NHS Band 5

Band 5 is one of the nine pay bands of Agenda for Change, the pay system for NHS staff other than doctors, dentists and very senior managers. Jobs are placed in a band through the NHS Job Evaluation Scheme. NHS Health Careers lists newly qualified nurses, operating department practitioners, podiatrists and therapeutic radiographers among the roles at Band 5, and says physiotherapists and diagnostic radiographers typically start there too.

For most internationally educated nurses and allied health professionals, Band 5 is the first registered post in the NHS, after joining the NMC or HCPC register.

NHS Employers' pay scales for England, effective from 1 April 2026, set three Band 5 pay points:

• Entry: £32,073
• Intermediate, after 2 years: £34,592
• Top, after a further 2 years: £39,043

The entry rate works out at £16.40 an hour. Staff in London and some surrounding areas also receive a high cost area supplement: 20 percent of basic salary in inner London (minimum £5,794, maximum £8,746), 15 percent in outer London (minimum £4,870, maximum £6,137) and 5 percent in the fringe (minimum £1,346, maximum £2,270). Unsocial hours, overtime and on-call are paid on top. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own rates.

Within Band 5 you move up pay points after the set periods, provided the expected level of performance has been achieved. To move to Band 6, which pays £39,959 to £48,117 in England in 2026/27, you apply for a job evaluated at Band 6, such as a senior staff nurse or specialist practitioner post. Many new registrants complete a preceptorship programme during their first months in Band 5.

Band 5 staff are on the same national terms as other AfC staff: a standard full-time week of 37.5 hours, and annual leave of 27 days on appointment, rising to 29 days after five years' service and 33 days after ten years, plus 8 general public holidays. Leave and pay are pro rata for part-time staff.

1. Before registration: internationally educated nurses often join while waiting to pass the OSCE. NHS Employers' pay scales do not set a band for that period, so the employer decides the pay.
2. After registration: you move to a registered post, usually at Band 5 entry.
3. Visa: the salary must meet the rules for your visa route; check GOV.UK and our Health and Care Worker visa guide.

For the full nursing route, see our nurses in the UK guide and NMC CBT guide.

• Expecting overseas seniority to set your band. The band follows the post, not your previous title.
• Comparing basic pay only. Add unsocial hours and any London supplement, and deduct tax, National Insurance and pension.
• Using old figures. Pay scales change every April.