Nurses 3.3% Pay Rise 2026: What We Know

NHS Nurses in England and Wales are set for a 3.3% pay rise in 2026.

The announcement comes earlier than it has done in previous years, but as ever has not been met with universal approval.

Here’s what we know so far about this year’s pay rise.

A below-inflation increase of 3.3%

The Department of Health and Social Care had originally put forward less than 3.3% to the pay review body. They have since accepted the recommended 3.3% increase for all NHS staff.

However, this is slightly below the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation, which is currently at 3.4%.

For many, inflation is seen as an absolute minimum.

The Royal College of Nurses have called the pay offer “an insult” while Unison has suggested it will make UK Nurses “angry”.

When will the pay rise take effect?

The proposed 3.3% pay rise will come into effect from April 2026.

In previous years the announcement has tended to come during the Summer, and so back payments have had to be made.

This year, that will not be the case - with pay changing from 1st April.

Is this pay increase confirmed?

The 3.3% increase is fully confirmed.

However, health unions have been campaigning for broader reforms of the fundamental way that Agenda for Change, the current pay banding system, works. And they believe the latest announcements offer nothing in terms of improving that system.

Therefore, their energy now will focus on pushing the government to offer a longer term plan around pay that better manages its imperfections.

Most notably, unions think that the current system is particularly ineffective for lower paid NHS workers - which broadly includes Band 5 Nurses and healthcare assistants on lower bandings.

The government has suggested it’s working on plans to improve pay structures for lower paid workers, but little detail has come to light yet.

So we can expect further pay-related announcements and discussions throughout the year, as this issue is not going to go away.