Public Health Intelligence Analyst: Pay, Salary, Progression & How to Become
A Public Health Intelligence Analyst is a local authority, UKHSA, or Integrated Care Board data specialist who turns population health data into the evidence behind public health decisions, typically at Band 6 to 7. This guide sets out what the role involves, how it differs from an epidemiologist, the analyst types across needs assessment and surveillance, and the qualifications the career requires. The salary sections cover the NHS Agenda for Change bands an analyst sits in, the 2026/27 pay scale, pay progression from Band 6 to PHI Manager, unsocial hours and overtime, take-home pay, maternity and sick pay, and the hourly rate. The closing questions confirm the band range, OHID Fingertips use, London weighting, and JSNA production.
A Public Health Intelligence Analyst supports commissioning, needs assessment, and the work to reduce health inequalities by producing the analytical foundation local decision-makers rely on. The role matters for anyone considering a public health data career and for tracking how councils and the NHS use evidence.
What Is a Public Health Intelligence Analyst?
A Public Health Intelligence Analyst is a local authority public health team, UKHSA, or Integrated Care Board data specialist responsible for population health surveillance, JSNA analysis, and evidence synthesis, typically at Band 6 to 7. The analyst collects, analyses, and interprets complex health datasets to identify population health trends, inequalities, and emerging threats, producing the analytical foundation for public health decisions using OHID Fingertips, ONS mortality data, hospital episodes, and GP records.
The role covers Joint Strategic Needs Assessments, disease surveillance, and evaluation of public health interventions. Analysts use statistical software and data visualisation to examine mortality, morbidity, health behaviours, and the wider determinants of health across local, regional, and national levels.
A Public Health Intelligence Analyst combines technical analytical skill with public health knowledge, communicating complex findings to non-technical audiences such as elected officials, senior managers, and community partners. The role supports evidence-informed commissioning, identifies vulnerable populations, and contributes to better health outcomes and narrower inequalities.
What Does a Public Health Intelligence Analyst Do?
A Public Health Intelligence Analyst produces Joint Strategic Needs Assessments, supports Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments, and reports against the Public Health Outcomes Framework. Core duties cover health inequalities analysis against Marmot indicators, maintaining OHID Fingertips profiles for the local authority, and ad-hoc analysis for Health and Wellbeing Board papers. The analyst works in R, Stata, Python, and SQL, produces GIS maps in QGIS or ArcGIS, and carries out rapid evidence review and literature synthesis, turning routine data into intelligence products that shape planning and interventions.
What Is the Difference Between a Public Health Intelligence Analyst and an Epidemiologist?
The difference between a Public Health Intelligence Analyst and an Epidemiologist lies in local intelligence versus analytical study design. A Public Health Intelligence Analyst produces descriptive population health intelligence for local decision-making, such as JSNAs, Public Health Outcomes Framework reporting, and needs assessments, working within local authority public health teams and Integrated Care Systems on operational public health.
An Epidemiologist designs analytical studies, investigates outbreaks, and produces peer-reviewed research, usually in research, academic, or government settings. The two roles overlap in data analysis and surveillance, but the analyst is service-oriented while the epidemiologist is research-focused.
What Are the Different Types of Public Health Intelligence Analyst?
Public Health Intelligence Analysts specialise by the intelligence product and setting they work in. The main types are listed below:
JSNA / Needs Assessment Analyst
A JSNA / Needs Assessment Analyst produces Joint Strategic Needs Assessments, the largest PHI role. The analyst synthesises data on demographics, disease burden, and the wider determinants of health into comprehensive health profiles that help local authorities and NHS partners understand needs and target interventions. The work informs strategic planning and commissioning across sectors.
Health Inequalities Analyst
A Health Inequalities Analyst examines disparities in health outcomes across population groups, analysing socioeconomic status, ethnicity, geography, and disability. The analyst runs CORE20PLUS5 monitoring, Marmot indicator analysis, and deprivation-stratified small-area reporting, producing evidence that feeds Health and Wellbeing Strategies and targets programmes to reduce inequalities.
Surveillance Analyst (UKHSA)
A Surveillance Analyst at UKHSA monitors disease patterns and emerging threats. The analyst collects, validates, and analyses communicable disease surveillance data, works with the Second Generation Surveillance System, and produces weekly surveillance reports and dashboards. The role supports outbreak investigation, vaccine programme monitoring, and rapid response to health incidents.
