Radiographer Salary 2026/27 — Diagnostic & Therapeutic Pay by Band
Newly qualified radiographers start on Band 5 at £32,073, senior radiographers move to Band 6 (£39,959), and advanced practitioners and sonographers reach Band 7 at £49,387. Take-home at Band 6 entry is £2,429.77 a month. The full ladder is below.
Last updated November 2026 · Figures checked against NHS Employers and the Scottish Government in November 2026. Next scheduled check: the April 2027 pay award.
The radiographer pay ladder — England 2026/27
| Career stage | Band | Salary (England) | Take-home / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newly qualified radiographer | Band 5 | £32,073 | £2,040.21 |
| Newly qualified — top of Band 5 | Band 5 | £39,043 | £2,380.80 |
| Senior radiographer | Band 6 | £39,959 | £2,429.77 |
| Advanced practitioner / sonographer | Band 7 | £49,387 | £2,933.86 |
Full-time, NHS Pension member, no London weighting or student loan, standard tax code 1257L. Take-home figures are generated by our verified calculator — run your own exact position on the homepage calculator.
Diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers
Both branches of the profession are on the same Agenda for Change ladder: diagnostic radiographers (imaging) and therapeutic radiographers (radiotherapy) qualify into Band 5 and progress the same way. Specialisation is where pay grows — reporting radiographers, advanced practitioners and sonographers are typically Band 7, with consultant radiographer roles at Band 8.
On top of basic pay
Imaging departments run around the clock, so unsocial hours enhancements and on-call payments can add meaningfully to the basic figures above. London posts carry HCAS weighting on top of basic pay.
Worked example — senior radiographer, Band 6 entry
Gross pay of £39,959.00 a year becomes £2,429.77 a month: pension £3,915.98, income tax £4,694.60 and National Insurance £2,191.12 come off first, before any unsocial hours or on-call enhancements.
Radiographer pay part-time, in London and in Scotland
Working 22.5 hours a week (0.6 of full-time), a Band 5 radiographer at entry point is paid £19,243.80 gross and takes home £1,364.54 a month — part-time pay is the same hourly rate pro-rata, and because pension tiers are set by your actual pay, the contribution rate can drop too. In Inner London the same Band 5 post takes home £2,351.10 a month: the High Cost Area Supplement is added to basic pay before pension and tax, which lifts both your take-home and your pension. Leave is pro-rata as well — 27 days plus bank holidays on full-time hours, rising with service; check your exact hours with the annual leave calculator. Imaging runs around the clock, so nights and weekends are a core part of radiographer earnings — Saturday and night hours earn time plus 30% and Sundays time plus 60% at Bands 4 to 9; work out your rota with the overtime & unsocial hours calculator. In Scotland, a Band 5 radiographer starts on £34,544 and takes home £2,167.21 a month on the 36-hour week — see NHS Scotland pay for the full Scottish scales.
Other NHS roles
Radiographer salary — frequently asked questions
How much do radiographers earn in the UK?
NHS radiographers earn from £32,073 at Band 5 entry to £49,387 at Band 7 in England for 2026/27, before unsocial hours and on-call enhancements. Consultant radiographers at Band 8 earn more.
What band is a newly qualified radiographer?
Band 5, for both diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers, after HCPC registration. Senior radiographer posts are Band 6.
What is a radiographer's take-home pay?
A Band 5 radiographer at entry point takes home £2,040.21 a month from basic pay; a senior radiographer at Band 6 entry takes home £2,429.77 a month, with enhancements on top.
Do sonographers earn more than radiographers?
Usually, yes — sonographer and advanced practitioner roles are typically Band 7, reflecting the additional qualification and autonomous reporting the roles require.
How every figure on this site is calculated and checked: our methodology.