NHS / HSC Northern Ireland
Pay Calculator & Pay Scales 2026/27
Take-home pay on the rates HSC staff are paid now and after the 3.3% award, with UK income tax and HSC pension tiers built in
Your Details
Calculate Take-Home
—
Enter your salary above to see the full breakdown
Estimates only — verify with HMRC or a qualified accountant.
HSC Northern Ireland Pay Scales 2026/27 by Band
HSC staff in Northern Ireland are still paid the 2025/26 rates, because the recommended 3.3% for 2026/27 has not been approved yet. Each table shows the pay point after the 3.3% next to the rate paid now, with monthly take-home pay for both after 2026/27 income tax, National Insurance and HSC pension. Full-time pay would run from £25,272 at Band 2 to £129,783 at the top of Band 9.
HSC Northern Ireland Band 1 Pay 2026/27
Band 1 closed to new starters in Northern Ireland in January 2020 and its roles are being moved to Band 2. It is paid the same rate as Band 2.
| Pay point | 2026-27 after 3.3% | Paid now | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | Take-Home | Salary | Take-Home | |
| Spot rate | £25,272 | £1,697/mo | £24,852 | £1,673/mo |
HSC Northern Ireland Band 2 Pay 2026/27
Band 2 has a single rate. While the 2026/27 award is pending, it is topped up to the National Living Wage.
| Pay point | 2026-27 after 3.3% | Paid now | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | Take-Home | Salary | Take-Home | |
| Entry and top | £25,272 | £1,697/mo | £24,852 | £1,673/mo |
HSC Northern Ireland Band 3 Pay 2026/27
Band 3 has two pay points, with the top point after two years.
| Pay point | 2026-27 after 3.3% | Paid now | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | Take-Home | Salary | Take-Home | |
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | £25,760 | £1,724/mo | £24,937 | £1,678/mo |
| Top (2+ yrs) | £27,476 | £1,819/mo | £26,598 | £1,770/mo |
HSC Northern Ireland Band 4 Pay 2026/27
Band 4 has two pay points, with the top point after three years.
| Pay point | 2026-27 after 3.3% | Paid now | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | Take-Home | Salary | Take-Home | |
| Entry (0–3 yrs) | £28,392 | £1,870/mo | £27,485 | £1,820/mo |
| Top (3+ yrs) | £31,157 | £1,986/mo | £30,162 | £1,932/mo |
HSC Northern Ireland Band 5 Pay 2026/27
Band 5 has three pay points: the intermediate point after two years and the top after four. It is the starting band for newly qualified nurses, midwives and allied health professionals.
| Pay point | 2026-27 after 3.3% | Paid now | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | Take-Home | Salary | Take-Home | |
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | £32,073 | £2,036/mo | £31,049 | £1,980/mo |
| Intermediate (2–4 yrs) | £34,592 | £2,173/mo | £33,487 | £2,113/mo |
| Top (4+ yrs) | £39,043 | £2,376/mo | £37,796 | £2,309/mo |
HSC Northern Ireland Band 6 Pay 2026/27
Band 6 has three pay points: the intermediate point after two years and the top after five.
| Pay point | 2026-27 after 3.3% | Paid now | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | Take-Home | Salary | Take-Home | |
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | £39,959 | £2,424/mo | £38,682 | £2,356/mo |
| Intermediate (2–5 yrs) | £42,170 | £2,542/mo | £40,823 | £2,471/mo |
| Top (5+ yrs) | £48,117 | £2,860/mo | £46,580 | £2,778/mo |
HSC Northern Ireland Band 7 Pay 2026/27
Band 7 has three pay points: the intermediate point after two years and the top after five.
| Pay point | 2026-27 after 3.3% | Paid now | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | Take-Home | Salary | Take-Home | |
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | £49,387 | £2,927/mo | £47,810 | £2,843/mo |
| Intermediate (2–5 yrs) | £51,932 | £3,071/mo | £50,273 | £2,975/mo |
| Top (5+ yrs) | £56,515 | £3,303/mo | £54,710 | £3,201/mo |
HSC Northern Ireland Band 8a Pay 2026/27
Band 8a has three pay points, with the intermediate point after two years and the top after five. The intermediate point has existed since 1 April 2024.
