NHS Pay Calculator 2026/27
Pick your band and pay point and see your real take-home pay — after NHS pension, income tax and National Insurance. Includes London weighting and unsocial hours.
NHS take-home pay by band — 2026/27
Full-time (37.5 hours), England, NHS Pension included, no student loan. Your exact figure depends on your hours, tax code and enhancements — use the calculator above for your own numbers.
| Band | Salary (entry → top) | Take-home / month | Pension rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £25,272 | £1,700.11 | 6.5% |
| Band 3 | £25,760 → £27,476 | £1,727.27 → £1,822.80 | 6.5% |
| Band 4 | £28,392 → £31,157 | £1,873.79 → £1,990.32 | 6.5–8.3% |
| Band 5 | £32,073 → £39,043 | £2,040.21 → £2,380.80 | 8.3–9.8% |
| Band 6 | £39,959 → £48,117 | £2,429.78 → £2,865.96 | 9.8% |
| Band 7 | £49,387 → £56,515 | £2,933.86 → £3,308.99 | 9.8–10.7% |
| Band 8a | £57,528 → £64,750 | £3,352.53 → £3,662.95 | 10.7% |
| Band 8b | £66,582 → £77,368 | £3,741.70 → £4,135.69 | 10.7–12.5% |
| Band 8c | £79,504 → £91,609 | £4,225.58 → £4,735.00 | 12.5% |
| Band 8d | £94,356 → £108,814 | £4,850.60 → £5,459.04 | 12.5% |
| Band 9 | £112,782 → £129,783 | £5,626.03 → £6,115.48 | 12.5% |
Worked example: Band 5 staff nurse, entry point
A newly qualified Band 5 nurse on £32,073, full-time in England, in the NHS Pension: pension at 8.3% takes £2,662.06 a year; income tax is £3,368.19; National Insurance is £1,560.24. Take-home: £24,482.51 a year — £2,040.21 a month. That's roughly 76p kept from every £1 earned.
How we calculate it
Your band salary
From the official Agenda for Change 2026/27 pay scales (England), pro-rata if you work under 37.5 hours.
Pension first
NHS Pension is a net-pay scheme: your contribution (5.2%–12.5% by pay tier) comes off before tax, but not before National Insurance.
Tax, NI, loans
HMRC 2026/27 income tax (Scottish bands if you select Scotland), employee NI at 8%/2%, and your student loan plan if you have one.
Assumptions: standard tax code 1257L, 2015 NHS Pension scheme, England & Wales pension tiers, no other deductions. Sources: HMRC rates and thresholds 2026/27; NHS Employers Agenda for Change pay scales 2026/27.
NHS pay questions
What is the take-home pay for a Band 5 nurse in 2026/27?
At the entry point (£32,073), take-home is about £2,040 a month after NHS pension, tax and NI. At the top of Band 5 (£39,043) it's about £2,381 a month. London weighting and unsocial hours increase both figures.
How much is the NHS Pension contribution?
It depends on your pay: from 5.2% if you earn up to £13,259, rising in tiers to 12.5% at £67,669 and above (England & Wales, 2026/27). The rate applies to all your pensionable pay, and the calculator selects your tier automatically.
How are unsocial hours paid in the NHS?
Under Agenda for Change Section 2, hours worked on Saturdays and weekday nights are enhanced by 30%, and Sundays and bank holidays by 60%, on top of your basic hourly rate. Enter your typical weekly unsocial hours in the calculator and it adds the premium.
Is NHS pay different in Scotland?
Yes — Scotland agrees its own Agenda for Change settlement (a 3.75% uplift for 2026/27 and a 36-hour standard week), and Scottish income-tax bands differ too. Select Scotland in the calculator for Scottish tax; check NHS Scotland scales for exact Scottish salaries.
What is HCAS (London weighting)?
High Cost Area Supplement — extra pay for working in and around London. It's printed on your payslip as an annual or monthly amount; enter the annual figure in the calculator and it's included in your gross pay and pension.