​Outlining the NHS Nurse Grades and Bands (2024)

FAQs

​Outlining the NHS Nurse Grades and Bands? ›

Nurse placement on the scales

Each Band represents a different level of experience, education and responsibilities, with Band 5 being the “entry-level” position and Band 9 being the most senior position. Almost every nurse will start out at Band 5 and can move up the bands by furthering their skills and experiences in the workplace.

Positions within the NHS have been assigned a band which indicates their basic salary. Majority of bands have a starting salary and a capped increasing salary that is based on experience. There are nine bands in total, with band 8 being sub divided into 4 separate bands (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d).

Each of the nine pay bands has a number of pay points. Staff will normally progress to the next pay band after the required number of years until they reach the top of the pay band.

Band 7 encompasses managerial, professional and clinical specialist roles. For example: advanced nurse practitioners, advanced speech and language therapists, clinical psychologists, occupational therapy team managers and radiographer team managers…the list goes on!

Band 1 is rarely seen nowadays but includes positions such as domestic support workers, housekeeping assistants, drivers and nursery assistants. <1 year experience – £18.005. 1+ years – £18,005. Band 2.

Usually, Band 5 nurse is the one you'll be going into as a Newly Qualified Nurse. You start off at a Band 5, and then it's up to you whether you want to progress up the banding, so from 5 to 6 to 7 to 8, it just depends on where you want your career to take you.

Band 8 is the highest level of NHS nurse qualification. This band represents team leaders for nurses. You'll still carry out many nursing duties in addition to managing a large team of nursing staff.

Agenda for Change is split into 8 bands (although Band 1 is no longer used), with Band 9 being the highest of these bands. Based on 2022/23 rates of pay, Band 9 staff receive a basic salary of between £99,891 and £114,949. Staff in Band 9 move to the higher salary after 5 years of experience.

What is a Band 5 NHS salary? ›

Staff are appointed to the bottom of their pay band. Staff move to the next pay step point on their pay step date if they have met all of the requirements. Staff will have yearly appraisals but pay-step dates take place after two, three or five years, depending on band.

The band 2 profile is concerned with personal care and the band 3 profile is concerned with a limited range of clinical tasks carried out under supervision.

Band 7 nurses prioritise and manage patient care activities, ensuring the timely and appropriate administration of treatments, medications and therapies. They also facilitate effective communication amongst team members to promote seamless transitions in patient care during shifts and transfers.

Band 5 – Newly Qualified Nurse or Staff Nurse

Newly Qualified Nurses often start in a hospital setting and then progress within a ward – gaining more experience as they move up within the NHS nursing banding system.

So the more you train, the more education you have, the more knowledge, the more skills you get as you develop your Band 5 role, when you go into that Band 6 role, you're taking on a bit more responsibility. So you might be, for example, a Charge Nurse on the ward.

In the UK, Band 8 nurses are considered to be highly specialised and experienced, having a high level of autonomy, clinical judgement, and decision-making skills. They typically earn a pay scale of around £48,526 to £91,787 per year in the UK.

Band 7 – Ward Manager, Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Band 7 roles typically require a Master's level degree or equivalent – but again, trusts are often very keen to support their nursing staff in attaining these qualifications. And importantly, tasks and responsibilities really step up a notch.

The band 2 profile is concerned with personal care and the band 3 profile is concerned with a limited range of clinical tasks carried out under supervision.