| Pay point | 2026-27 after 3.3% | Paid now | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | Take-Home | Salary | Take-Home | |
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | £57,528 | £3,347/mo | £55,690 | £3,257/mo |
| Intermediate (2–5 yrs) | £60,417 | £3,471/mo | £58,487 | £3,388/mo |
| Top (5+ yrs) | £64,750 | £3,656/mo | £62,682 | £3,568/mo |
HSC Northern Ireland Band 8b Pay 2026/27
Band 8b has three pay points, with the intermediate point after two years and the top after five.
| Pay point | 2026-27 after 3.3% | Paid now | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | Take-Home | Salary | Take-Home | |
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | £66,582 | £3,735/mo | £64,455 | £3,644/mo |
| Intermediate (2–5 yrs) | £70,896 | £3,856/mo | £68,631 | £3,761/mo |
| Top (5+ yrs) | £77,368 | £4,128/mo | £74,896 | £4,024/mo |
HSC Northern Ireland Band 8c Pay 2026/27
Band 8c has three pay points, with the intermediate point after two years and the top after five.
| Pay point | 2026-27 after 3.3% | Paid now | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | Take-Home | Salary | Take-Home | |
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | £79,504 | £4,218/mo | £76,965 | £4,111/mo |
| Intermediate (2–5 yrs) | £84,346 | £4,421/mo | £81,652 | £4,308/mo |
| Top (5+ yrs) | £91,609 | £4,726/mo | £88,682 | £4,603/mo |
HSC Northern Ireland Band 8d Pay 2026/27
Band 8d has three pay points, with the intermediate point after two years and the top after five.
| Pay point | 2026-27 after 3.3% | Paid now | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | Take-Home | Salary | Take-Home | |
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | £94,356 | £4,841/mo | £91,342 | £4,715/mo |
| Intermediate (2–5 yrs) | £100,140 | £5,084/mo | £96,941 | £4,950/mo |
| Top (5+ yrs) | £108,814 | £5,448/mo | £105,337 | £5,302/mo |
HSC Northern Ireland Band 9 Pay 2026/27
Band 9 has three pay points, with the intermediate point after two years and the top after five.
| Pay point | 2026-27 after 3.3% | Paid now | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | Take-Home | Salary | Take-Home | |
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | £112,782 | £5,615/mo | £109,179 | £5,463/mo |
| Intermediate (2–5 yrs) | £119,583 | £5,827/mo | £115,763 | £5,722/mo |
| Top (5+ yrs) | £129,783 | £6,107/mo | £125,637 | £5,993/mo |
"Paid now" is the 2025/26 rate, with Bands 1 and 2 topped up to about £24,852 for the National Living Wage. "After 3.3%" is the rate if Northern Ireland matches England. Take-home uses tax code 1257L, the HSC pension tier for that salary and no student loan. Use the calculator above for part-time hours, unsocial hours, overtime and Plan 1 student loans.
When Will HSC Staff Get the 2026/27 Pay Rise?
Not yet. The NHS Pay Review Body recommended 3.3% from 1 April 2026 for Agenda for Change staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. England and Wales apply it from 1 April 2026, but in Northern Ireland it is still awaiting Northern Ireland Executive approval, and no pay circular has been issued. Until it is approved, HSC staff are paid the 2025/26 rates, with Bands 1 and 2 topped up to the National Living Wage. If the award is backdated to 1 April 2026, as the last two awards were, the arrears will be paid when it is implemented.
2026/27 HSC Pay Award Timeline
- 12 February 2026: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt says he wants to pay the 3.3% recommended for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, once his budget position is clear.
- By August 2026: A ministerial direction to pay the award is with the Northern Ireland Executive for approval.
- 19 August 2026: Mike Nesbitt resigns as Health Minister; Robbie Butler is appointed on 20 August.
- 26 August 2026: RCN Northern Ireland announces a statutory ballot on industrial action over pay. NIPSA also plans to ballot members.
- 26 September 2026: Robbie Butler says the pay decision is before the Executive. No payment date has been set.
Status checked on 27 September 2026.
