The NHS very senior managers pay framework – NHS provider and integrated care board pay ranges

Effective date: 1 April 2025

1. NHS provider organisations

Director reporting levels

Provider trusts within a large group model

Level 1: Chief executive (overall accountable officer) of the main board of the trust or group of trusts.

Level 2: Usually those main board director posts that report to the chief executive of the main board of the trust or group of trusts. This will include chief executives and managing directors of hospitals or other business units in a group model. Within group models, care should be taken to avoid paying site chief executives or managing directors more than stand-alone chief executives of equivalent-sized organisations.

Level 3: Usually those other directors or very senior manager (VSM) posts that report to post holders in level 1 or 2, particularly in group settings. In most stand-alone provider trusts (those not currently in a group setting), roles at this level will be remunerated through Agenda for Change (AfC).

Provider trusts

Level 1: The chief executive of the trust (overall accountable officer).

Level 2: Usually those director posts that report to the chief executive of the trust.

Level 3: Usually those VSM posts that report to post holders in level 2. In most trusts, this level will be remunerated through AfC.

Level 1: CEO pay ranges

Organisation turnover (£pa)BandMinimum (£pa)Operational Maximum (£pa)Exception zone (£pa)
Up to £250mA£140,595£194,670£210,000
£250m – £499mB£151,410£216,300£236,250
£500m – £749mC£173,040£237,930£252,000
£750m – £1bD£216,300£248,745£278,250
Over £1bE£237,930£270,375£299,250

Level 2: Executive directors pay ranges – board directors/executive directors reporting to CEOs

Organisation turnover (£pa)BandMinimum (£pa)Operational Maximum (£pa)Maximum (£pa)
Exception zone (£pa)
Up to £250mA£97,335£151,410£178,500
£250m – £499mB£108,150£162,225£189,000
£500m – £749mC£118,965£173,040£199,500
£750m – £1bD£129,780£183,855£210,000
Over £1bE£151,410£200,078£220,500

Level 3: Executive directors pay ranges – executive directors reporting to a board director

Organisation turnover (£pa)BandMinimum (£pa)Operational Maximum (£pa)Exception zone (£pa)
Up to £250mAAgenda for Change or equivalentAgenda for Change or equivalentAgenda for Change or equivalent
£250m – £499mBAgenda for Change or equivalentAgenda for Change or equivalentAgenda for Change or equivalent
£500m – £749mC£108,150£129,780£131,250
£750m – £1bD£113,558£135,188£141,750
Over £1bE£118,965£146,003£152,250

2. Integrated care boards (ICBs)

ICB CEO pay ranges

Weighted populationBandMinimum (£pa)Operational maximum (£pa)Exception zone (£pa)
<1 millionA£183,750£207,375£231,000
1 million – 1.5 millionB£199,500£223,125£246,750
1.5 million – 2 millionC£231,000£252,000£273,000
>2 millionD£262,500£283,500£304,500

ICB executive director pay ranges

Band A and B (<1.5 million weighted population)CFOCNOCMOOther board executives
Minimum (£pa)£139,650£129,675£129,675£120,225
Operational maximum (£pa)£168,000£156,844£156,844£145,688
Band C and D (>1.5 million weighted population)CFOCNOCMOOther board executives
Minimum (£pa)£161,700£150,150£150,150£127,050
Operational Maximum (£pa)£191,100£178,500£178,500£165,900

Publication reference: PRN01830iii