NHS Wales staff receive the same 3.3% Agenda for Change pay award as England, but Welsh terms and conditions include an extra day of annual leave per tier and some different contractual provisions.
The 3.3% Award in Wales
NHS Wales follows the same Agenda for Change pay scales as England. The 3.3% award applies equally to all Welsh NHS staff on AfC contracts, effective 1 April 2026. Pay bands, pay points, and annual increments are identical to England.
The Welsh Government confirmed acceptance of the NHSPRB recommendation alongside the UK Government announcement. Implementation follows the same ESR-based timeline as English trusts.
2026/27 Pay Scales — Same as England
| Band | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £24,465 | £25,272 | +£807 |
| Band 3 | £24,937 | £25,760 | +£823 |
| Band 5 | £31,049 | £32,073 | +£1,024 |
| Band 6 | £38,682 | £39,959 | +£1,277 |
| Band 7 | £47,810 | £49,387 | +£1,577 |
Where Wales Differs — Annual Leave
The key difference in Welsh NHS terms is the annual leave entitlement. NHS Wales grants one additional day of annual leave at each tier compared to England:
| Service Length | England | Wales | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 years | 27 days + 8 BH | 28 days + 8 BH | +1 day |
| 5–10 years | 29 days + 8 BH | 30 days + 8 BH | +1 day |
| 10+ years | 33 days + 8 BH | 34 days + 8 BH | +1 day |
This extra day is worth approximately £123 for a Band 5 entry-level nurse (1/261 of annual salary).
ℹ️Valuing the Extra Leave Day — An additional day of leave at Band 5 entry is worth £32,073 ÷ 261 working days = £123. Over a 30-year career, that's 30 extra days (6 weeks) of paid leave compared to an English counterpart.
Other Welsh Terms Differences
Beyond the extra leave day, NHS Wales has some additional provisions:
• Welsh Language Premium: Some roles requiring Welsh language skills attract a salary supplement
• Travel and Subsistence: Welsh rates may differ slightly from English NHS rates
• Organisational Change: Welsh redundancy and redeployment policies follow NHS Wales guidelines
• Secondment Opportunities: Cross-border secondments between Wales and England maintain AfC terms
Pension arrangements are identical — all UK NHS staff are covered by the same NHS Pension Scheme regardless of nation.
Welsh Health Boards
NHS Wales is organised into seven health boards (not trusts):
1. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (North Wales)
2. Hywel Dda University Health Board (Mid/West Wales)
3. Swansea Bay University Health Board
4. Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
5. Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
6. Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
7. Powys Teaching Health Board
Each health board manages its own payroll implementation, so the exact month you receive the uplift may vary across Wales.
Tax — Welsh Rates
Unlike Scotland, Wales currently uses the same income tax rates as England. The Welsh Rate of Income Tax (WRIT) has been set at the same level as the corresponding UK rate since its introduction in 2019. This means there is no tax difference between working in England and Wales.
However, the Welsh Government has the power to change these rates in future, so this could change in subsequent years.
Moving Between Wales and England
Transferring between NHS Wales and NHS England is straightforward:
• Continuous service preserved in full
• Same pay band and pay point maintained
• Annual leave adjusts to the receiving nation's entitlement (gain or lose the extra day)
• Pension membership continues seamlessly
• Tax rates remain the same (currently)
The main practical difference is the annual leave entitlement — moving from Wales to England means losing one day per year.