Back Pay Owed So Far If the 3.3% Is Backdated
| Band (starting point) | Paid now | After 3.3% | Rise per month | Owed for April to September |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | £24,852 | £25,272 | +£35 | £210 |
| Band 2 | £24,852 | £25,272 | +£35 | £210 |
| Band 3 | £24,937 | £25,760 | +£69 | £412 |
| Band 4 | £27,485 | £28,392 | +£76 | £454 |
| Band 5 | £31,049 | £32,073 | +£85 | £512 |
| Band 6 | £38,682 | £39,959 | +£106 | £639 |
| Band 7 | £47,810 | £49,387 | +£131 | £789 |
| Band 8a | £55,690 | £57,528 | +£153 | £919 |
| Band 8b | £64,455 | £66,582 | +£177 | £1,064 |
| Band 8c | £76,965 | £79,504 | +£212 | £1,270 |
| Band 8d | £91,342 | £94,356 | +£251 | £1,507 |
| Band 9 | £109,179 | £112,782 | +£300 | £1,802 |
Gross amounts before tax, National Insurance and pension, for 6 months of full-time work. Bands 1 and 2 are owed less because they already get the Living Wage top-up. Arrears are taxed in the month they are paid.
Recent HSC Pay Awards and When They Were Paid
| Pay year | Award | Circular | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 5.5% | HSC (AfC)(4) 2025 | March 2025, backdated to 1 April 2024 |
| 2025/26 | 3.6% | HSC (AfC) 06/2025 | February 2026, backdated to 1 April 2025 |
| 2026/27 | 3.3% recommended | None yet | Not paid as of September 2026 |
HSC Northern Ireland Pay vs NHS England 2026/27
HSC staff are paid on the same Agenda for Change pay points as NHS England, and in 2025/26 the rates were identical. Income tax and National Insurance are the same too. Two things make an HSC payslip smaller in 2026/27: the 3.3% rise has not been paid yet, and HSC pension contributions are 0.2 percentage points higher than in England above the lowest tier. Even when the rise is paid, HSC staff will take home a few pounds a month less than English staff on the same salary.
| Band (start) | England 2026/27 | NI paid now | England take-home | NI take-home now | Gap now | Gap after 3.3% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £25,272 | £24,852 | £1,700/mo | £1,673/mo | −£27/mo | −£3/mo |
| Band 3 | £25,760 | £24,937 | £1,727/mo | £1,678/mo | −£49/mo | −£3/mo |
| Band 4 | £28,392 | £27,485 | £1,874/mo | £1,820/mo | −£54/mo | −£4/mo |
| Band 5 | £32,073 | £31,049 | £2,040/mo | £1,980/mo | −£60/mo | −£4/mo |
| Band 6 | £39,959 | £38,682 | £2,430/mo | £2,356/mo | −£74/mo | −£6/mo |
| Band 7 | £49,387 | £47,810 | £2,934/mo | £2,843/mo | −£91/mo | −£7/mo |
| Band 8a | £57,528 | £55,690 | £3,353/mo | £3,257/mo | −£96/mo | −£6/mo |
| Band 8b | £66,582 | £64,455 | £3,742/mo | £3,644/mo | −£98/mo | −£7/mo |
| Band 8c | £79,504 | £76,965 | £4,226/mo | £4,111/mo | −£115/mo | −£8/mo |
| Band 8d | £94,356 | £91,342 | £4,851/mo | £4,715/mo | −£136/mo | −£10/mo |
| Band 9 | £112,782 | £109,179 | £5,626/mo | £5,463/mo | −£163/mo | −£11/mo |
England figures are the NHS Employers 2026/27 Agenda for Change pay points in England with NHS Pension Scheme (England and Wales) rates. Northern Ireland figures use HSC Pension Scheme rates. Both use 2026/27 income tax and National Insurance, a 1257L tax code and no student loan.
HSC Northern Ireland Hourly Rates 2026/27
Full-time HSC staff work a 37.5-hour week, and there are no plans for a shorter week like Scotland's 36 hours. Hourly rates are annual salary ÷ 52.143 weeks ÷ 37.5 hours. Bands 1 to 7 get time and a half for overtime, or double time on public holidays; Bands 8a to 9 are not paid overtime. Part-time staff are paid plain time for extra hours until they pass 37.5 hours a week.
