This article contains details of pay in NHS Band 8a (also known as Agenda for Change Band 8a). It covers the Agenda for Change salary in England as a whole, and in the Inner, Outer and Fringe London weighting (HCAS) areas.
In all bands staff receive a starting salary. Then, in all bands except bands 1 and 2, they receive increments after a number of years of service.
Agenda for Change Band 8a salary in England
All Band 8 salaries follow the same basic structure and have only one incremental payment. They receive a starting salary, followed by an incremental increase after five years of service. So, the starting salary for Band 8a is £50,952. Then, after five years of service, at the start of year six, pay increases to £57,349. This is the final pay point in this band. The table below shows the salary you should expect to receive for each year of service you have in Band 8a.
| Years of Service | Salary (£) |
|---|---|
| 0-1 | £50,952 |
| 1-2 | £50,952 |
| 2-3 | £50,952 |
| 3-4 | £50,952 |
| 4-5 | £50,952 |
| 5 plus | £57,349 |
NHS HCAS / London Weighting Band 8a
In all three HCAS areas – inner, outer and fringe London – salaries follow the same basic structure as in the rest of the UK. You can read more about how the High Cost Area Supplement (more commonly known as London Weighting) works in the NHS in our separate article.
All Band 8 salaries in Inner London continue to have only one incremental payment. They receive a starting salary, followed by an incremental increase after five years of service. So, the starting salary for Band 8a is £58,698. Then, after five years of service, at the start of year six, pay increases to £65,095. This is the final pay point in this band.
| Years of Service | Salary (£) |
|---|---|
| 0-1 | £58,698 |
| 1-2 | £58,698 |
| 2-3 | £58,698 |
| 3-4 | £58,698 |
| 4-5 | £58,698 |
| 5 plus | £65,095 |
The starting salary for Band 8a in Outer London is £56,388. Then, after five years of service, at the start of year six, pay increases to £62,785. This is the final pay point in this band.
| Years of Service | Salary (£) |
|---|---|
| 0-1 | £56,388 |
| 1-2 | £56,388 |
| 2-3 | £56,388 |
| 3-4 | £56,388 |
| 4-5 | £56,388 |
| 5 plus | £62,785 |
The starting salary for Band 8a in Fringe London is £52,963. Then, after five years of service, at the start of year six, pay increases to £59,360. This is the final pay point in this band.
| Years of Service | Salary (£) |
|---|---|
| 0-1 | £52,963 |
| 1-2 | £52,963 |
| 2-3 | £52,963 |
| 3-4 | £52,963 |
| 4-5 | £52,963 |
| 5 plus | £59,360 |
Example jobs at NHS Band 8a
Jobs in band 8a include clinical pharmacist, digital and transformation lead, mental health practitioner, laboratory manager, programme manager, project manager, nurse consultant, senior communications manager, advanced clinical practitioner, advanced nurse practitioner, and principal pharmacist.