£105,385 – £121,271 a year
The most senior AfC band — director-level posts below the very senior manager (board) pay framework. The figure above is the England national base pay for 2025/26; London and high-cost areas add a High Cost Area Supplement, and clinical roles often earn more through unsocial-hours and on-call enhancements.
Indicative only — each employer maps roles to bands through job evaluation, so the same job title can sit on different bands at different trusts.
Within Band 9 you move up the pay points over time through annual increments, from £105,385 up to £121,271. This is the top Agenda for Change band.
NHS Band 9 pays from £105,385 to £121,271 a year in 2025/26 (England). You start near the bottom of the band and move up the pay points through annual increments; London and high-cost areas add a supplement on top.
The most senior AfC band — director-level posts below the very senior manager (board) pay framework. Typical Band 9 roles include Director of nursing (non-board), Director of operations, Chief scientific officer.