Profession · 2026/27
Healthcare Assistant Salary 2026/27: NHS Band 2/3 Take-Home
NHS Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) sit on Agenda for Change Band 2 (£24,071-£25,674) or Band 3 (£25,674-£28,407) depending on responsibility and clinical setting. Plus unsocial hours premium and HCAS in inner London (+15%).
Typical pay & take-home
- Median gross
- £26,040
- Typical range
- £24,071–£28,407
- Take-home at median
- £22,268
England, no pension applied — use the salary calculator for your scheme.
At the median for this profession, you earn 30% below the UK full-time median (£37,430), placing you in the bottom 21% of UK earners.
What influences healthcare assistant (hca) pay
HCA base pay sits inside the 20% basic-rate band on standard rota. Unsocial hours premium (Section 2: 30% Saturdays, 60% Sundays/bank holidays, 30% nights) typically adds £3,000-£6,000 a year on operational HCA rotas in wards and A&E.
NHS pension contribution at 5.7% (Band 2/3 banded rate 2026/27 - lowest contribution rate in the Agenda for Change scheme). The CARE 1/54th accrual still applies, making it one of the strongest implicit pension deals in UK low-pay employment.
HCAs in inner London receive 15% High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) - approximately £3,600-£4,200/year on top of base. Outer London 5%, Fringe 5%. This is taxable + pensionable, pushing senior London HCAs above £30,000 gross.
Career progression
- Domestic / Catering Band 1 (closed to new entrants): £22,000-£24,000.
- HCA Band 2 entry: £24,071 (2026/27 England).
- HCA Band 2 top: £25,674.
- Senior HCA Band 3 entry: £25,674.
- Senior HCA Band 3 top: £28,407.
- Nursing Associate Band 4 next: £29,970-£36,483.
- Registered Nurse Band 5 (with degree): £32,073-£39,043.
Frequently asked questions
- What is take-home for a Band 2 HCA?
- On £24,872 gross with 5.7% NHS pension, take-home is approximately £20,200-£20,500 a year after Income Tax (20% basic on £2,750 above PA), NI and pension. Inner London HCA at £28,600 with HCAS takes home around £22,800-£23,100.
- Is the 5.7% NHS pension worth it?
- Yes - extraordinary value for low-pay employment. A Band 2 HCA contributing 5.7% on £25k builds ~£465/year of indexed pension annually under CARE 1/54th. The implicit employer cost is around 20% of salary - the 5.7% employee contribution is one of the most generous public-sector low-pay pension deals in the UK.
- How fast can I progress from HCA to Registered Nurse?
- Two main routes: (1) Open University Nursing Apprenticeship (3-4 years, fully employed throughout, NHS sponsorship), (2) Pre-registration BSc Nursing (3 years, NHS Bursary £5,000+ tax-free annually). Both end at Band 5 entry £32,073 - a ~£7,200/year gross pay increase vs Band 2 top.