| Band | Point | Hourly now | After 3.3% | Overtime ×1.5 | Sat and nights | Sun and public holidays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | Spot rate | £12.71 | £12.92 | £19.06 | £18.68 | £24.66 |
| Band 2 | Entry and top | £12.71 | £12.92 | £19.06 | £17.92 | £23.26 |
| Band 3 | Entry (0–2 yrs) | £12.75 | £13.17 | £19.13 | £17.22 | £21.55 |
| Top (2+ yrs) | £13.60 | £14.05 | £20.40 | £18.36 | £22.99 | |
| Band 4 | Entry (0–3 yrs) | £14.06 | £14.52 | £21.08 | £18.27 | £22.49 |
| Top (3+ yrs) | £15.43 | £15.93 | £23.14 | £20.05 | £24.68 | |
| Band 5 | Entry (0–2 yrs) | £15.88 | £16.40 | £23.82 | £20.64 | £25.41 |
| Intermediate (2–4 yrs) | £17.13 | £17.69 | £25.69 | £22.26 | £27.40 | |
| Top (4+ yrs) | £19.33 | £19.97 | £28.99 | £25.13 | £30.93 | |
| Band 6 | Entry (0–2 yrs) | £19.78 | £20.44 | £29.67 | £25.72 | £31.65 |
| Intermediate (2–5 yrs) | £20.88 | £21.57 | £31.32 | £27.14 | £33.40 | |
| Top (5+ yrs) | £23.82 | £24.61 | £35.73 | £30.97 | £38.11 | |
| Band 7 | Entry (0–2 yrs) | £24.45 | £25.26 | £36.68 | £31.79 | £39.12 |
| Intermediate (2–5 yrs) | £25.71 | £26.56 | £38.57 | £33.42 | £41.14 | |
| Top (5+ yrs) | £27.98 | £28.90 | £41.97 | £36.37 | £44.77 | |
| Band 8a | Entry (0–2 yrs) | £28.48 | £29.42 | Not paid | £37.02 | £45.57 |
| Intermediate (2–5 yrs) | £29.91 | £30.90 | Not paid | £38.88 | £47.86 | |
| Top (5+ yrs) | £32.06 | £33.11 | Not paid | £41.67 | £51.29 | |
| Band 8b | Entry (0–2 yrs) | £32.96 | £34.05 | Not paid | £42.85 | £52.74 |
| Intermediate (2–5 yrs) | £35.10 | £36.26 | Not paid | £45.63 | £56.16 | |
| Top (5+ yrs) | £38.30 | £39.57 | Not paid | £49.79 | £61.28 | |
| Band 8c | Entry (0–2 yrs) | £39.36 | £40.66 | Not paid | £51.17 | £62.98 |
| Intermediate (2–5 yrs) | £41.76 | £43.14 | Not paid | £54.29 | £66.81 | |
| Top (5+ yrs) | £45.35 | £46.85 | Not paid | £58.96 | £72.57 | |
| Band 8d | Entry (0–2 yrs) | £46.71 | £48.25 | Not paid | £60.73 | £74.74 |
| Intermediate (2–5 yrs) | £49.58 | £51.21 | Not paid | £64.45 | £79.32 | |
| Top (5+ yrs) | £53.87 | £55.65 | Not paid | £70.03 | £86.19 | |
| Band 9 | Entry (0–2 yrs) | £55.84 | £57.68 | Not paid | £72.59 | £89.34 |
| Intermediate (2–5 yrs) | £59.20 | £61.16 | Not paid | £76.96 | £94.72 | |
| Top (5+ yrs) | £64.25 | £66.37 | Not paid | £83.53 | £102.80 |
Overtime and unsocial hours columns use the rates paid now. The enhancements are Band 1 +47% and +94%, Band 2 +41% and +83%, Band 3 +35% and +69%, Bands 4 to 9 +30% and +60%, for Saturdays and weekday nights (8pm to 6am), and for Sundays and public holidays.
Income Tax and Student Loans for HSC Staff 2026/27
Northern Ireland uses the UK income tax rates and bands, so HSC staff pay the same income tax as NHS staff in England on the same salary, with a standard 1257L tax code and no country prefix. National Insurance is 8% between £12,570 and £50,270 and 2% above. HSC pension contributions come off your pay before income tax, so you get tax relief at your highest rate. Most Northern Ireland graduates repay a Plan 1 student loan, including for postgraduate courses: 9% of pay above £26,900 a year in 2026/27.
| Tax band | Tax rate | Income 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| Personal allowance | 0% | Up to £12,570 |
| Basic rate | 20% | £12,571 to £50,270 |
| Higher rate | 40% | £50,271 to £125,140 |
| Additional rate | 45% | Over £125,140 |
Thresholds assume the standard personal allowance, which shrinks by £1 for every £2 of income over £100,000 and is gone at £125,140.