Healthcare Public Health Analyst (ICB)
A Healthcare Public Health Analyst works within an Integrated Care Board, bridging population health intelligence and healthcare planning. The analyst assesses population need, service utilisation, and clinical outcomes, produces RightCare packs and NHS Model Health System analysis, and supports evidence-based commissioning and service redesign across the ICB.
Senior PHI Analyst / PHI Manager
A Senior PHI Analyst works at Band 7, leading complex analytical projects, mentoring junior analysts, and producing outputs that inform public health policy. A PHI Manager at Band 8a adds team and budget leadership, sets analytical priorities and methodology governance, and ensures delivery of statutory intelligence products, liaising with Directors of Public Health and clinical commissioners.
How Much Does a Public Health Intelligence Analyst Earn?
A Public Health Intelligence Analyst in the NHS earns between £39,959 and £64,750 a year under Agenda for Change, across Bands 6 to 8a. An entry-level analyst starts on Band 6 (£39,959 to £48,117), a senior analyst reaches Band 7 (£49,387 to £56,515), and a PHI Manager sits at Band 8a (£57,528 to £64,750).
Geographic location shapes pay, with a London High Cost Area Supplement on top for analysts in the capital, and occasional unsocial hours enhancements. Salary progresses through the incremental pay points within each band with satisfactory service.
How Much Does a PHI Analyst Earn Per Hour?
A Public Health Intelligence Analyst earns between roughly £20.50 and £33 an hour, depending on band. A Band 6 analyst earns about £20.50 to £24.50 an hour, a Band 7 senior analyst about £25 to £29, and a Band 8a PHI Manager about £29 to £33, based on a 37.5-hour week. Geographic location, a London High Cost Area Supplement, and unsocial hours or overtime enhancements lift the effective rate above the basic figure.
Public Health Intelligence Analyst Band 6 Salary
A Public Health Intelligence Analyst on Band 6 earns between £39,959 and £48,117 a year for 2026/27, the entry band for the role. Band 6 covers independent analysis, report production, and evidence-based decision support. Salary progresses through the band's pay points with satisfactory service, reaching the top over several years.
Senior Public Health Intelligence Analyst Band 7 Salary
A Senior Public Health Intelligence Analyst on Band 7 earns between £49,387 and £56,515 a year for 2026/27 in England. Band 7 covers advanced analytical skills and leadership, leading complex projects, managing junior staff, and providing strategic intelligence. Salary is pro-rated for part-time posts, and a High Cost Area Supplement plus unsocial hours enhancements can add to base pay.
PHI Manager Band 8a Salary
A PHI Manager on Band 8a earns between £57,528 and £64,750 a year for 2026/27, reflecting team and project leadership within a public health intelligence service. The role manages teams, oversees complex projects, and sets strategic direction. A London-based post attracts a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% to 20% of basic salary.
What Is the Public Health Intelligence Analyst Pay Scale for 2026/27?
The Public Health Intelligence Analyst pay scale for 2026/27 runs under NHS Agenda for Change across Bands 6, 7, and 8a. Band 6 pays £39,959 to £48,117, Band 7 pays £49,387 to £56,515, and Band 8a pays £57,528 to £64,750, according to the 2026/27 pay scales published by NHS Employers.
The scale includes the 3.3% consolidated uplift effective 1 April 2026, with incremental pay points inside each band and a High Cost Area Supplement for London and the surrounding area. NHS Employers review the scale each year against the national pay award.
How Is Public Health Intelligence Analyst Pay Determined by Agenda for Change?
Agenda for Change determines Public Health Intelligence Analyst pay through job evaluation, which scores each role on knowledge, responsibility, and analytical skill before assigning a band. Band 6 reflects entry with a degree in statistics, data science, public health, or epidemiology plus a year or two of analytical experience, Band 7 reflects sustained JSNA and needs assessment scope plus a relevant MSc, and Band 8a reflects PHI Manager team leadership plus UKPHR Practitioner registration. Local authority public health teams employ analysts on transferred NHS Agenda for Change terms, and each band holds pay points that release with satisfactory service.
How Much Did PHI Analyst Pay Rise in 2026?
Public Health Intelligence Analyst pay rose by 3.3% in 2026 under the Agenda for Change pay award. The consolidated uplift took effect on 1 April 2026 and applied across every band, including Band 6, Band 7, and Band 8a. The award reached April 2026 salaries directly and was designed to keep pay in step with cost-of-living pressures.
How Does PHI Analyst Pay Progression Work?
