NHS Pay Rise July 2025: 3.6% Confirmed & Back Pay Details
If you work for the NHS in England, you’ve probably been waiting for confirmation of the 2025 pay rise — the government announced a 3.6% increase for Agenda for Change staff and 4% for doctors on 22 May 2025. This article lays out exactly what’s been confirmed, when you can expect the money in your pay packet, and what the new band salaries look like.
Pay rise for 2025/26: 3.6% for Agenda for Change staff ·
Doctors and dentists uplift: 4% average (resident doctors ~5.4% with £750) ·
Effective date: April 2025 (backdated) ·
Band 5 starting salary: £31,049 (2025/26) ·
Announcement source: UK Government (22 May 2025)
Quick snapshot
- 3.6% for Agenda for Change staff (NHS England)
- 4% for doctors and dentists (NHS England) (NHS England)
- Resident doctors: ~5.4% with £750 (NHS England) (NHS England)
- Exact month of back pay payment (depends on employer payroll)
- 2026/27 pay award percentages (pending PRB review)
- Whether any lump sum will apply for 2026
- Net pay increase after tax and deductions varies by individual
- First uplifted pay packet expected July/August 2025 (NHS England)
- PRB recommendations for 2026/27 due spring 2026 (NHS England) (NHS Employers)
- Current scales valid until 31 March 2026 (NHS Employers)
Six key facts at a glance: one row per confirmed detail, from announcement date to back pay inclusion.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Confirmed pay rise for Agenda for Change staff | 3.6% for 2025/26 |
| Doctors and dentists uplift | 4% (resident doctors ~5.4% with £750) |
| Effective date | 1 April 2025 |
| Announcement date | 22 May 2025 |
| Pay scale source | NHS Employers (pay scales for 2025/26) |
| Back pay included | Yes, from April 2025 |
Will NHS staff get a pay rise in 2025?
What is the confirmed pay award for 2025/26?
- Agenda for Change staff: 3.6% increase for 2025/26 (NHS England)
- Doctors and dentists: 4% uplift on average (NHS England)
- Resident doctors: approximately 5.4% including a £750 consolidated payment (NHS England)
The pay award is effective from 1 April 2025 and will be backdated in the first uplifted pay packet.
The 3.6% award for Agenda for Change staff is a real-terms increase given current inflation, though unions have argued it falls short of what is needed to tackle recruitment gaps.
How does the 2025 pay rise compare to last year?
The government accepted the Pay Review Body recommendations, as it does annually. Last year’s award was 5% for AfC staff; this year’s 3.6% reflects a lower inflation environment but still represents a pay increase above the public sector baseline.
When will the NHS pay rise be paid and will staff get back pay in August?
What month will the NHS pay rise be paid?
- Pay rise expected in July or August 2025 pay packets, subject to employer payroll cycles (NHS England)
Will NHS staff get back pay in August?
- Back pay from April 2025 will be included in the first uplifted payment (NHS England)
The exact timing depends on when each NHS trust processes the pay changes. Most trusts aim to reflect the new rates in the July or August payroll run.
If your pay day falls early in the month, you might see the uplift in July rather than August.
The implication: The exact timing varies by trust, so check with your payroll department for clarity.
What are the new NHS pay bands for 2025/26?
Eleven bands, one clear picture: entry salaries have shifted up by 3.6%.
| Band | Entry salary (2025/26) | Top of band (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £24,465 | £26,598 |
| Band 3 | £24,937 | £26,598 |
| Band 4 | £27,485 | £32,056 |
| Band 5 | £31,049 | £38,682 |
| Band 6 | £38,682 | £46,580 |
| Band 7 | £47,810 | £55,690 |
| Band 8a | £55,690 | £64,455 |
| Band 8b | £64,455 | £76,965 |
| Band 8c | £76,965 | £91,342 |
| Band 8d | £91,342 | £109,179 |
| Band 9 | £109,179 | – |
Band 1 is closed to new entrants. Source: NHS Employers
Band 5 NHS pay 2025
- Starting salary: £31,049 (NHS Employers)
Band 6 NHS salary 2025/26
- Entry: £38,682; third step: £46,580 (NHS Employers)
Band 7 NHS pay 2025
- Starting salary: £47,810 (NHS Employers)
Band 3 NHS pay 2025
- Starting salary: £24,937 (NHS Employers)
What this means: for a Band 5 nurse, the 3.6% rise adds roughly £1,080 to the annual salary before tax, taking the starting pay to just over £31,000.
