NHS Agenda for Change 2026/27 · Updated October 2026
Unsocial hours pay calculator
Work out your unsocial hours pay for nights, Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Use the NHS Agenda for Change rates for your band, or enter your own employer’s premiums.
Estimates only. Check your contract and payslip. Source: NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook, NHS Employers pay scales 2026/27.
How to use the unsocial hours pay calculator
- 1Choose your employerPick NHS to use Agenda for Change rates, or another employer to enter your own premiums.
- 2Set your band or rateNHS staff choose a band and pay point. Others enter their hourly rate.
- 3Add your unsocial hoursEnter your average night, Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday hours a week.
NHS unsocial hours rates by band
Agenda for Change unsocial hours enhancements in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, shown as a percentage on top of your basic hourly rate.
| Band | Nights (8pm–6am) and Saturdays | Sundays and bank holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | Time + 44% | Time + 88% |
| Band 3 | Time + 37% | Time + 73% |
| Bands 4 to 9 | Time + 30% | Time + 60% |
How to calculate unsocial hours pay
1. Find your hourly rate
Divide your annual salary by 52.143, then by 37.5. A Band 5 nurse on £32,073 earns £16.40 an hour.
2. Work out the premium
Band 5 gets plus 30% for nights, which is £4.92 extra for each night hour.
3. Multiply by your hours
8 night hours a week adds £39.37 a week, or about £2,053 a year.
Working unsocial hours: your pay rights
- There is no legal right to extra pay for nights or weekends in the UK. Your contract sets your rates.
- Your average pay for all hours must be at least the National Minimum or Living Wage, £12.71 an hour if you are 21 or over.
- Night workers should not work more than 8 hours on average in each 24 hours, and must be offered a free health assessment.
- Bank holidays do not have to be given off or paid at a higher rate unless your contract says so.
Assumptions behind the calculator
- NHS pay uses the 2026/27 England Agenda for Change pay scales and the standard unsocial hours enhancements.
- Hourly rate is annual salary ÷ 52.143 weeks ÷ 37.5 hours.
- Unsocial hours are an average for each week, and paid every week of the year, including leave.
- Unsocial hours cannot be more than your total hours a week.
- All figures are before tax, National Insurance and pension.
Frequently asked questions about unsocial hours pay
What is unsocial hours pay?
Unsocial hours pay is extra money for working outside normal daytime hours, such as nights, weekends and bank holidays. It is usually paid as a percentage on top of your normal hourly rate.
What are the NHS unsocial hours rates?
Under Agenda for Change in England, Bands 4 to 9 get time plus 30% for nights and Saturdays, and time plus 60% for Sundays and bank holidays. Band 2 gets plus 44% and plus 88%, and Band 3 gets plus 37% and plus 73%.
What counts as unsocial hours in the NHS?
Nights are 8pm to 6am Monday to Friday. All hours on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays also count as unsocial hours.
How do I calculate NHS unsocial hours pay?
Work out your hourly rate by dividing your annual salary by 52.143 and then by 37.5. Multiply it by your unsocial hours and the premium. For example, a Band 5 nurse on £32,073 earns £16.40 an hour, so 8 night hours at plus 30% adds £39.37 a week.
Do I get unsocial hours pay on holiday?
Yes, in the NHS. Unsocial hours payments are included in annual leave and sick pay, based on your usual pattern of work, so your pay does not drop when you take leave.
Is unsocial hours pay pensionable?
Yes. NHS unsocial hours payments count as pensionable pay, which can move you into a higher pension contribution tier.
Is there a legal right to unsocial hours pay?
No. Outside the NHS and other public sector schemes, there is no legal right to extra pay for nights or weekends in the UK. It depends on your contract. Your average pay must still be at least the National Minimum or Living Wage.
Does Scotland use the same NHS unsocial hours rates?
No. NHS Scotland has its own unsocial hours arrangements, so check with your health board. This calculator uses the England, Wales and Northern Ireland Agenda for Change rates.