Which Tax Rate Does Each HSC Band Pay?
| Band | Highest rate at start of band | Highest rate at top of band |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | Basic (20%) | — |
| Band 2 | Basic (20%) | — |
| Band 3 | Basic (20%) | Basic (20%) |
| Band 4 | Basic (20%) | Basic (20%) |
| Band 5 | Basic (20%) | Basic (20%) |
| Band 6 | Basic (20%) | Basic (20%) |
| Band 7 | Basic (20%) | Basic (20%) |
| Band 8a | Basic (20%) | Higher (40%) |
| Band 8b | Higher (40%) | Higher (40%) |
| Band 8c | Higher (40%) | Higher (40%) |
| Band 8d | Higher (40%) | Higher (40%) |
| Band 9 | Higher (40%) | Higher (40%), allowance tapered |
Based on the rates paid now, after HSC pension contributions, with no other income. Overtime and unsocial hours pay can push you into the next rate.
HSC Pension Contributions 2026/27
HSC staff pay into the HSC Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland), run by the HSC Pension Service, not the NHS Pension Scheme for England and Wales. The pay bands for each tier are the same, and rose by 3.8% on 1 April 2026, but since April 2025 every tier above the lowest has been 0.2 percentage points higher in Northern Ireland, because the scheme was collecting less than it needs. Contributions come off before income tax, so you get tax relief on them. Employers pay a further 23.2%.
| Pensionable pay 2026/27 | HSC Northern Ireland | NHS England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £13,259 | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| £13,260 to £28,854 | 6.7% | 6.5% |
| £28,855 to £35,155 | 8.5% | 8.3% |
| £35,156 to £52,778 | 10.0% | 9.8% |
| £52,779 to £67,668 | 10.9% | 10.7% |
| £67,669 and above | 12.7% | 12.5% |
HSC Pension Service member newsletter, March 2026. Your tier is set by your actual pensionable pay; unsocial hours payments count as pensionable pay in Northern Ireland.
Which Pension Tier Is Each HSC Pay Point In?
6.7% contribution
Full-time Band 1 to Band 4 entry, on the rates paid now.
8.5% contribution
Full-time Band 4 top to Band 5 intermediate, on the rates paid now.
10.0% contribution
Full-time Band 5 top to Band 7 intermediate, on the rates paid now.
10.9% contribution
Full-time Band 7 top to Band 8b entry, on the rates paid now.
12.7% contribution
Full-time Band 8b intermediate to Band 9 top, on the rates paid now.
Other HSC Northern Ireland Pay Rules for 2026/27
HSC staff are on the UK-wide Agenda for Change agreement, but Northern Ireland has its own sections of the handbook and its own pay decisions. These are the rules that most often make an HSC payslip look different from an NHS England one.
10 public holidays
HSC staff get 27 days' annual leave rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 after 10, plus 10 public holidays instead of England's 8, including St Patrick's Day, Easter Tuesday and the 12th of July.
Unsocial hours count for more
In Northern Ireland all unsocial hours payments are pensionable, and they are included in sick pay and maternity pay. In England, most staff's sick pay covers basic pay and any London supplement only.
NI on-call and sleep-in rates
Northern Ireland has its own on-call availability allowance of £31.85 and sleep-in allowance of £41.50 (2025/26 rates). They rise with the pay award, so they will go up when the 2026/27 rise is paid.
Living Wage top-up for Bands 1 and 2
Because the 2025/26 Band 2 rate is below the National Living Wage of £12.71 an hour, Bands 1 and 2 are topped up to about £24,852 a year until the 2026/27 award is paid.
No overtime for Bands 8a to 9
As in England, staff in Bands 8a to 9 are not paid overtime. Bands 1 to 7 get time and a half, or double time on public holidays.
No London weighting
The High Cost Area Supplements only apply in and around London, so no HSC post gets one.
Band 1 is closing
Band 1 has been closed to new starters since January 2020, and Band 1 roles are being moved to Band 2. Staff who move keep the Band 1 unsocial hours rates.
Pay progression
You move to the next pay point after the years shown in the pay tables, based on your annual Knowledge and Skills Framework review. The intermediate points in Bands 8a to 9 have applied since 1 April 2024, as in England.
Strike ballots over pay
RCN Northern Ireland announced a statutory ballot on industrial action in August 2026 because the 2026/27 award is unpaid, and NIPSA also plans to ballot its members.
HSC Northern Ireland Pay FAQs
Quick answers to the questions HSC staff ask most about pay, tax and the 2026/27 award.