Public Health Intelligence Analyst pay progression runs through the incremental pay points inside each Agenda for Change band. An analyst starts near the foot of the band and moves up one pay point each year, subject to satisfactory performance and completion of mandatory training, until reaching the top of the band.
Once an analyst reaches the top of a band, further increases come only through the annual national pay award. Moving to a higher band, such as Band 6 to Band 7 or senior analyst to manager, means a competitive application demonstrating the higher band's competencies, so the system rewards experience while opening structured promotion routes.
How Do Analysts Move From Band 6 to Band 7?
A Public Health Intelligence Analyst moves from Band 6 to Band 7 by demonstrating advanced analytical skill and independent project leadership. Candidates evidence proficiency in complex statistical methods, R, Stata, or Python, and GIS mapping, plus the ability to manage stakeholder relationships and produce intelligence reports that shape strategy. Leading a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, building a portfolio of published analytical products, and gaining a relevant MSc strengthen the case, which is confirmed through a competitive application.
How Do Analysts Progress to PHI Manager Roles?
A Public Health Intelligence Analyst progresses to PHI Manager at Band 8a by building leadership on top of technical expertise. Progression develops team supervision, strategic planning, and senior stakeholder engagement, alongside broader dataset ownership, mentoring, and service development. UKPHR Practitioner registration and formal management training support the move, often through acting-up or secondment. The step is a competitive application, and under Agenda for Change it ties to the duties of the role rather than time served, so candidates evidence they are already working at the higher level.
How Much Do PHI Analysts Earn for Unsocial Hours?
Public Health Intelligence Analysts earn a percentage enhancement on the basic hourly rate for antisocial working hours under Agenda for Change. Work on Saturdays and weekday nights between 8pm and 6am attracts a 30% enhancement, while work on Sundays and public holidays attracts 60%.
Unsocial hours work is uncommon for analysts, since most roles run standard weekday office hours. During a public health emergency or incident response, an analyst may work outside standard hours and earn these enhancements, particularly for pandemic surveillance or outbreak analytical support.
How Much Overtime Does a Public Health Intelligence Analyst Earn?
Public Health Intelligence Analysts earn extra hours worked at time-and-a-half (1.5x the basic hourly rate) for hours worked beyond the 37.5-hour week where the employer agrees the role qualifies, with double time (2x) reserved for general public holidays. A Band 6 analyst on a basic rate of about £20.50 an hour earns roughly £30.65 to £36.90 an overtime hour. Overtime pay is not pensionable.
Many analysts, particularly at Band 7 and above, take time off in lieu rather than paid overtime, accruing equivalent time off for extra hours. Senior analysts and managers usually manage workload within contracted hours, with paid overtime reserved for exceptional circumstances agreed in the contract.
How to Calculate PHI Analyst Take-Home Pay
Calculating take-home pay for a Public Health Intelligence Analyst means working from gross salary down to net pay through the standard UK deductions. The steps are listed below:
Start with gross pay
Identify the gross salary for the band, for example between £39,959 and £48,117 on Band 6, then divide by 12 for monthly gross pay.
Add variable earnings
Add any overtime or unsocial hours enhancements, which raise gross pay before deductions.
Deduct pension contributions
A workplace pension is deducted before tax. Analysts on the NHS Pension Scheme contribute a tiered percentage between 5.1% and 13.5% of pensionable pay, while local authority staff may instead be in the Local Government Pension Scheme.
Deduct income tax and National Insurance
Apply the personal allowance of £12,570, then 20% up to £50,270 and 40% above. National Insurance is charged at 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above £50,270.
Deduct any other items
Subtract student loan repayments, union subscriptions, or salary sacrifice arrangements where they apply.
Reach net pay
Divide the annual net figure by 12 for the monthly take-home pay paid into the analyst's account.
Use our NHS income calculator for an instant estimate.
What Deductions Come Off a PHI Analyst Payslip?
A Public Health Intelligence Analyst's pay advice slip carries several standard deductions, listed below:
- Income tax through the PAYE system, based on earnings and the tax code
- National Insurance contributions on earnings above the primary threshold
- Pension contributions to the NHS Pension Scheme or the Local Government Pension Scheme, taken as a tiered percentage of pensionable pay
- Student loan repayments, where the analyst has an eligible loan
- Voluntary items such as union membership fees or salary sacrifice schemes
Each deduction is itemised on the payslip, giving a clear route from gross pay to net pay.
How Does PHI Analyst Maternity Pay Work?
