Calculate your NHS radiographer take-home pay for 2025/26. Covers diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers from Band 5 to Band 8b. See monthly pay after income tax and National Insurance.
Both disciplines follow the same NHS AfC pay scale. The difference lies in clinical specialism, working patterns, and career pathways — not base pay.
| Band | Role | Salary Range | Monthly Net (min) | Typical Specialism |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 5 | Newly Qualified | £29,970–£36,483 | ~£2,075 | General X-ray, A&E imaging |
| Band 6 | Specialist | £37,338–£44,962 | ~£2,530 | CT, MRI, mammography, IR |
| Band 7 | Specialist / Lead | £43,742–£50,056 | ~£2,900 | Advanced CT, ultrasound, PET |
| Band 8a | Advanced Practitioner | £50,952–£57,349 | ~£3,200 | Reporting, research, advanced IR |
| Band 8b | Consultant | £58,972–£68,525 | ~£3,600 | Service leadership, research lead |
Diagnostic Imaging specialisms include plain film, CT, MRI, ultrasound, interventional radiology (IR), mammography, fluoroscopy, nuclear medicine, and PET-CT. Sonographer pathways (Band 6–7) are common for experienced diagnostic radiographers.
| Band | Role | Salary Range | Monthly Net (min) | Typical Specialism |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 5 | Newly Qualified | £29,970–£36,483 | ~£2,075 | Radiotherapy treatment delivery |
| Band 6 | Specialist | £37,338–£44,962 | ~£2,530 | IMRT, SABR, brachytherapy |
| Band 7 | Specialist / Lead | £43,742–£50,056 | ~£2,900 | Treatment planning, IGRT, prescribing |
| Band 8a | Advanced Practitioner | £50,952–£57,349 | ~£3,200 | Consultant practice, independent prescribing |
| Band 8b | Consultant | £58,972–£68,525 | ~£3,600 | Research lead, clinical director |
Therapeutic Therapeutic radiographers plan and deliver radiotherapy to cancer patients. Advanced roles include independent prescribing, treatment planning (dosimetry), and patient review clinics. Most work daytime hours in specialist cancer centres.
Radiography is a cornerstone of modern healthcare. Whether using X-rays, CT, MRI and ultrasound to diagnose disease (diagnostic radiography) or planning and delivering life-saving radiotherapy treatments for cancer patients (therapeutic radiography), radiographers play a vital role across NHS hospitals and cancer centres throughout the UK.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of NHS radiographer salaries in 2025/26, covering all Agenda for Change pay bands, the impact of unsocial hours working, the difference between diagnostic and therapeutic radiographer pay, and how take-home pay is calculated after income tax and National Insurance.
Both diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers typically enter NHS employment at Band 5 following completion of their undergraduate BSc degree and HCPC registration. The Band 5 salary for 2025/26 runs from £29,970 to £36,483. At the minimum point, monthly take-home after income tax and NI (with no pension deduction) is approximately £2,075. Including pension at 9.8% (the typical rate for Band 5), take-home reduces to around £1,870 per month. Progression through Band 5 is incremental, usually one pay point per year subject to satisfactory appraisal.
After gaining post-registration experience (typically two to four years), radiographers progress to Band 6 upon appointment to a specialist role. Diagnostic Band 6 radiographers may specialise in CT, MRI, mammography, interventional radiology, ultrasound or nuclear medicine. Therapeutic Band 6 radiographers typically gain expertise in areas such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), or brachytherapy. The 2025/26 Band 6 salary range is £37,338 to £44,962, with monthly take-home of approximately £2,530 to £2,920.
Band 7 radiographers hold senior specialist or team leadership positions. In diagnostic radiography, this may include leading an MRI department, acting as a superintendent radiographer, or operating as an advanced practitioner in reporting or interventional procedures. Therapeutic Band 7 radiographers may lead treatment planning services, hold independent prescribing qualifications, or manage patient-facing review clinics. The 2025/26 Band 7 salary is £43,742 to £50,056, with monthly take-home of approximately £2,900 to £3,100.
Band 8a advanced practitioners often hold postgraduate qualifications (MSc or beyond) and contribute to clinical governance, research and professional development alongside their clinical responsibilities. Some hold reporting radiographer status or act as clinical leads for specialist imaging services. Band 8b consultant radiographers are the highest clinical grade and may lead NHS imaging or radiotherapy departments, contribute to national clinical standards, and carry out research. Band 8a salary is £50,952–£57,349; Band 8b is £58,972–£68,525.
Many NHS diagnostic radiographers work shift patterns covering evening, night and weekend sessions due to the 24/7 nature of emergency imaging services. Therapeutic radiographers more often work standard daytime hours, though some centres offer extended evening sessions. Under AfC, working between 8pm and 6am on weekdays attracts a 30% enhancement on the basic hourly rate. Weekend work (any hours Saturday or Sunday) attracts 30–60%. An NHS Band 5 radiographer regularly working nights and weekends may earn an additional £3,000–£6,000 per year in unsocial hours pay, significantly boosting take-home income.
Some NHS radiography departments operate on-call rotas where radiographers must be available outside their scheduled hours. On-call availability payments and callout fees are paid under AfC rules and vary by trust. Radiographers on on-call rotas can earn several additional thousands of pounds per year from these supplements, which are taxed as normal income.
The UK faces a serious and growing shortage of radiographers. NHS England's imaging backlog — built up partly during the COVID-19 pandemic — requires urgent expansion of the imaging workforce. The Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR) has reported that vacancy rates across imaging departments exceed 10% nationally. This shortage has driven up demand for locum radiographers, with agencies offering Band 5 locums £28–£35 per hour and experienced Band 6/7 locums £35–£45 per hour or more.
Locum radiographers working through NHS frameworks or private agencies can earn substantially more per hour than their permanent NHS counterparts. However, locums typically do not receive NHS pension contributions, sick pay, annual leave entitlements or professional development support. The financial upside of locum work must be weighed against these significant benefit losses, particularly the NHS pension which represents around 23.7% of salary in employer contributions.
While both diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers start on the same Band 5 salary and follow the same AfC pay scale, their career trajectories differ. Diagnostic radiographers have a broader range of imaging specialisms available (X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, interventional radiology) and often work shift patterns that include nights and weekends. Therapeutic radiographers specialise in cancer treatment and typically work more regular daytime hours, often in specialist cancer centres. Advanced therapeutic radiographers who qualify as independent prescribers can access Band 8a roles earlier in their careers.
Private hospitals (including major chains such as HCA Healthcare, Nuffield Health, and Spire Healthcare) employ diagnostic radiographers and pay salaries typically in the range of £35,000–£60,000, depending on modality and experience. Private sector radiographers generally work more regular hours but do not have access to the NHS Pension Scheme. Some private roles are offered on a sessional or part-time basis alongside NHS employment, allowing radiographers to supplement their income.
For 2025/26, the personal allowance is £12,570. NHS radiographers on Band 5 to Band 7 pay income tax at 20% on earnings above this threshold up to £50,270. Band 8a radiographers at the top of their band may earn above £50,270, taking them into the 40% higher rate tax bracket. National Insurance is charged at 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above. NHS pension contributions (5.2%–12.5%) are deducted before calculating taxable income, reducing the income tax liability slightly but reducing gross take-home pay.
Last updated: April 2025. Salary data based on NHS Agenda for Change 2025/26. Tax calculations use HMRC 2025/26 rates. Figures are estimates. Author: Mustafa Bilgic (MB).