General radiography
Band 8a
Diagnostic radiographer Band 8a jobs in the UK
Consultant / clinical lead · 8+ years post-qualification
General/plain-film radiographers cover A&E, theatres, wards and outpatients — the largest part of the diagnostic workforce.
Pay & typical settings
- Pay band
- £55,690 – £62,682 (2025/26 AfC)
- Typical experience
- 8+ years post-qualification
- Where these roles sit
- Emergency departments · Theatres · Wards · Outpatient X-ray
What the person spec usually requires
- Consultant-level practice or departmental clinical lead
- Published / presented research or service-level QI
- Strategic responsibility for a service line or modality
- Active in regional / national professional networks (SoR, BSIR, BMUS, IPEM)
Core General radiography skills panels score
- Plain film technique
- Mobile & theatre imaging
- IR(ME)R justification awareness
- Trauma positioning
How to get shortlisted
- Articulated vision for the service, mapped to trust strategy
- Demonstrated influence beyond the department (region, national body)
- Financial and workforce literacy
- Track record of developing others into Band 7
The route into General radiography
Entry is via a BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography or the degree apprenticeship, leading directly to a Band 5 post.
Score your application against this person spec
Paste the trust's person spec and your draft — the Shortlisting Coach scores you criterion-by-criterion and tells you exactly what to add. Free run every day, no signup needed.