Public Health Intelligence Analyst maternity pay entitlement follows the NHS Agenda for Change terms. An analyst with at least 12 months of continuous service by the 11th week before the expected week of childbirth receives Occupational Maternity Pay: 8 weeks at full pay, then 18 weeks at half pay plus Statutory Maternity Pay, then 13 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay alone, up to 52 weeks of leave in total. The analyst usually needs to return to work for around three months to keep the enhanced element, depending on the employer's policy, and an analyst who does not qualify for Occupational Maternity Pay receives Statutory Maternity Pay instead.
How Does PHI Analyst Sick Pay Work?
Public Health Intelligence Analyst sick leave benefits rises with length of service under Agenda for Change. During the first year an analyst receives 1 month of full pay and 2 months of half pay. Entitlement then rises to 2 months full and 2 months half after 1 year, 4 months full and 4 months half after 2 years, 5 months full and 5 months half after 3 years, and 6 months full and 6 months half after 5 years. Short absences need self-certification and longer ones a fit note, and analysts outside the NHS follow their employer's sick pay policy.
How to Become a Public Health Intelligence Analyst
Becoming a Public Health Intelligence Analyst combines a quantitative degree, technical skills, and public health experience. The steps are listed below:
Gain a relevant degree
Complete a degree in public health, epidemiology, statistics, data science, mathematics, or geography, with many roles preferring a Master's in Public Health or a related field.
Develop technical skills
Build proficiency in R, Stata, Python, or SQL, data visualisation, database management, and GIS software such as QGIS or ArcGIS, plus health intelligence tools such as OHID Fingertips.
Gain public health experience
Take entry-level roles, internships, or volunteering in public health, local authorities, or healthcare to build experience with health data and needs assessment.
Learn the public health landscape
Get to know local authority public health teams, Integrated Care Boards, and UKHSA, and frameworks such as the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.
Apply for Band 6 analyst posts
Apply for Band 6 Public Health Intelligence Analyst roles, showing analytical capability, public health knowledge, and the ability to communicate complex data to varied audiences.
Continue professional development
Keep learning through professional bodies and specialist training, and work towards UKPHR Practitioner registration for senior and manager roles.
What Qualifications Do You Need to Be a PHI Analyst?
A Public Health Intelligence Analyst usually holds a first degree in statistics, data science, mathematics, public health, epidemiology, or geography, and often an MSc in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Data Science, or Statistics. Strong data analysis skills in R, Stata, Python, or SQL and GIS software are essential, and UKPHR Practitioner registration supports progression to Band 8a.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Public Health Intelligence Analyst?
Becoming a Public Health Intelligence Analyst takes around four to five years from university entry to a Band 6 role. A first degree takes three years and an MSc adds one to two years, with practical experience through internships or entry-level roles alongside. Candidates from a related field such as epidemiology or health information may move into the role faster with focused training.
What Band Is a Public Health Intelligence Analyst?
A Public Health Intelligence Analyst sits within Bands 6, 7, or 8a on the Agenda for Change pay scale. Band 6 covers entry-level and standard analyst roles focused on data analysis and reporting, and Band 7 covers senior analysts who handle complex datasets and lead projects. Band 8a covers PHI Manager roles with strategic oversight and team leadership. The band reflects the responsibility, complexity, and autonomy of the post.
Do PHI Analysts Use OHID Fingertips?
Yes, Public Health Intelligence Analysts use OHID Fingertips daily as the core public health intelligence platform. Fingertips is a large public health data collection organised into themed profiles developed by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities to support Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and commissioning, according to the Department of Health and Social Care, and hosts more than 1,500 indicators across over 40 profiles, including the Public Health Outcomes Framework, the Health Profile for England, CORE20PLUS5, and Local Authority Health Profiles. Analysts extract, benchmark, and contextualise Fingertips data for local intelligence products.
Do PHI Analysts Get London Weighting?
Yes, Public Health Intelligence Analysts working in and around London receive a High Cost Area Supplement, the NHS form of London weighting, worth 20% of basic salary in Inner London, 15% in Outer London, and 5% in the Fringe zone, each subject to a minimum and maximum cash amount.
Do PHI Analysts Produce JSNAs?
Yes, Joint Strategic Needs Assessment production is a defining Public Health Intelligence Analyst function. Analysts produce topic-based JSNA chapters covering demographics, mortality, morbidity, the wider determinants of health, and inequalities, drawing on ONS, hospital episode, OHID Fingertips, and local intelligence data. The JSNA is a requirement of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, discharged by health and wellbeing boards, according to GOV.UK, and forms the statutory evidence base that informs local strategy.