Are NHS staff getting a lump sum payment as part of the pay deal?
What is the NHS lump sum for resident doctors?
- Resident doctors receive a consolidated payment of £750 as part of the 2025/26 award (NHS England)
Is the lump sum included for all staff?
- No general lump sum for Agenda for Change staff in the 2025 award (NHS Employers)
The £750 payment for resident doctors is consolidated into their base salary, meaning it will count towards pensionable pay and future increments. Other staff groups receive only the percentage uplift.
Without a general lump sum, lower‑band staff see a smaller absolute cash increase, even as the percentage rise is the same across all bands.
The pattern: Lower-band staff face a larger relative impact on take-home pay, which may affect retention in entry-level roles.
What are the prospects for NHS pay in 2026?
NHS PRB pay award announcement 2026
- PRB recommendations for 2026/27 expected in spring 2026 (NHS England)
Pay scales for 2026/27 – NHS Employers
- Current scales valid until 31 March 2026; new scales not yet published (NHS Employers)
The Pay Review Body will consider evidence from unions, employers and the government over the autumn before making its recommendations. No figures are in the public domain yet.
Without confirmed 2026 figures, NHS staff face uncertainty when planning household budgets beyond next March.
The takeaway: The 2026 round will test whether the government can balance fiscal restraint with the need to retain experienced staff.
Timeline: NHS pay award 2025/26
- – Pay rise effective date (NHS England)
- – Government confirms award (NHS England)
- – First uplifted pay packet including back pay (NHS England)
- – PRB recommendations for 2026/27 expected (NHS England)
- – End of current pay scales validity (NHS Employers)
Clarity check: what’s confirmed and what’s not
Confirmed facts
- 3.6% pay rise for AfC staff in 2025/26 (NHS England)
- 4% for doctors and dentists (NHS England)
- Resident doctors: average 5.4% with £750 consolidated payment (NHS England)
- New pay bands published by NHS Employers (NHS Employers)
What’s unclear
- Exact month of back pay payment (depends on employer payroll)
- 2026/27 pay award percentages (pending PRB review)
- Whether any lump sum will apply for 2026
- Net pay increase after tax and deductions varies by individual
What the official sources say
“The government has accepted the recommendations of the NHS Pay Review Body and the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration Body, delivering a pay rise of 3.6% for Agenda for Change staff.”
– UK Government press release, 22 May 2025
“We have published updated pay scales for 2025/26 to help employers implement the award as quickly as possible.”
– NHS Employers
“Resident doctors will see an average increase of 5.4% when the £750 consolidated payment is included.”
– Health Media Blog (27 May 2025)
The takeaway: Official sources confirm the award, but details on future years remain pending.
For the millions of NHS staff in England, the 2025/26 pay award brings a concrete 3.6% rise and backdated increases from April. But the real test lies ahead: when the PRB reports next spring, the government will have to balance retention needs against fiscal constraints. For Agenda for Change workers, the choice is clear: accept this year’s uplift and hope the 2026 round catches up with inflation, or push for more through union negotiations before the scales reset in April 2026.
mynhstakehomecalculator.co.uk, nhstakehomepaycalculator.co.uk, net-paid.com
Frequently asked questions
Will the NHS pay rise be backdated to April 2025?
Yes, the pay award is effective from 1 April 2025 and back pay will be included in the first uplifted pay packet, expected July or August 2025.
How much will my NHS salary increase in 2025?
Agenda for Change staff will receive a 3.6% increase; doctors and dentists 4%; resident doctors approximately 5.4% including a £750 consolidated payment.
When is the 2025 NHS pay rise paid?
The first uplifted pay packet is expected in July or August 2025, depending on your employer’s payroll cycle.
Are NHS staff getting a lump sum payment in 2025?
Only resident doctors receive a consolidated £750 payment. No general lump sum has been awarded for Agenda for Change staff.
What is the Band 5 NHS salary from April 2025?
The Band 5 starting salary is £31,049 per year.
Will NHS pay go up again in 2026?
Pay scales are valid until 31 March 2026. The PRB is expected to recommend new figures in spring 2026.
How is the NHS pay rise calculated for part-time staff?
The percentage increase applies to your base salary, so part-time staff receive the same percentage uplift on their pro-rata salary.
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