When will HSC staff get the 2026/27 pay rise?
There is no date yet. The NHS Pay Review Body recommended 3.3% from 1 April 2026 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but in Northern Ireland the award still needs the Executive to approve a ministerial direction, and no pay circular has been issued. In September 2026 Health Minister Robbie Butler said the decision was before the Executive.
Will the Northern Ireland pay rise be backdated to April 2026?
It has not been confirmed, but the last two awards were: the 2024/25 rise was paid in March 2025 and the 2025/26 rise in February 2026, both backdated to 1 April. If the 3.3% is backdated, a Band 5 on the entry point would be owed about £512 before tax for April to September 2026.
How much does a Band 5 nurse earn in Northern Ireland?
A Band 5 nurse in the HSC is paid £31,049 at the entry point, £33,487 after two years and £37,796 after four, the 2025/26 rates. That is about £1,980 a month take-home at the entry point. With the 3.3% award the entry point would rise to £32,073, or about £2,036 a month, and the top to £39,043.
Is HSC pay the same as NHS England pay?
HSC staff are on the same Agenda for Change pay points as NHS England, and the 2025/26 rates were identical. For 2026/27, England applies the 3.3% from 1 April 2026, while Northern Ireland has not paid it yet. HSC pension contributions are also 0.2 percentage points higher than in England above the lowest tier, so take-home pay is slightly lower on the same salary.
What is the Band 2 and Band 3 salary in Northern Ireland?
Band 2 is £24,465 on the 2025/26 scale, topped up to about £24,852 a year (£12.71 an hour) to meet the National Living Wage. Band 3 is £24,937 rising to £26,598 after two years. With the 3.3% award, Band 2 would be £25,272 and Band 3 £25,760 to £27,476.
Is the HSC pension the same as the NHS pension?
No. HSC staff are in the HSC Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland), not the NHS Pension Scheme for England and Wales. The pay bands for each tier are the same, but since April 2025 the rates above the lowest tier are 0.2 points higher: 6.7%, 8.5%, 10.0%, 10.9% and 12.7%. A Band 5 on the entry point pays 8.5%.
What tax do HSC staff pay in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland uses the UK income tax rates: no tax on the first £12,570, 20% up to £50,270, 40% up to £125,140 and 45% above. The tax code has no country prefix, for example 1257L. National Insurance is 8% between £12,570 and £50,270 and 2% above.
Which student loan plan do Northern Ireland graduates repay?
Most Northern Ireland graduates repay a Plan 1 loan, including for postgraduate courses. In 2026/27 you repay 9% of your pay above £26,900 a year. Choose Plan 1 in the calculator's advanced options.
How many public holidays do HSC staff get?
HSC staff get 10 public holidays a year, compared with 8 in England, because Northern Ireland also has St Patrick's Day, Easter Tuesday and the 12th of July. Annual leave is 27 days when you start, 29 after 5 years and 33 after 10.
What is the HSC hourly rate for 2026/27?
On a 37.5-hour week, Band 2 is paid about £12.71 an hour now, and a Band 5 £15.88 to £19.33. With the 3.3% award, rates would run from £12.92 for Band 2 to £66.37 at the top of Band 9.
Do HSC staff get London weighting or high cost area pay?
No. High Cost Area Supplements only apply in and around London, so no HSC post in Northern Ireland gets one.
Can Band 8a staff get overtime in Northern Ireland?
No. As in England, Bands 8a to 9 are not paid overtime. Bands 1 to 7 get time and a half, or double time on public holidays. Unsocial hours enhancements are the same as in England: +41% and +83% for Band 2, +35% and +69% for Band 3, and +30% and +60% for Bands 4 to 9.
Are HSC staff going on strike over pay?
Unions are preparing to. In August 2026 RCN Northern Ireland announced a statutory ballot on industrial action over the unpaid 2026/27 award, and NIPSA said it would also ballot its members.
Last updated 27 September 2026. Sources: HSC (AfC) 06/2025 pay circular; Department of Health statement, 12 February 2026; Department of Health workforce guidance 2026; NHS Pay Review Body 39th report; HSC Pension Service member newsletter, March 2026; HSC payroll pay award FAQ; HMRC rates and thresholds 2026 to 2027; NHS Employers pay scales 2026/27 (England).
More NHS Calculators
Save this calculator for later
Bookmark this page or share it with a colleague. No sign-up required — always free.