive in each of the 2023-24 Agenda for Change Pay Bands in England. If you are working in or around London, these pay bands do not apply to you – instead see our article on London Weighting in the NHS. Different rates also apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Band | 0-1 years | 1-2 years | 2-3 years | 3-4 years | 4-5 years | 5+ years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | £22,383.00 | £22,383.00 | £22,383.00 | £22,383.00 | £22,383.00 | £22,383.00 |
2 | £22,383.00 | £22,383.00 | £22,383.00 | £22,383.00 | £22,383.00 | £22,383.00 |
3 | £22,816.00 | £22,816.00 | £24,336.00 | £24,336.00 | £24,336.00 | £24,336.00 |
4 | £25,147.00 | £25,147.00 | £25,147.00 | £27,596.00 | £27,596.00 | £27,596.00 |
5 | £28,407.00 | £28,407.00 | £30,639.00 | £30,639.00 | £34,581.00 | £34,581.00 |
6 | £35,392.00 | £35,392.00 | £37,350.00 | £37,350.00 | £37,350.00 | £42,618.00 |
7 | £43,742.00 | £43,742.00 | £45,996.00 | £45,996.00 | £45,996.00 | £50,056.00 |
8a | £50,952.00 | £50,952.00 | £50,952.00 | £50,952.00 | £50,952.00 | £57,349.00 |
8b | £58,972.00 | £58,972.00 | £58,972.00 | £58,972.00 | £58,972.00 | £68,525.00 |
8c | £70,417.00 | £70,417.00 | £70,417.00 | £70,417.00 | £70,417.00 | £81,138.00 |
8d | £83,571.00 | £83,571.00 | £83,571.00 | £83,571.00 | £83,571.00 | £96,376.00 |
9 | £99,891.00 | £99,891.00 | £99,891.00 | £99,891.00 | £99,891.00 | £114,949.00 |
List of NHS Agenda for Change Bands
The list below gives a summary of each band and any applicable increments in England, but outside of London which is higher because of the High Cost Area Supplement.
Note, increment payments are paid in addition to annual pay rises. Click on the links to read more detail about each band.
Bands 1-2
Staff in Agenda for Change bands 1 & 2 do not receive any incremental payments.
AfC Band 1 – This band is no longer open to new entrants. Starting pay is £22,383 and there are no increment payments. Pay in Band 1 is exactly the same as in Band 2.
AfC Band 2 – This is the lowest band open to new entrants. Starting pay is 22,383 and, as with Band 1, there are no increment payments.
Bands 3-4
Staff in Agenda for Change bands 3 & 4 receive one incremental pay increase at the start of year 3 (for band 3) and at the start of year 4 (for band 4).
AfC Band 3 – Starting salary in Band 3 is £22,816. After two full years of service staff in Band 3 receive their first and only increment, and pay increases to £24,336.
AfC Band 4 – Starting salary in Band 4 is £25,147. After three full years of service staff in Band 4 receive their first and only increment, and pay increases to £27,596.
Bands 5-7
Staff in Agenda for Change bands 5, 6 and 7 receive two incremental pay increases. The first increment always comes after the second year of service. The third increment comes after either the fourth year of service (band 5) or the fifth year of service (bands 6 & 7).
AfC Band 5 – Starting salary in Band 5 is £28,407. This increases to £30,639 after two years service, and again to £34,581 after four years service.
AfC Band 6 – Starting salary in Band 6 is £35,392. This increases to £37,350 after two years service, and again to £42,618 after five years service.
AfC Band 7 – Starting salary in Band 7 is £43,742. This increases to £45,996 after two years service, and again to £50,056 after five years service.
Bands 8-9
Staff in Agenda for Change Bands 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d and 9 receive one incremental payment. This payment comes after five full years of service.
AfC Band 8a – Starting salary in Band 8b is £50,952. This increases to £57,349 after five years of service.
AfC Band 8b – Starting salary in Band 8a is £58,972. This increases to £68,525 after five years of service.
AfC Band 8c – Starting salary in Band 8a is £70,417. This increases to £81,138 after five years of service.
AfC Band 8d – Starting salary in Band 8a is £83,571. This increases to £96,376 after five years of service.
AfC Band 9 – Starting salary in Band 8a is £99,891. This increases to £114,949 after five years of service.
Agenda for Change Hourly Pay Table
The table below lists the hourly pay rate you should receive in each of the 2023/24 Agenda for Change Pay Bands in England.
Band | 0-1 years | 1-2 years | 2-3 years | 3-4 years | 4-5 years | 5+ years |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | £11.45 | £11.45 | £11.45 | £11.45 | £11.45 | £11.45 |
2 | £11.45 | £11.45 | £11.45 | £11.45 | £11.45 | £11.45 |
3 | £11.67 | £11.67 | £12.45 | £12.45 | £12.45 | £12.45 |
4 | £12.86 | £12.86 | £12.86 | £14.11 | £14.11 | £14.11 |
5 | £14.53 | £14.53 | £15.67 | £15.67 | £17.69 | £17.69 |
6 | £18.10 | £18.10 | £19.10 | £19.10 | £19.10 | £21.80 |
7 | £22.37 | £22.37 | £23.52 | £23.52 | £23.52 | £25.60 |
8a | £26.06 | £26.06 | £26.06 | £26.06 | £26.06 | £29.33 |
8b | £30.16 | £30.16 | £30.16 | £30.16 | £30.16 | £35.04 |
8c | £36.01 | £36.01 | £36.01 | £36.01 | £36.01 | £41.50 |
8d | £42.74 | £42.74 | £42.74 | £42.74 | £42.74 | £49.29 |
9 | £51.09 | £51.09 | £51.09 | £51.09 | £51.09 | £58.79 |