HSC Northern Ireland Pay Scales (2026/27 Award Pending)
Health and social care staff in Northern Ireland haven't had their 2026/27 pay award yet. As of 18 October 2026 the NI Executive hasn't agreed a budget, so HSC staff are still paid the rates in force from 1 April 2025: £24,853 on Band 2 to £125,637 at the top of Band 9. The figures on this page use those rates.
Working Week
37.5 hours
Tax System
UK Rates
Band 2 to Band 9
£24,853 to £125,637
Northern Ireland Pay and Take Home by Band
| Band | Pay points | Take home a month |
|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £24,853 | £1,673.47 |
| Band 3 | £24,937 / £26,598 | £1,678.13 / £1,770.38 |
| Band 4 | £27,485 / £30,162 | £1,819.63 / £1,932.10 |
| Band 5 | £31,049 / £33,487 / £37,796 | £1,980.30 / £2,112.76 / £2,309.09 |
| Band 6 | £38,682 / £40,823 / £46,580 | £2,356.34 / £2,470.53 / £2,777.57 |
| Band 7 | £47,810 / £50,273 / £54,710 | £2,843.17 / £2,974.54 / £3,200.54 |
| Band 8a | £55,690 / £58,487 / £62,682 | £3,257.12 / £3,387.90 / £3,567.80 |
| Band 8b | £64,455 / £68,631 / £74,896 | £3,643.83 / £3,761.14 / £4,024.17 |
| Band 8c | £76,965 / £81,652 / £88,682 | £4,111.03 / £4,307.81 / £4,602.95 |
| Band 8d | £91,342 / £96,941 / £105,337 | £4,714.62 / £4,949.69 / £5,302.18 |
| Band 9 | £109,179 / £115,763 / £125,637 | £5,463.48 / £5,722.23 / £5,993.11 |
Calculate Your Pay in Northern Ireland
Pay advice
Northern Ireland · 2026/27 · monthlyPayments
Deductions
£456.99 a week · £23,763.55 a year
Rates
Where the 2026/27 award stands
England, Wales and Scotland all paid their 2026/27 awards from April. In Northern Ireland, the Department of Health has been directed to implement a 3.3% award, but it needs approval from the NI Executive, which hasn't agreed the 2026/27 budget. The Department's 2026 workforce circulars include no Agenda for Change pay award. UNISON is pressing for the award to be paid and backdated to 1 April 2026, and is consulting members on industrial action.
This has happened before: the 2025/26 award was effective from 1 April 2025 but wasn't paid until February 2026, with arrears.
If the 3.3% award is paid on the same basis as in England, expect pay points close to England's 2026/27 scales, plus a back payment for the months since April.
Band 2 and the minimum wage
On the 2025/26 scale Band 2 is £24,465, which works out below the National Living Wage of £12.71 an hour that has applied since April 2026. Employers must pay at least the legal minimum whatever the scale says, so this page shows Band 2 at £24,853, the minimum wage equivalent. UNISON also reports a commitment that HSC will pay the Real Living Wage in 2026/27, backdated to 1 April 2026, when the award is implemented.
HSC pensions cost a little more
The HSC Pension Scheme uses the same pay thresholds as England but higher rates above the first tier: 6.7% (England 6.5%), 8.5% (England 8.3%), 10% (England 9.8%), 10.9% (England 10.7%), 12.7% (England 12.5%). Employers pay 23.2%. Some calculators use England's rates for Northern Ireland, which overstates HSC take home pay.
Tax
Northern Ireland uses the same income tax rates as England.
Northern Ireland FAQs
Not as of 18 October 2026. The 3.3% award needs NI Executive approval and the budget hasn't been agreed, so staff are still on the rates from 1 April 2025.
Sources (checked 18 October 2026)
- AFC February 2026 Pay Award (2025/26 rates) (HSC Business Services Organisation, Payroll Shared Services)
- Workforce policy guidance 2026 (Department of Health (Northern Ireland))
- NHS Pay Northern Ireland (UNISON)
- Membership, Contributions & Pay (HSC Pension Service)
- National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates (GOV.UK)
- National Living Wage 2026/27 update (NHS Employers)
