Healthcare assistant pay

An NHS healthcare assistant (HCA) is typically paid on Agenda for Change band 2, according to Health Careers. In England from 1 April 2026, band 2 is £25,272 a year, which is £12.92 an hour. Some trusts advertise HCA jobs at band 3, which runs from £25,760 to £27,476. The band follows the duties in the job description, so two adverts with the same title can pay differently.

Band 2 and band 3 side by side

Band	Entry	Top	Hourly
2	£25,272	£25,272	£12.92
3	£25,760	£27,476	£13.17 to £14.05

Band 2 has a single pay point, so basic pay does not move until you take a higher-banded job. Band 3 takes two years to reach the top. The band 2 guide and band 3 guide cover the other jobs on each band. If you want to see how the band 2 rate compares with the legal minimum, the National Living Wage guide has the current figures.

London trusts add a high cost area supplement. Band 2 becomes £31,066 in inner London, £30,142 in outer London and £26,618 in the fringe area, using the minimum supplement for each zone. Band 3 entry is £31,554, £30,630 and £27,106 in the same zones.

Pay for nights, weekends and bank holidays

Most ward work runs round the clock. Under the NHS terms and conditions, staff are paid a percentage on top of basic hourly pay for Saturdays, weekday hours between 8pm and 6am, and Sundays and public holidays.

When	Band 2	Band 3
Saturdays, and weekdays from 8pm to 6am	41%	35%
Sundays and public holidays	83%	69%

On £12.92 an hour, a night or Saturday hour on band 2 pays about £18.22 and a Sunday hour about £23.64. On band 3 entry (£13.17) the same hours pay about £17.78 and £22.26. The handbook says enhancements are worked out on basic salary and only one rate applies to each hour. Because band 2 has the higher percentage, the gap between bands narrows on unsocial hours, and the unsocial hours pay guide has the full rules.

Bank shifts

Many HCAs also work through their trust’s staff bank. The trust sets bank rates, so look at the rate on the shift listing and compare it with your contracted hourly rate plus enhancements. Bank work at a second employer is taxed as a second job, and the tax on NHS bank shifts guide explains the tax code issue. The NHS bank work guide covers how to join.

Hours, entry and training

The standard NHS week is about 37.5 hours, and Health Careers gives 27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with service. There are no set entry requirements. Employers expect good literacy and numeracy, may ask for GCSEs in English and maths, and expect some experience of healthcare or care work, which can be paid or voluntary. New staff work towards the Care Certificate, and apprenticeships are sometimes available.

Moving up from HCA

Health Careers says you could become a senior healthcare assistant, then an assistant practitioner or nursing associate. With the right qualifications you could train for a degree-level role such as nurse, podiatrist, midwife or occupational therapist. Nursing associates are paid on band 4, which is £28,392 to £31,157. The nursing associate profile and the HCA to nurse guide set out the routes.

Deductions and the pay review

On band 2 or band 3 you pay 6.5% into the NHS Pension Scheme, the tier for pay between £13,260 and £28,854. Income tax and National Insurance apply to pay above £12,570. The lowest NHS bands are also under review, and no deal had been found by 16 October 2026, so the figures here assume no change. The take-home pay calculator shows monthly pay for each salary.