Healthcare assistant salary 2026/27
Pay for NHS healthcare assistants and support workers in England from April 2026, the difference between Band 2 and Band 3, and what the job involves.
HCA pay
| Band and step | Salary | Take-home a month |
|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £25,272 | £1,700 |
| Band 3, entry | £25,760 | £1,727 |
| Band 3, top | £27,476 | £1,823 |
Full time, England, NHS Pension member. Band 2 and Band 3 get higher unsocial hours rates than other bands: 44% and 37% extra for nights and Saturdays, and 88% and 74% for Sundays and public holidays.
A Band 3 averaging 8 hours a week of nights or Saturdays and 4 of Sundays takes home about £1,918 a month, against £1,727 on basic pay.
What a healthcare assistant does
Healthcare assistants (HCAs), also called healthcare support workers, work under registered nurses to care for patients. They spend more time with patients than almost anyone else on a ward.
Band 2 and Band 3
- Band 2: personal care, such as helping patients wash, dress, eat and move, making beds and keeping the ward stocked.
- Band 3: clinical tasks on top, such as taking observations, blood samples, ECGs and blood sugar tests, and recording and escalating changes in a patient’s condition.
Many trusts now recruit new HCAs on Band 2 with a set path to Band 3 once you have completed a competency framework, often within six months to a year.
Hours
Full time is 37.5 hours, usually on a rota of long days, nights and weekends on wards. Clinic and outpatient posts often have more regular hours. Bank work is widely available if you want extra shifts.
How to become an HCA
No formal qualifications are needed. Employers look for caring, reliable people with good English and maths. You complete the Care Certificate in your first few months. Some posts ask for care experience or a level 2 or 3 health qualification.
Where it can lead
Many nurses started as HCAs. You can move to a nursing associate apprenticeship at Band 4, and then on to a nursing degree apprenticeship, often while still being paid.
Common questions
How much does a healthcare assistant earn?
£25,272 at Band 2 and £25,760 to £27,476 at Band 3 in England from April 2026, full time, before unsocial hours.
What is the difference between a Band 2 and Band 3 HCA?
Band 2 is mainly personal care. Band 3 adds clinical tasks such as observations, blood samples and ECGs.
Do you need qualifications to be a healthcare assistant?
No formal qualifications are required. You complete the Care Certificate once you start.