Radiography Salary UK: Hourly, Weekly and Annual Pay for NHS Radiographers in 2026/27

Understanding Radiography Salary UK in 2026/27

If you are researching radiography salary UK — whether you are a student considering the profession, a newly qualified radiographer, or an experienced practitioner looking to move bands — it helps to break pay down into hourly, weekly and annual figures. NHS radiographers are paid under the Agenda for Change system, which sets clear pay bands and steps. This article explains the current rates, how they compare with the statutory minimum wage, and what you can expect to take home.

Statutory Minimum Wage vs NHS Pay

Before looking at radiography-specific salaries, it is worth knowing the legal minimum. From April 2026, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £12.71 per hour. For 18–20 year olds the National Minimum Wage is £10.85 per hour, and for under-18s and apprentices it is £8.00 per hour (GOV.UK guidance). NHS pay sits well above these floors. Even the lowest Agenda for Change band (closed Band 1) pays £12.92 per hour, and Band 2 starts above the NLW (NHS Employers).

NHS Agenda for Change Bands for Radiographers

Diagnostic radiographers in England typically progress through three bands during their career:

• Band 5 – entry level for newly qualified radiographers
• Band 6 – senior radiographers and modality leads
• Band 7 – reporting radiographers and consultant radiographers

Each band has several pay steps. You move up a step after a set period (usually one or two years) until you reach the top of the band. The 2026/27 pay scales, published by NHS Employers, show the following annual gross salaries for the entry step (step 2) and top step:

Band	Entry (annual)	Top (annual)
Band 5	£32,073	£39,043
Band 6	£39,959	£48,117
Band 7	£49,387	£56,515

These figures are for full-time work (37.5 hours per week). A job advert from Royal Devon NHS in March 2026 confirmed the Band 5 range of £32,073–£39,043 pro rata for a radiographer post.

Hourly Rates and Weekly Earnings

Converting annual salaries to hourly rates helps you compare with minimum wage jobs or part-time opportunities. Based on a 37.5-hour week:

• Band 5 entry: £16.40 per hour (about £615 per week gross)
• Band 5 top: £19.97 per hour (about £749 per week)
• Band 6 entry: £20.44 per hour (about £767 per week)
• Band 6 top: £24.61 per hour (about £923 per week)
• Band 7 entry: £25.26 per hour (about £947 per week)
• Band 7 top: £28.90 per hour (about £1,084 per week)

These rates are from the NHS Employers 2026/27 pay scales. Remember that if you work in London or a fringe area, you will receive a Higher Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) on top, which adds between 5% and 20% of basic salary depending on the zone.

Take-Home Pay: What Lands in Your Bank Account

Gross salary is only part of the picture. After income tax, employee National Insurance and the NHS pension contribution (currently 9.3% of pensionable pay for most members), your net pay is lower. According to NHS Pay Bands, typical take-home pay for a full-time diagnostic radiographer on the 2026/27 England scale is:

• Band 5 top step: £28,570 per year (£2,381 per month)
• Band 6 top step: £34,391 per year (£2,866 per month)
• Band 7 top step: £39,708 per year (£3,309 per month)

These figures assume standard pension membership, no student loan, and no London weighting. If you have a student loan or work in a high-cost area, your net pay will differ. Use our pay guides to see detailed breakdowns for each band.

Career Progression and Pay Growth

Over a typical career, a diagnostic radiographer’s gross pay can rise from £32,073 (Band 5 entry) to £56,515 (Band 7 top) — an increase of £24,442. That is before any future national pay awards. Moving from Band 5 entry to Band 5 top takes about four years; from Band 6 entry to top takes about five years. Each step brings a modest pay rise, and moving to a higher band (e.g., from Band 6 to Band 7) involves a larger jump, often linked to additional responsibilities or specialist qualifications.

Regional Variations and Other Factors

Salaries for radiographers vary across the UK. The figures above are for England. In Scotland, the equivalent pay ranges are higher: diagnostic radiographers earn between £34,544 and £61,466 on the Scottish Agenda for Change scale (NHS Pay Bands). Northern Ireland and Wales have their own arrangements, usually similar to England but with minor differences.

Other factors that affect your actual pay include:

• Unsocial hours: Time-and-a-half or double-time for nights, weekends and bank holidays.
• Overtime: Paid at enhanced rates.
• Part-time work: Salary pro-rated to your contracted hours.
• London weighting / HCAS: Adds a percentage to basic pay.
• Student loan repayments: Deducted from gross pay if you are on Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 4 or Plan 5.

Summary

For anyone researching radiography salary UK, the key takeaway is that NHS radiographers are paid well above the statutory minimum. Starting on Band 5 at £32,073 gross (£16.40 per hour), you can progress to Band 7 at £56,515 (£28.90 per hour). Take-home pay after deductions is typically around 70% of gross. Use our pay data pages to explore specific band breakdowns, or visit the topics section for more on NHS pay and conditions.

Always check your contract and the latest Agenda for Change pay scales, as rates change each April. The figures in this article are for 2026/27 and are based on official sources including NHS Employers, GOV.UK, and NHS Pay Bands.