Cardiac Physiologist Salary 2026/27: Hourly and Annual Pay

If you are considering a career as a cardiac physiologist or are already working in the NHS and want to understand your pay, this guide covers the latest salary figures for 2026/27. Cardiac physiologists (also called cardiac scientists) carry out diagnostic tests on the heart, such as ECGs, echocardiography and exercise testing. Most work for the NHS on Agenda for Change pay bands, typically starting at Band 5 and progressing to Band 6 or Band 7 with experience and additional qualifications.

NHS Pay Bands for Cardiac Physiologists

According to the NHS Employers pay scales for 2026/27, the annual and hourly rates for the main bands are:

• Band 5: Entry step £32,073 per year (£16.40 per hour); top step £39,043 per year (£19.97 per hour).
• Band 6: Entry step £39,959 per year (£20.44 per hour); top step £48,117 per year (£24.61 per hour).
• Band 7: Entry step £49,387 per year (£25.26 per hour); top step £56,515 per year (£28.90 per hour).

These figures assume a standard 37.5-hour week (full-time). The hourly rate is calculated by dividing the annual salary by 1,950 hours (37.5 hours × 52 weeks). The NHS uses this method for Agenda for Change staff.

Converting Hourly Rates to Annual Salary

If you are offered an hourly rate, you can estimate the annual salary using the formula:

Annual salary ≈ hourly rate × hours per week × 52

For a full-time cardiac physiologist working 37.5 hours per week, multiply the hourly rate by 1,950. For example, a Band 6 top step hourly rate of £24.61 gives an annual salary of about £48,000 (close to the official £48,117). If you work part-time, simply adjust the weekly hours. Use our Hourly to Salary calculator to do the conversion instantly.

Take-Home Pay After Deductions

Your gross salary is not what lands in your bank account. Deductions include income tax, employee National Insurance and the NHS pension contribution (currently about 9.3% for most staff). For 2026/27, the tax bands are: 0% on the first £12,570, 20% on earnings between £12,571 and £50,270, and 40% on earnings above £50,270. National Insurance is charged at 8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, and 2% above that.

Based on these rules, a cardiac physiologist at the top of Band 7 (£56,515 gross) takes home approximately £39,708 per year, or £3,309 per month. At Band 5 entry (£32,073 gross), take-home pay is about £24,483 per year (£2,040 per month). These figures come from nhspaybands.org.uk and assume standard NHS Pension membership with no student loan deductions.

Overtime and Unsocial Hours

Cardiac physiologists often work in catheter labs and emergency on-call rotas, which attract additional pay. Under Agenda for Change:

• Weekday overtime: time and a half (1.5 × basic hourly rate).
• Sunday and bank holiday overtime: double time (2 × basic rate).
• Unsocial hours (8pm to 6am weekdays, all day Saturday): 30% uplift on basic hourly rate.

For example, a Band 5 cardiac physiologist on £19.97 per hour would earn about £29.96 per hour for weekday overtime and £39.94 per hour for Sunday overtime. These payments are pensionable and can significantly boost annual income.

London Weighting (High Cost Area Supplement)

If you work at an NHS trust in London or the South East, you may receive a High Cost Area Supplement (HCAS). For 2026/27, the rates are:

• Inner London: 20% of basic salary, minimum £5,794, maximum £8,746.
• Outer London: 15% of basic salary, minimum £4,870, maximum £6,137.
• Fringe: 5% of basic salary, minimum £1,346, maximum £2,270.

These supplements are added to your basic pay and are pensionable. They are not automatic for all cardiac physiologists; you must be employed by a trust in a designated area.

Career Progression and Pay Increases

Most cardiac physiologists start at Band 5 after completing a healthcare science degree or the Practitioner Training Programme. With experience, you can move to Band 6 (specialist) and then Band 7 (advanced practitioner). Each band has several pay steps; you typically move up one step each year until you reach the top of the band. Band 8a roles (team manager or consultant) are possible but less common.

Comparing Cardiac Physiologist Salary to Other Roles

The median full-time gross annual pay in the UK for 2026/27 is about £39,039, according to ONS ASHE data. A cardiac physiologist at Band 6 entry (£39,959) is just above the median. At Band 7 top (£56,515), the salary is well above average. The National Living Wage for 2026/27 is £12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over, so even a Band 5 entry rate of £16.40 is comfortably above the minimum.

For more salary comparisons and to see how different roles stack up, visit our salary articles section.

Summary

A cardiac physiologist salary in the NHS for 2026/27 ranges from about £32,000 to £56,500 gross per year, depending on band and experience. Hourly rates start at £16.40 and go up to £28.90. Take-home pay after deductions is lower, but overtime, unsocial hours and London weighting can add thousands. If you are comparing hourly jobs with salaried offers, remember that NHS pay includes a generous pension and annual leave. Use our hourly calculator to see how your rate translates to annual earnings.

Disclaimer: Hourly-to-salary figures assume a steady contracted week with no unpaid overtime, bonus, tips or salary sacrifice. Annual ≈ hourly × hours/week × 52. Actual pay depends on rota, holiday pay method, London weighting and overtime rules. Always check your contract and official GOV.UK guidance.